by Levi MacLean
As we listened to the GPS tell us that our destination was coming up on our left, we searched for a small white restaurant on Route 20, and taking a left turn, we pulled in to Linguini’s in Marlboro. With not a lot of cars in the parking lot, we parked right away and headed inside.
The tinted windows caught my eye walking in, since most restaurants don’t have this. I was also shocked to see the kitchen in the middle of the restaurant. With steam rising into the air from the boiling pasta, confused, I walked across the black and white tiled floor to stand in line to order.
The menu, which was mounted on the wall above the kitchen, didn’t have much variety. It seemed like your average pizza shop in town with pizza, calzones, and subs; but they added pasta dishes.
These pasta dishes gave Linguini’s its homey Italian atmosphere. Regular pizza shops don’t give you that Italian feel, but these authentic dishes changed that. They ranged from seafood to veal, chicken tortellini, parmigiana, and more. The restaurant definitely did not get its atmosphere from its tacky wall paintings of dogs or its dim lighting that made it hard to see.
Being my first time here, I decided to keep it simple. After looking at the menu for several minutes, I ordered the child’s size linguini with sauce and a meatball. To top it off, I ordered a side of garlic bread.
And it’s a good thing I ordered a child’s size; those portions were huge! Made with fresh ingredients and prepared right in front of you, I received my meal in less than seven minutes.
My linguini ($5) had a little too much sauce, and I found it to be quite greasy. The sauce was nothing special, a mild blend of tomato and some spices; I needed to add salt and pepper for sure. The meatball was huge; nonetheless it reflected the sauce with its bland taste.
My garlic bread ($3), on the other hand, was a whole loaf of taste and crispiness. It had fresh garlic and basil on the top, and best of all it was right out of the oven. Toasted to perfection and cut into about 12-18 squares it was easy to share and delicious.
Can’t go wrong with Alfredo, can you? Well the linguini alfredo ($7), like mine, was greasy and drenched in sauce. Like all the other dishes, this too was a huge portion and not available in a child’s size.
Walking to the other side of the restaurant where more tables were available, I searched for the utensils. I carried my 20 oz. Gingerale, my pasta, and my loaf of bread ($9.99 in total) to the green table, and went on a hunt for the silverware. Finally I found it by the soda machine, and there too were the napkins-hidden from the whole restaurant.
From the dessert menu, the Cannoli sounded like a great option, but unfortunately they didn’t have any available at the time. This was okay, because Linguini’s fulfilled my hunger-and more.
In the evenings, Linguini’s transforms into a standard Italian restaurant, with waitresses, a unique décor of dogs and a comfortable welcome. During the afternoons, they offer a quick, home-cooked lunch, not from home. They make your food, and you do the rest. This spot is perfect for someone working nearby who desires fresh, fast food on their lunch break.
Linguini’s, I’m sure, turns itself around at night, and after my experience, I think I would be willing to come check it out for myself.