IF YOU GOWhere: Chianti Ristorante Italian and Pizzeria.Where: 8968 Dayton Pike, Soddy-Daisy.Phone: 332-4950.Hours: 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-9 p.m. Sunday.Price range: $2 (garlic bread appetizer)-$20 (large, 19-inch) portobello specialty pizza.
Soddy-Daisy’s newest eatery, Chianti Ristorante Italian and Pizzeria, may seem a little out of place for a fine-dining establishment. It’s situated between an upholstery shop with furniture on the front stoop and an empty building; a pet-grooming business is across the street. But don’t let the surroundings stop you. After all, it’s not what’s outside but what’s on the menu that should draw you in. The food and service are what counts. With that in mind, I entered for dinner.
THE MENU
Chianti’s Facebook page takes a minimalist approach to information, but it does brag about the pasta, encouraging guests to try it. Our waitress said the pasta, like every other dish on the menu, is made from scratch, an impressive contribution to any Italian dinner.
A large breadstick is brought to the table to stave off hunger pains while you peruse the menu. It’s served with little tubs of margarine. Herbed olive oil would have been so much nicer.