Ferrari's Italian Villa

Our intial introduction to Ferrari's was in the main bar while we awated our table. There is another bar in the restaurant called Flight which appears to have a warmer atmosphere for a drink or appetizer. The drinks at the bar are generous as are the pours on the wine. So many restaurants serve glasses of wine that are more like what you would expect for a desert wine. \r The service was friendly and prompt. The restaurant was busy yet clean. The decor is tasteful but a little outdated even though the restaurant is relatively new.\r The food was mediochre. We ordered sea bass and a veal chop and split a Caprese salad. The salad was good and consisted basically of spring mix, buffalo mozzarella, tomato, with a balsamic dressing. although the mozzarella was a bit soggy. The sea bass was a bit overdone and greasy, The bone in veal chop is stuffed with prosciutto and mozzarella. My chop was overcooked, dry, and very salty due to the prosciutto. I would probably not stuff the chop if I were preparing it as it tends to dry the meat especially if sliced before being allowed to settle . It would be better prepared with the prosciutto and cheese on top which would preserve the integrity of the chops juices. The worst violation of food preparation was the serving of sauteed spinach which was not destemmed. The leaves were nicely cooked but having to chew on the fibrous stems ruined the dish. Also my spinach was nicely seasoned while my wife's was extremely salty and heavy with garlic. Needless to say the desserts were just OK. A chocolate cake which was flavorful but dry and a chocolate pudding which was closer to a soup in consistency.\r Overall I was a bit dissapointed with the food quality, especially at the price but the service and drinks bring up my score from a 2 star to 3 star rating. Pros: Nice bar, good service Cons: Poorly prepared food. more

As I walked up to the restaurant, a singer was playing a guitar and entertaining on the great outdoor patio. Lots of locals were enjoying the music while sipping cocktails outside. Very charming. Walking inside everyone was very helpful and friendly but also professional. The first thing you see is the beautiful antipasti selection of grilled vegetables, meat and seafood displayed for your perusal. It reminded me of the restaurants in Milan. This is not a serve yourself buffet salad bar.....no, no, no! Instead you tell your waiter what you want and he/she will bring it to your table. I ordered a selection of the evenings antipasti and the waiter put it together for me. It was fabulous! The atmosphere is upscale....even luxurious. The entrees were equally as good as the antipasti, and reasonably priced. People seated near to us had something prepared for them that was flamed at the table. Very spectacular..wish I knew what they had! No room for dessert on this trip. Ferrari's, although relatively new on the restaurant scene, did a great job in making us happy with our dining experience. An authentic Italian dining experience but unlike in Italy, there is no charge for your seat and table, the restrooms are not co-ed, and they will not get angry if you ask for a doggy bag! What a great addition to the Grapevine (or for that matter Dallas) dining experience. Pros: Authentic Italian food, Romantic atmosphere, attentive Staff, Reasonably priced Cons: a little hidden, but worth looking for, not good for kids (a Pro for me) more