Canellas

Finding good Italian food in Utah always seems to lead me back to Cucina Tuscano. It’s not a bad thing. It’s just that with all the offerings in Utah, from Lugano’s to Fresco, there isn’t much in the way of “cheap” and delicious Italian food. I’ll admit that I can appreciate the lowest quality of “Italian” food. This is basically what some would consider store brand, canned food, or chain restaurants such as Spaghetti Factory, Fazolis and to a certain degree, Olive Garden.  One of my first “favorite foods” (Yes, I have favorites, not just all food) was Spaghetti. My grandfather worked as a Sky Chef and alongside my parents, cooked the best spaghetti and lasagna. I remember eating bowls of their pasta as a little kid surprising my parents and family for how much I could eat! That love of pasta extends to today.

I’ve been driving past Canellas for years and started to notice it again for it’s corner appeal. It’s situated just across the street from the main library and has a feel of a corner dive that is intimate and convenient. I didn’t quite know what to expect during my two recent visits. Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised. One of the things that seems to have always been missing in my life was my own neighborhood restaurant. The closest I ever had was Wok King cafe in West Jordan but that was only in part because of my FOB-Asian accent and their waitresses. When I entered Canellas, I had that same feeling (not for the waitresses) but a sense of faux-nostalgia for a life of neighborhood eats I’ve never experienced. When you sit along the windows, looking out to the County Court building with it’s landscaping and the bustling rush of cars, you get a feeling that you’ve been here before. It’s quite enchanting. It reminds me of Cinegrill just down the street.

As for the food, it was great. I first had the Veal Parmesan breaded, with rigatoni in a marinara sauce. It was exceptional for a mid day lunch. The veal was tender and the breading wasn’t thick so much that it overpowered the flavor of the veal. The sauce was great and overall a hearty meal that was quickly served and happily eaten. For my “Second Go,” the food was even better. I had the Turkey Tetrazzini while some of the dinner guests had  Alberto’s Meat Lasagna, Three Cheese Ravioli and Rigatoni. Judging by the plates and my guest Britton, the food quickly cleared off the plates, much quicker than it had been delivered.

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Friend Meter: Those loving Italian food but don’t want to over pay (go for lunch, dinner can be pricey).