2008 Woodie Awards
Pia's Italian Restaurant
Maradyth Hopper
Issue date: 2/10/06 Section: Arts & Entertainment
- Page 1 of 1
Fine dining and delicious Italian food have finally found a place to co-exist in Conway. Pia's Italian Restaurant on Front Street opened a couple of months ago and is already a local favorite. The restaurant's appetizing, authentic Italian cuisine and relaxed atmosphere make it a guarantee for success.
Upon entering Pia's, customers will first appreciate the casual elegance of the restaurant. The warmth of the room is accentuated by the restaurant's copper walls and tea candles, which are lit on every table. The tables are adorned with nothing but white linen tablecloths and cloth napkins. The only aspect of Pia's that is not consistent with fine dining is the kitchen area. Customers are separated from the kitchen staff by only a thin partition of latticework, which the establishment has tried to cover up by using odd decorations. Customers must also walk through this area to get to the restrooms, allowing them a full view of the kitchen's preparation area.
Despite this unsavory aspect of the restaurant, customers will still appreciate the inviting warmth and beauty of the dining area. The owners have done a great job of incorporating the original architecture of the building into the new restaurant's design. The ceiling is two stories high and boasts a beautiful copper tiling, which softens the room and adds the feeling of old-world elegance at the same time. Customers will surely appreciate the comfortable surroundings and romantic feeling of Pia's.
The food at Pia's is every bit as delightful as the restaurant's ambiance. The menu is full of quality Italian entrees that could rival that of any well-known Italian restaurant in Little Rock. Pia's offers an array of appetizers, including spinach artichoke dip served with fried bowtie pasta. All entrees are served with salads, topped with homemade dressings, and soft bread with garlic butter.
Pia's offers several different specials each day, as well as a soup of the day and lasagna of the day. The house specialties include Pia's special ravioli, which consists of colorful pasta stuffed with mascarpone and ricotta cheeses, served on a bed of spinach fettuccine. It is then topped with marinara and portabella steaks, which are covered in portabella caps and then marinated, grilled and served on a bed of garlic buttered angel hair pasta and mixed vegetables. Pia's also offers a family pasta option, which consists of enough pasta, salad, and bread to feed a family of four. This is a great option for students, especially with a price of $23.95.
Although it is hard to refrain from eating the entire entrée, customers should reserve some room in their stomachs for one of Pia's soon to be famous cheesecakes, which come in a variety of flavors. One of the best choices is the hazelnut praline cheesecake that tastes similar to a tiramisu cheesecake. It is definitely the best way to end a delightful meal at Pia's.
Upon entering Pia's, customers will first appreciate the casual elegance of the restaurant. The warmth of the room is accentuated by the restaurant's copper walls and tea candles, which are lit on every table. The tables are adorned with nothing but white linen tablecloths and cloth napkins. The only aspect of Pia's that is not consistent with fine dining is the kitchen area. Customers are separated from the kitchen staff by only a thin partition of latticework, which the establishment has tried to cover up by using odd decorations. Customers must also walk through this area to get to the restrooms, allowing them a full view of the kitchen's preparation area.
Despite this unsavory aspect of the restaurant, customers will still appreciate the inviting warmth and beauty of the dining area. The owners have done a great job of incorporating the original architecture of the building into the new restaurant's design. The ceiling is two stories high and boasts a beautiful copper tiling, which softens the room and adds the feeling of old-world elegance at the same time. Customers will surely appreciate the comfortable surroundings and romantic feeling of Pia's.
The food at Pia's is every bit as delightful as the restaurant's ambiance. The menu is full of quality Italian entrees that could rival that of any well-known Italian restaurant in Little Rock. Pia's offers an array of appetizers, including spinach artichoke dip served with fried bowtie pasta. All entrees are served with salads, topped with homemade dressings, and soft bread with garlic butter.
Pia's offers several different specials each day, as well as a soup of the day and lasagna of the day. The house specialties include Pia's special ravioli, which consists of colorful pasta stuffed with mascarpone and ricotta cheeses, served on a bed of spinach fettuccine. It is then topped with marinara and portabella steaks, which are covered in portabella caps and then marinated, grilled and served on a bed of garlic buttered angel hair pasta and mixed vegetables. Pia's also offers a family pasta option, which consists of enough pasta, salad, and bread to feed a family of four. This is a great option for students, especially with a price of $23.95.
Although it is hard to refrain from eating the entire entrée, customers should reserve some room in their stomachs for one of Pia's soon to be famous cheesecakes, which come in a variety of flavors. One of the best choices is the hazelnut praline cheesecake that tastes similar to a tiramisu cheesecake. It is definitely the best way to end a delightful meal at Pia's.