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Show Recently Reviewed Ottavio's Ristorante Kaliano Few Utah County restaurants can boast waiters in crisp white shirts and ties (girls included) and the occasional song from an opera singer to entertain you while you dine. Provo's Ottavio's Ristorante Italiano can boast just that, as well as a delicious menu served up in a classy atmosphere. Though we felt sort of silly ordering a pizza at a nice restaurant like Ottavio's, we just couldn't resist trying the vegetarian gourmet pizza. A v ,' At $11.25, it was surprisingly comparative in price to other gourmet pizza places, though the brick-ovetaste and thickly sliced toppings made it unique. 77 E. Center St., Provo, 4f i.V I n 377-955- 5 I I if , ; 7 COBB CONDIEDaily Herald ffar left, Chicken Tikka Masala,'a side of rice, Raita (a mixture of cucumber, tomatoes, onions and spices with homemade yogurt), Gulab Jamun (a pastry soaked in sugar garnished with coconut) and a Mango Lassi drink from the Bombay House in Provo. Garlic Naan A passage to India DAILY HERALD n evening spent at Provo's Bombay House will not only excite . your taste buds they must ; more spices in one dish than I'm used to in a whole meal but also will give you the feel of having traveled straight to India for your authentic cuisine. The small restaurant, located along University Avenue, has a simple dining room decorated with large brightly colored paintings depicting ornate scenes of detailed jungle animals, and women in classic Indian dress. A The dim illumination of tabletop lamps and small overhead lights creates an intimate feel which seemed appropriate at a restaurant that doesn't have kiddie meal options on its mena And though the waiters wouldn't crack a smile, they were quick, efficient and helpful when choosing our dishes and waiting on our table. We decided to try the tasty Vegetable Briyani (ordered mild), a dish of basmati rice cooked with mixed vegetables, onions, garlic, ginger, cashew nuts, golden raisins and spices. Though the dish appeared simple, the complex array of spices and tastes transformed the rice into a fancy cuisine dish. The cashew nuts gave the dish great texture, and surprisingly large pieces of potato and other vegetables made it more hearty. We also tried the Lamb Saag (ordered spicy), a boneless lamb cooked with spinach, onions, garlic, ginger, cream and spices. Though the mixture didn't necessarily look appetizing, the stewlike texture and tender chunks of lamb tasted heavenly atop a serving of white rice. The Lamb Coconut Kurma (ordered mild), was a boneless lamb dish cooked with coconut milk, onions, garlic, ginger, tomatoes, cashews, golden raisins and spices. Despite the strong spices used in this dish, the flavor that came across the strongest was the sweet coconut milk. Once again, the lamb was cooked to perfect tenderness, and though the dish appeared small it was surprisingly filling (though we did ask for a refill on the rice). For dessert, we couldn't resist trying some Mango Ice Cream and the sweet Mango Lassi beverage. Surprisingly, we preferred the mango and homemade yogurt drink over the homemade Indian ice cream. The ice cream didnt have enough of the sweet mango savor, and reminded us more of lightly flavored vanilla ice cream. The Mango Lassi drink was both refreshingly sweet and delicious. There are a couple restaurant names that, well, just make you shrug. Now it's time to add Spanish Fork's new restaurant, the I Dunno Diner to the list. The meal choices include a full spread of breakfast dishes served all day, burgers, specialty sandwiches and a long list of dinner platters. While we wouldn't rave about the food, we were duly impressed with the friendly service, coupled with hearty serving sizes, making the diner a reasonable choice next time you "dunno" what to make for dinner. 500 S. Main St., Spanish Fork, Provo restaurant's cuisine is an exotic voyage for diners Marcie Jessee Dunno Diner 798-621- 2 Review The Bombay House Where: 463 N. University Ave., Provo Cost: $2.95-$- 1 5.95 Family Call: Leave the kids at home and make it a date Info: 373-667- www.bombayhouse.com The only downside? You'll likely have to bide your time on a Friday night, as the restaurant waiting area was when we left around 7:30 p.m. Other than the crowds, however, we couldn't complain about our Indian food experience. The food is incredible, and unlike anything we've had at a Utah County restaurant. d Kneaders Bakery and Cafe p If you're looking for a bakery with plenty of dessert options, we'd have to recommend Kneaders Bakery and Caf6 for its wide selection and surprisingly tasty caf6 menu. We loved the Harvest Vegetable Soup especially served in the thick and filling soup bread bowL We'd recommend the Tuna on Hazelnut Whole Grain bread to a true health nut, with its large number of whole hazelnuts in the chewy one-sto- bread. The menu of treats was a plus, and seemed to suit all tastes, whether you prefer chocolate-loade- d brownies, creamy rich cheesecake, or light and colorful fruit tarts. 295 W. 1230 North, 0 Provo, 812-220- |