Back in July, Tom and I met some friends at Gondolier Italian Restaurant and Pizza in Harrogate, Tennessee, for dinner. We met Sherry and Paul Downing and Karen and Larry Blondell. This combined two of our favorite things: spending time with friends and trying a new restaurant.
Gondolier Italian Restaurant is a small chain of family restaurants with 35 locations. Most of them are in eastern Tennessee. The chain started in 1974 when Vasilios “Bill” Sioutis, a Greek entrepreneur recently immigrated to America, opened the first restaurant in Cleveland, Tennessee.
From the beginning, the Sioutis family designed a place where families could enjoy a fun night out together. Everyone could find something they liked on the menu, backed by Gondolier’s unwavering commitment to comfort, quality and freshness. Fifty years later, the tradition continues with Dimitri and Alex Sioutis, Bill’s two sons, working to expand the Gondolier chain.
Karen and Larry suggested eating at Gondolier Italian Restaurant and we were glad to agree. They eat here so often that they know the servers and the owner, who all came over to say hello. Tom and I arrived a few minutes early, which gave me a chance to check out the desserts displayed near the front. I knew I had to save room for a piece of pie or cheesecake.
Once we were seated at a table, the server brought us housemade breadsticks with dipping sauces. There were so many tempting dishes on the menu that I debated about what to order. Finally, Tom decided to order the lasagna and I ordered the baked beef tortellini. Our intention was to share the two dishes.
When the food came it was exceptionally fresh and served perfectly. The salad plates were cold, as was the salad. The tortellini was served in the dish straight from the oven. There was a layer of toasted mozzarella cheese on top that kept the tortellini hot. I tried a bite of Tom’s lasagna, but quickly returned to the tortellini. It was some of the best I’ve ever had!
I only ate half of the tortellini because I saw the desserts before the meal. I also limited myself to one breadstick, although I really wanted another. But I had to sacrifice something. I was the only one who wanted dessert. Our server asked if I wanted a dessert menu and I said yes. She brought me a list with the cakes and cheesecakes available checked off. It was a difficult decision. I had her describe each one before I could decide. When I had narrowed it down to two, I asked her which she preferred. When she told me, I selected her preference.
Gondolier does not publish its dessert menu and I can’t remember the name of the cake that I ordered. In fact, the only one I can remember the name of is the surprise cake. The sampler cake had three different flavor layers with three different layers of frosting. It was a way to try three flavors of cake at once. There were even sprinkles on the top. The waitress said it was like a party on a plate.
The cake that I got was a fudgy, deep chocolate with a creamy chocolate frosting. There were chocolate shavings on top. I ordered it thinking that Tom would share it and he never met a dessert with too much chocolate. He chose not to share and I ended up having it for two days. It was wonderful!
We enjoyed our meal at Gondolier Italian Restaurant very much. I would love to eat there again. I rarely order the same thing twice at a restaurant, but that tortellini was so good I might have to get it again. And, every time we drive by, I want to stop in and get a piece of cake to go. I would love to try all the flavors! I won’t – but I want to.
We are so glad that Karen and Larry suggested Gondolier. We enjoyed our evening out with them and the Downings very much. I know I will be eating at Gondolier again – with or without them!