Smoky Mountain Pizzeria, Second Try

Atmosphere: Trendy
Food Quality: Excellent
Food Taste: Depends what you order
Service: Was not impressed
Kid Friendliness: high chairs provided. Coloring books, crayons. Balloons
Overall: Probably won't be a favorite for us.
Cost: $35 - $50 for a family of four. A little on the high end of family dining.
Favorite: Not sure.

We went here on a date this time, just the two of us. We were hoping for a pleasant dining experience, if not too romantic (the sports channel doesn't set that sort of mood, if you know what I mean) but we were disappointed. The service was worse than the first time we went: slow and inaccurate. For example, the waiter asked us three times if we'd like drinks before we had decided but once we'd ordered (a glass of Chianti) he took forever to bring it, finally muttering that he'd forgotten and brought it after the appetizer came.

As usual the food was tasty although not as outstanding as I remembered. I do know that some friends of ours say this is their absolute favorite place to come as a family so I'm willing to admit we might have gotten bad luck twice. Still, I doubt we'll go back often, even though it seems to be gaining a reputation as a popular hang-out place.

Basilios

Atmosphere: Murals of Italy, not quite Trompe l'oeil.
Food Quality: Fine
Food Taste: Usually good
Service: Self-Serve
Kid Friendliness: Kids welcome
Overall: Good family place. The locals like it. Big City patrons are disappointed.
Cost: $7.50 for a decent plate and salad
Favorite: Myzithra and Brown Butter

This downtown Pullman favorite keeps the price low by having you order at the counter and handing you the food there. It's not quite fast food, though, since they bus your table. I find this arrangement to be quite satisfactory since I can refill my water glass when I please and the food is good. I love their fresh salads and they have a certain Ranch dressing that it especially good.

Gambino's

Atmosphere: Pretty open and noisy
Food Quality: Quite good.
Food Taste: Usually quite good, mild for Italian
Service: Been there twice, no complaints.
Kid Friendliness: they'll give you a high chair but no crayons.
Overall: We like Tucci's a little better.
Cost: $12 per plate, $5 for kids.
Favorite: Spaghetti/Meatballs

I have a somewhat limited experience with their menu as both times I went there I got the Spaghetti and meatballs. It's pretty hard to mess that up, so I was happy! The last time we went there someone was having a kids' birthday party and it was LOUD! But if you like the tall red-plastic cups full of coke and a boisterous, noisy, music-filled atmosphere, this is your place.

Tucci's Italian

Atmosphere: Relaxed Sophisticated
Food Quality: Excellent
Food Taste: Depends what you order
Service: Usually really good
Kid Friendliness: high chairs and crayons. Waiters like the kids
Overall: One of our favorites
Cost: Plates are huge. We split the Spaghettini for $12 for our whole family.
Favorite: Davinci Chianti red wine

Someone once called this "Olive Garden Light". For our family this is a dining standby because Matt LOVES Italian. It's a nice mix of family and formal. They serve a scrumptious family-style salad with every meal as well as fresh bread with dipping oil. The menu also has a nice mix of low-cost soup/salads or higher end gourmet entrees.

Smoky Mountain Pizzeria

Atmosphere: Trendy
Food Quality: Excellent
Food Taste: Depends what you order
Service: Was not impressed
Kid Friendliness: high chairs provided. Coloring books, crayons.
Overall: Might try it again sometime
Cost: $35 - $40 for a family of four. A little on the high end of family dining.
Favorite: Not sure yet

Since this is a new restaurant, we wanted to try it out but like all new restaurants in this area, there was a line out the door for several weeks. We finally got to try it out on a Tuesday night and it was okay for a new place. I felt like the wait staff were pretty green since the dish we ordered, the Curry Chicken Pizza had never been done by the chefs before (so the waitress explained when we had waited 20 minutes for our meal) but when we finally got it, it was absolutely mouthwatering.

The kids got their cheese pizza served in frisbees and they also got a balloon at the end of the meal.