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Michael's Italian Kitchen is a gem of a family owned and operated Italian restaurant located conveniently in Valley Ranch on the west side of MacArthur Blvd., just north of the LBJ in the MacArthur Ranch strip shopping center. Owner Kaba, in the restaurant business 25 years, offers casual dining in a relaxed setting with outstanding homemade Italian dishes. Everything is made fresh in the restaurant.
Prices are reasonable and quality is high. A wide variety of appetizers includes calamari, served hot and crunchy with a bowl of warm, fresh-flavored marinara for dipping. Stuffed mushrooms were an even bigger hit, with plenty of fresh mushrooms stuffed with mouth-watering crabmeat in a heavenly combination of cream and marinara sauce. The bruschetta, loaded with chopped tomato, spices, and olive oil is another excellent appetizer choice.
In addition to the warm complimentary dinner rolls made fresh daily, a variety of garlic bread is available. You can order it with mozzarella cheese and tomatoes, an irresistible combination or, if you want the ultimate, with the addition of cream cheese.
Michael's has an entrée for just about everyone's taste, including a variety of fresh salads, veal, chicken and seafood dishes, in addition to hot (and cold) subs and pizzas. There are even half a dozen special entrees for children.
Standouts include eggplant parmigiana, made with freshly cut and prepared eggplant, and shrimp Franceses, which comes with 6 large, egg-battered shrimp in a buttery lemon sauce served over linguini. Every entrée is cooked to order and substitutions are not a problem.
Traditional Neopolitan pizzas are available, but the specialty here is Mike's "white pizzas," particularly "Mike's White Wonder," a special treat! The ingredients - ricotta, mozzarella, mushrooms, onions, spinach and sliced tomatoes (no red sauce) - were impressive in their freshness, and the various ingredients work well together.
Be sure to check the menu board at the front of the restaurant. Specials ... include soup or salad, and sides of spaghetti and fresh vegetables.
If you've saved room for dessert, the cannoli, a combination of ricotta cheese, sugar, and chocolate pieces stuffed into a hard pastry tube, is always fresh and delicious.
The Italian cream cake is smooth and creamy between two thin slices of light white cake.
Part of Michael's charm lies in its B.Y.O.B. policy. Many couples come in with a bottle of their favorite wine to share, and the staff gladly provides the set up.
Review © 2005 The Irving Journal
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