Da Carlo

Eight o'clock. Eight o'clock. Eight o'clock. Eight o'clock.
Say it four times and all you will think about is that time (..... wait, what was that again? Oh, that's right: Eight o'clock).

That's what happened when A and me visited restaurant Da Carlo in the city centre of Groningen. Like its name might imply, an Italian restaurant, seemingly owned by genuine Italians (originally from Milan, judging by some 'MI' license plates? Milan being an Italian city, for all you Michiganians).
Anyhow, we got there on this rainy regular weekdays tuesday evening, expecting a dull and empty situation with perhaps a few people present in the restaurant. It couldn't be further from the truth. Never before had we seen a restaurant, so crowded on a regular weekday. Two-seater and four-seater tables, tightly set next to each other, with every table seating some guests. Apparently, we got there just in time; for the single remaining free table, a reservation had already made (at what time would that be again?), so if we could promise to have finished our meals by eight o'clock, we could be seated (being present there at ten to seven). Of course we would agree and so we were seated. Just in time, because the next two sets of people couldn't be seated anymore.

We scrummed our way in, pushing away the elbows and other bodily parts from other guests that were already seated. The eight o'clock time had been mentioned four times by that time, so we hasted to choose something from the menu. No appetizers (eight o'clock!), no desserts (eight o'clock!), just a main course (be sure to finish it before eight o'clock!). For myself, I ordered the tortellini alla panna, A ordered the fettucini gialle alla giotta. Then, when we had gotten our beers, we could (had to) wait for our food and observed the waiters. Two of them seemed to be the owners, or at least family of the owners, speaking with clearly Italian accents. Then there was a Dutch girl, who seemed to be hired. Funnily enough, it was the two Italian people who seemed to have no clue as to what they were doing, time and again serving plates to the wrong tables, only to realize later when everybody at the wrong table declined having ordered the served plates, that they just had to turn around 180 degrees to the other table. Also, since we were situated in a corner spot which was next to the bar, but unfortunately blocked from the bartender's view by an espresso machine, we were easily forgotten by the waiters (eight o'clock! eight o'clock!).
All negatives? No, there was a complimentary basket of breadlets, made of pizza dough, served with herbed butter. Very nice! Although it did have me wondering whether the basket was meant for other guests. No matter, we just hungrily ate it all.

Then, finally, at ten to eight (eight o'clock! eight o'clock!) we got served our main course. Or rather, should I say, the party of three at the table next to us, got served our two main courses. When they all said they hadn't ordered those particular dishes, the Italian waitress turned around two see the two of us who did order those particular plates. Yay, food!

My tortellini alla panna, stuffed with meat (apparently) and served with a lot of cream with mozzarella in it, and very finely sprinkled Parmesan cheese

So finally, I could satisfy my craving for stuffed pasta served in a creamy sauce, which wouldn't be too heavy, but which would also be more stuffing than the pasta I had for a main course at restaurant Jantje Zag Eens Pruimen Hangen about which I posted before. The verb 'satisfy' would become the understatement of the century. My gosh. Even though the first few - divinely delicious - mouthfuls of pasta seemed light and airy, not too heavy at all, both our opinions were changed a few minutes later when we had finished three quarters of our plate (eight o'clock! Keep on eating!). Continuing to chow away on delicious but mass-increasing pasta, we had finished the plates just around eight o'clock. Whoo, made it!

A's fettucini, with spinach, ricotta and also a cream sauce

Funnily enough, when we asked for the bill, it was served quickly.


In conclusion:
Positive
- great food
- fast bill
- low cost
- complimentary bread

Negative
- long waits
- shabby waiting
- very crowded

So, would I recommend this place to others? It would depend on whom it would be for. If you're in search for a nice place with decent food and low costs, this would be a good place to go. If you're searching for a place with impeccable serving, pick another place. All in all, I think there are more positive points than negative ones.

Oh, and be sure to get there before... eight o'clock. Or just make a reservation. At eight o'clock.

pictures courtesy of A's phone