Shawna S.
Yelp
Visiting family in my childhood hometown, we decided to bring in dinner for our crowd (8 adults). Ordering a spread of pastas, chicken, seafood dishes, and salads, we had a tasty cross section of the restaurant's specialties. Having tried a bit of everything, I attest that there was no failures - everything was excellent. And, if 388's take-out is this good, dining on site must be exceptional.
The simple chopped salads were assembled with a focus on presentation and fresh greens. Crisp and cool, despite being take out. House oil and vinegar dressing was all it took to finish.
The pastas - rigatoni in vodka sauce and linguine with olive oil and garlic - were precisely al dente and seasoned perfectly. Both sauces were luscious.
Several chicken dishes were tender and diverse. The parmigiana retained the right hint of crisp and breading remained on the protein, covered liberally with mozzarella but not overdone. The chicken was thinly pounded but juicy, cutting easily with a fork. "Krak" chicken was chunky bites thickly sauced with a wonderful bite of peppers. The country chicken Scarpariello and sausage had both proteins treated respectfully to bring out the best flavors intermingled with fresh vegetables. The sausage conveyed a delectable hint of anise and observably lacked the too common inclusion of gristle that can easily ruin a top dining experience. The sausage was meaty with a silky consistent internal texture. I'd put both dishes to the top of a list when ordering.
Like its terrestrial counterpart, the shrimp "Krak" could not be more surprisingly exciting. The jumbo shrimps were flawlessly cooked. Forks fought for pole position. If I think on it, I can make my tongue and palate salivate on command in Pavlovian anticipation.
Uncommonly good sides of charred broccoli with garlic and fried cauliflower disappeared in a flurry of plates and utensils.
I'm told that the Kobe meatballs are sinful indulgences. And, though we also did not order any veal, I can certainly extrapolate that the attention to details for pasta, chicken, and seafood, would predict equivalent mastery from the kitchen.
I look forward to enjoying 388's fare again, from the viewpoint of in-house dining.
Very, very, (very!) highly recommended!!