Johnny Carino's Country Italian

Like many others have said before me, Johnny Carino's is actually pretty good for a chain restaurant. Sadly in Muncie there aren't any local places to get fresh, homemade Italian food. Carino's is a decent substitute.

I love the herb bread and toasted garlic and oil they serve. Honestly, I could eat that all night and be absolutely fine with it. Portions are fairly large, and as a non-meat-eater, I have several options. And the wait/kitchen staff are always willing to adapt a dish for my dietary needs. I'm a big, big fan of the Timballo, sans meat. Salads are crisp and not soggy with too much dressing. And their mini desserts are just the right size after a long meal of lots and lots of carbs!

The bar is typical, nothing to write home about. Decor is a little kitschy, but I like the open feel of the restaurant. Gets a bit loud in there, but they are a busy place.

One major complaint: TOO MANY TVs. Come on, people. It's not a sport's bar - it's a family dining establishment. Why would any dining area need multiple televisions? And who watches TV while eating with family and friends anyway? Yikes.

It was fine, I guess, but compared to the previous time I had eaten there, the quality seems to have taken a hit. Of course it might be just because I learned how to cook such dishes myself, but I will say that it's much better than soem other Italian chains out there.

The bread and oil, have always been delicious.

Very good food. I was pleasantly surprised. Other yelpers say this is a chain restaurant but I've never heard of it. I had the gorgonzola chicken penne and it was delicious. Pasta and chicken were perfectly cooked, good sized portion and the sauce was rich. Tomatoes in the pasta were fresh as were the mushrooms. My mom had the chicken pesto with linguine and she really liked it. They also give you fresh hot bread with olive oil and toasted garlic for dipping. Good prices and easy location in Muncie. I went here for my pre-race meal as I was in town for the Muncie Traithlon. I also had an orange Italian cream soda. Our waiter was nice, friendly, and very attentive. Overall a great place for Italian in Muncie!