A Touch of Garlic

It's pretty much what Italian comfort food is supposed to taste like -  a very close to perfect mix of cheese, garlic, tomatoes & bread/pasta.

It isn't "the best I've ever had" (that would be Grandma's!) but it's good. The pesto was even better the next day. And I used some of the leftover roasted garlic on a sandwich.

Yeah, I could make lots of it myself, or I could let someone else do all the work so that I can just enjoy it.  Since A Touch of Garlic seems to care about their food/menu & quality, I feel like I can enjoy it that much more.

are you ready to take a trip back to the 80's???  then come on down to A Touch of Garlic because thats where you';ll be transported to...outdated decor (please do something about the curtains!) ...glass topped tables with white table cloths (dont want to get those tablecloths dirty!)...cheesy decorations...this place has it all!!!
i know its a "neighborhood" restaurant but you can have that and still have a current vibe!
my wife and i started with 2 glasses of Rodney Strong cabernet priced affordably at $7.95...a great red wine but served in what appeared to be a dirty glass...lets get those wine glasses polished !!!
now...about the food...it was the only reason i gave this restaurant 4 stars and i suppose thats the most important thing about a restaurant...good food!
we started with the roasted garlic bulbs served with cheese crostini with a compote of gorgonzola and sun dried tomatoes...pretty good, a little bland but at $8.95 a little pricey. the complimentary house salad was ok. try the creamy garlic dressing... it was delicious. for our main courses i had the lasagna, my wife had the penne with pesto sauce (a little salty!) and my son had linguine bolognese with a meat ball. the lasagna (advertised as "Mama's Lasagna) was not as good as my mothers (is it ever?) but it really meaty and wonderfully cheesy.  i liked it and would order it again. my sons entree was as advertised linguine with a very meaty sauce and a wonderful meatball...he loved it!
for desert we ordered the creme caramel (a little too sweet!) and the vanilla bread pudding with housemade peach caramel ice cream . the bread pudding was good but needed more ice cream. the deserts are smartly priced at about $4.95 each so you can try two and only pay for what most restaurants charge for one!!!
the service was adequate,not great.
from the first person you meet to the last this is a family run establishment and it shows!

Touch of Garlic has been a favorite for many years.  The food is always delicious. It is the kind of neighborhood  restaurant where everything is freshly made and the kind of food that makes you want to just sit back with a glass of wine and enjoy the flavorful meal. The service is friendly and attentive without hovering.  

The appetizer  Calamari Fra Diavlo is delicious, with a strong spicy kick to it.  We are partial to the unhealthier fried version over the sauteed version.  The warm bread on the table is great to soak up the sauce.  
There are several menu staples that are my families favorites including the Linguine Pescatore, the Eggplant Rollatini and the Veal Guiseppe.  We have never been disappointed in the meals.  The portions are big, big enough for two to share one meal.  

Make sure to save room for dessert.  The warm Bread Pudding is delicious, The Carrot Cake and "Kara"Misu (named after it's baker).

All in all, it is a warm, casual restaurant not to be missed in Springfield.