Morina's - Dexter, MO

Date of dining experience: May 20, 2015

Place: Morina's Italian Restaurant

Location: 903 W. Bus. Hwy. 60 in Dexter, MO - next door to Aaron's.

Bread: House rolls with dipping oil. Though usually fresh, they are always seemingly dry inside. They do have a very good mix of spices and seasonings on them.

Salad: Tossed salad with house Italian dressing - fresh mixed lettuce topped with onions, tomatoes, and croutons. The house Italian dressing is creamy (similar to French dressing), not an Italian vinaigrette like I was expecting. Still, very good salad with fresh ingredients and very good dressing. ($3)

Entree: Chicken Tortellini Modo Mio - tomatoes, broccoli, and garlic sauteed in a white wine sauce, served over tortellini pasta with chicken. This is one of my favorite dishes at Morina's. I alternate between the modo mio (my way) and alla panna (with cream). They are both delicious. ($11)

Dessert: Tiramisu with a decaf coffee. Both the tiramisu and coffee are just "okay." For my taste, their tiramisu has too much chocolate sauce and not enough rum soaked into the ladyfingers. ($6)

Wine: Bell'agio Chianti 2013 in the traditional straw-covered bottle (known as a fiasco). This is one of the top five (maybe top three) Chiantis I have ever tried. It is also priced very reasonably at $25 (from Morina's). You cannot get this wine anywhere else in town, which one of the reasons I hate living in Dexter. If you could find this vintage in a store it would only cost between $11 and $14, depending on where you bought it.

Morina's has a great atmosphere. In my experience, there are usually only three or four tables being used at any given time. This leads to better service. I would hate to eat there when the place was packed because they only ever seem to have one server working at a time. The music is not too loud, but sometimes I wish it was more authentic Italian music. After all, the family is here from Italy.

My favorite thing about Morina's is that they always give appropriate portions. It is never too much food. Most places in America like to pile plates with food. This is why I absolutely hate the concept of buffet restaurants. There is no need to overeat. Overeating is why most Americans are overweight. That and the fact Americans don't eat salads, vegetables, and fruits like they should. We just pile our plates with potatoes, pastas, and red meats. In most of the rest of the world people eat smaller meal portions than Americans, and definitely more greens, vegetables, and fruits.

At Morina's, the prices are extremely low for the quality of food you receive. I highly recommend this place for any meal. This is a great place to take the family or go on a date.

Try it out and let me know what you think! Enjoy!