Morina's - Dexter, MO

Date of dining experience: February 17, 2016 and February 19, 2016

Place: Morina's Italian Restaurant

Location: 903 US-60 in Dexter, MO

This is my third post about this restaurant and contains my fourth and fifth visits.

Bread (both times): House rolls. These are pretty good, but only when they are fresh and hot. They are definitely better if you ask for some dipping oil or wait to eat them until you can soak up your pasta sauce.

Salad (both times): Caesar Salad ($7) - Romaine lettuce and croutons tossed in their homemade Caesar dressing, which is very good. I'd venture to say better than most restaurant Caesar dressings. It is definitely better than anything you can buy in a bottle.

Entree on Feb. 17: Morina Special ($13) - Chicken and sausage sauteed with red peppers, ham, and black olives in white wine and light marinara sauce, served over spaghettini pasta. This dish was really good, but it is probably my least favorite of the five entrees from Morina's that have made it to my blog.

Wine with meal: A bottle of Bell'agio Chianti in a traditional fiasco. Audry and I both love this wine and, of course, a good Chianti always compliments a pasta very well.

Entree on Feb. 19: Chicken Aristocrat ($11) - Topped with an eggplant slice and mozzarella cheese, sauteed in a creamy alfredo sauce with a touch of marinara sauce, serviced over spaghettini pasta. This dish was very good. It is basically the same as the Chicken Genovese I have written about, but with eggplant instead of asparagus. This is a very good option if you are looking to mix it up a little bit and deviate from your regular choices.

Wine with meal: Two glasses of Cabernet Sauvignon. When they run out of Chianti, this is really the only other viable option.

Dessert (both times): Cannoli! You can't find a better cannoli in a rural area anywhere. At only $5, it's well worth the price.

Coffee: The coffee at Morina's goes well with their desserts and is not the worst coffee ever. However, it is also definitely not the best coffee ever.

Morina's has a great atmosphere, great service, and typically pretty good background music. Ask for Abby to be your waitress if you go on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. She is absolutely great!

The prices at Morina's are extremely low for the quality of food you receive. This is a great place to go on a date or with the entire family. The only thing that has changed since the restaurant opened, much to my distaste, is the portion size. The entrees have become much bigger, American-sized portions. But when you are being criticized by overindulgent Americans on the verge of gluttony, I suppose you have to do what is necessary for you to stay in business.

Overall, even if I have to take home leftovers, I love this place. If you have never tried it or haven't eaten there in a while, you should make the trip. Let me know what you think once you try it! Enjoy!