19 May 2011

#111: Travinia Italian Kitchen

Date Visited: 9 April 2011

Meal: Dinner

Diners: 4 - Me, Wendy, Bob, & Joyce

Experience: Travinia Italian Kitchen is another new restaurant in the Village at Leesburg. We heard good things about it and decided to give 'em a try. Travinia is actually a chain of restaurants and they currently have eight locations (2 in VA, 5 in SC, and 1 in NC). On this Saturday night visit the place was packed, and we were joined by our good friends Bob and Joyce. It seemed a very family-friendly place. Oddly, Travinia doesn't take reservations except for parties of six or more.

We began with a mini loaf of focaccia bread and olive oil; pretty typical for an Italian restaurant, but nontheless delicious. We decided to share an appetizer called Italian Nachos ("Lightly fried chips layered with Italian sausage, mozzarella, black olives, tomatoes, scallions, banana peppers and an asiago cream sauce"); it was unusual but good.

As for the main courses... Bob got the Chicken Marsala, and commented that it was "the second best i've ever had(!)" Joyce got a house salad with balsamic vinegar dressing and the Pine Nut Encrusted Salmon, and after finishing it said, "It was very good; I ate it all!" Wendy got a bowl of Tomato Basil soup ("chunky!") and the Scampi Travinia ("Jumbo shrimp sautéed in garlic butter, herbs, diced roma tomatoes and lemon white wine sauce with capellini"). Her comments: "sweet shrimp with a light and delicious cream sauce." I got a glass of La Terre Cabernet Sauvignon and the Sinatra Chicken ("Pan seared chicken tenderloins topped with smoked pancetta, mozzarella cheese and a light semi-sweet Grand Marnier cream sauce with pasta."), which I enjoyed very much.

We had a good time and a good meal at Travinia, give 'em a try yourself.

Location: 1605 Village Market Blvd. SE #104, Leesburg, VA, 20175, 703-777-6511

Web site: http://www.traviniaitaliankitchen.com/

Total bill: $60.22 + $12.00 tip = $72.22