Inky's Italian 3945 N. Detroit Ave.

Friday night in Toledo? Where should we go? Toledo has a number of choices since it is the test market for national chains. We have more restaurants per capita then most Cities in the midwest, so there is a wide range of choices.

Greg and I had received recommendations for an Italian restaurant that we'd never been to Inky's, a home-style Italian restaurant located at 3945 N Detroit Ave.

I have lived in Toledo for the past 17 years. I don't know much about the history of the restaurant, but I know enough to share with you that it has been around a long--long enough to be considered a Toledo tradition. Everyone to whom I mentioned our weekend dinning plans to, more or less freaked out that we hadn't been there. We had heard of Inky's but just never ventured there. The area it is located in is an older part of the city that was disrupted by the highway when it was put in.

As we arrived, the setting sun was still relatively high in the sky. I mention this because in Toledo the overcast has been overwhelmingly depressing this past Winter, so it was refreshing to drink in the sun, a nice way to begin the evening; I was excited about the promise of a good meal.

I had in mind a home-style meal that we had over two years ago while we were visiting Chicago. The restaurant there is named Maggiano's located on 516 N. Clark St. Wonderful! Everything was served family style. Greg got gnhocci with sausage and fresh sage. I had the wild mushroom stuffed ravioli, but I digress. I'll try to revisit this in a Chicago post later; we ate at several incredible restaurants there, several that I would recommend.

Atmosphere:
The parking lot was full. This place looks like a little dive almost like a bar. I wasn't sure what to expect as I entered, but it was surprisingly spacious. The bar was located to the left as you entered the small building from the entrance that faced Detroit Ave. We passed spacious booths that lined the wall that enclosed the bar, as we were seated in the larger dining room that was obviously designated to seat families. We were seated by a polite teen that seemed intrigued by our dinner guest Fawad. Fawad is our Pakistani, atheist, ska, punk friend who wears nothing but dock martins everywhere. The dining room was absent of people of color until we arrived, but everyone seemed to settle in when another table of Inky's regulars greeted us. The dinning room was clean decorated with plants and painted a pleasant green. Very pleasant and clean.

Service:
The waitresses were fantastic. No complaints. In fact, if you know me, you'll know that I like those who talk back. Our waitress came over at one point to ask how we were doing, and I must have made a face that she misinterpreted. She responded saucily with a "what do you mean by that . . . you don't like it?" I enjoyed this attitude and exchange. It made me feel like I was in someones home where they care about the food they put in front of their guest. She was awesome.

Food:
Menu was good. I was disappointed to see that there was no gnhocci which happens to be my favorite. But, right away, my eye was drawn to the egg plant Parmesan. My mind was set. Greg got the manicotti. Fawad got the chicken cachatori. Sorry, I can't spell. I'll come back and correct these later. Anyway, the salad sucked, lettuce with some tomatoes and bad dressing (I had blue cheese-awful). But, I wasn't there for salad.

The meals were served with spaghetti. I don't think homemade pasta, but I could be wrong. My eggplant was fantastic; I'd highly recommend. My only complaint is the homemade sauce was to thin. I personally prefer a thicker sauce. And, there was too much of it. I'm surprised I didn't wear half of it home. Fawad loved the chicken. And, Greg was in heaven with the manicotti. The reader should understand that it doesn't take much for Greg to be happy where food is concerned (chili tofu for those of you who know us--need I say more).

Overall, I'd give Inky's a high rating. I will definitely go back for the eggplant. I also want to go back for the pizza. The table next to us got a pie, and it looked beautiful. I learned from guest at another table that they preferred Inky's pizza over any other in the City. I can believe it from the looks of what was brought to their table. I say this as someone who is loyal to CALVINO'S (more later). Can't wait to give it a try.

The only complaints I have is that there was too much sauce, and the attitude of other guests to the presence of a person of color in their dinning room. I don't think I mistook the unease, but the waitresses more then made up for this attitude in the way they treated us. Despite their youth, they were welcoming, professional, and went out of their way to make us comfortable.

As for cost, I didn't pay. Three large meals, drinks, desserts, plus tip--for $45. I little steep for me, but overall reasonable. It was no Maggiono's, but were not in Chicago's little Italy either.

For more reviews on Inky's, http://local.yahoo.com/readreviews?id=15510487