Palombo's earns its ever-busy status in Jackson Twp.
JACKSON TWP. ? Whenever I’ve driven past Palombo’s Italian Restaurant in Jackson Township, the parking lot has been full. No matter the day of the week, or time of day.
I decided it was time to meet a friend for dinner and explore this popular spot.
My friend Nicole and I visited on a Wednesday evening without a reservation. The restaurant was already half full, and there was a steady flow of diners behind us.
Palombo’s, originally the Zimber Inn from the early 1900s, was purchased in 1979 by Tony Palombo. He and his family extensively renovated the kitchen, dining rooms, bar area and patio, rebranding it as Palombo’s.
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We were seated in a room adjacent to the bar area, which was quite noisy, making casual conversation difficult. The diners were a mix of large parties, couples, families with young children, and senior citizens. The noise level increased as more diners filled the room.
Our waitress, Tricia, shared that she worked at Palombo’s for three years before taking a break and has been back for a year and a half. When I commented on the busy Wednesday night, she confirmed that the restaurant is always bustling.
Though I rarely order cocktails with dinner, I tried The Beverly (named after Tony Palombo’s wife), a not-too-sweet blend of Ciroc peach vodka, orange juice and a splash of soda ($10). It paired well with my meal.
A table placard featured several appetizer and entrée specials. The featured appetizers included spanakopita (homemade phyllo dough wedges stuffed with feta and spinach, $7), and three cheese risotto balls (Romano, mozzarella and ricotta cheeses deep fried with risotto and served with marinara sauce, $7). We chose the lobster cakes (house-made, with lemon dill sauce, $16). They were flavorful but somewhat mushy and not as crisp and golden brown as described.
Entrée specials included a French cut pork chop (12-ounce chop with choice of rice pilaf, pasta, potato or veggies and salad, $23) and sea scallops over pasta (scallops with a choice of vodka penne, angel hair aglio e olio, fettuccine alfredo, or linguine marinara and salad, $29). On Tricia's recommendation, Nicole opted for the lemon chicken (sautéed parmesan-crusted chicken breast in a lemon caper sauce over linguine, $19) while I chose the broiled Boston scrod (prime cut of cod, broiled with garlic butter and seasonings, $20). Both meals included a tossed salad or soup, and I selected grilled vegetables as a side for my scrod.
Nicole had the broccoli cheese soup, and I tried the Italian wedding soup. Both were flavorful and served hot.
The lemon chicken was an excellent choice. The split, pounded, lightly crusted chicken breast atop linguine was tender and generously portioned. Nicole thoroughly enjoyed it.
The broiled Boston scrod, Palombo’s top-selling dish, was a large, perfectly cooked piece of fish, seasoned to enhance but not overpower the flavor. The grilled vegetables were colorful and well-prepared, unlike the usual over- or under-cooked restaurant vegetables. We both took half of our entrees home to enjoy later.
For dessert, we shared a slice of Italian lemon cake ($7). It was moist with a light, airy cream and a hint of lemon ? perfectly satisfying.
Apart from the lobster cakes, our meal was very enjoyable. The soups provided a flavorful start, and the entrees were well-priced, fresh and well-seasoned. The dessert was a slice of lemony Italian goodness.
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We both agreed that Palombo’s is a restaurant worth returning to, and I would definitely order the broiled Boston scrod again.
Reach Bev at [email protected] or 330-580-8318.
If you go
WHAT – Palombo’s Italian Restaurant
WHERE – 4100 Portage St. NW in North Canton; 330-497-1815
HOURS – 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Kitchen closes at 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Closed Sunday.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Palombo's Italian Restaurant in Jackson Twp. earns its constant crowds
