Day 220: Stroll over to Grazie’s for some pizza

I’m a quarter Italian but I like to think of myself as a full-blooded “giovane donna.” I could live off a pasta-only diet, I make a lot of wild hand gestures, and to my WASP-y husband I often find myself exasperatingly saying “I’m not yelling. I’m Italian!” So I was thrilled when a Italian pizza and pasta shop called Grazie’s opened up a half-mile from my house. I made the ten-minute walk the second day it was open to sample the carmelized onion and goat cheese pizza. I really dug the way the shop embraced the Italy concept. Everything was in red, green and white, from the menu to the Grazie’s sign. They had a pizza oven, but also quite a few pastas, salads and sandwiches available. Grazie’s also has a small bar area with Italian wines and beer to sip. Seating options were a bit limited – a few tables inside and outside. I ordered my pizza to-go and it came quickly and was delicious. (Though not quite as good as my top three – Decent, Rummy’s and Riccardo’s.) There are a few cons, too. It can get smoky inside on a busy night, and the busier it gets the longer the wait. I went back a few nights later and ordered a different pizza. It wasn’t quite as good, which I chalked up to busy, distracted pizza boys on a Friday night. Try stopping by Grazie’s on a weeknight and definitely eat outside. It’s pretty kid-friendly, with a “bambinos” menu.

Address: 3196 Merchant’s Row Boulevard

Day 39: Eat at The Crepe Vine

The Crepe Vine brings a little bit of France to Tallahassee. For those of you unfamiliar with this traditional French dish, crepes are very thin pancakes stuffed with a variety of ingredients. More typically, crepes are made with sweet ingredients like chocolate, fruit, honey or Nutella (hazelnut and chocolate). At The Crepe Vine, diners will find a robust menu. The restaurant offers breakfast and dessert options as well as sandwiches made with traditional ingredients like lettuce, deli meats and cheese. (I was excited to find a veggie patty option). To me, the real draw is the dessert crepes. The picture above is of the “Afternoon Delight,” which is bananas, strawberries, peanut butter and honey. The Crepe Vine is locally-owned though its polished menu and matching decor make it look like a chain.

Address: 2020 West Pensacola and 1304 North Monroe