"We kicked off our meal with a 2009 Banfi Chianti Classico. Since my friend was treating, I didn't catch the price, but I'm confident it was reasonable, just like the rest of the meal. By the way, this wine pairs well with meat or seafood: 4 Stars.
As for our appetizer, we ordered the fried calamari ($14). The portion was generous, and the batter wasn’t overly heavy. The only drawback was that the squid wasn’t as tender as what I recently experienced at the Anaheim White House: 4 Stars.
For my main course, I chose the seafood linguine ($17), while my friend had sandabs ($14.50, not pictured). Both entrees came with a choice of soup or salad, and we opted for the Caesar salads with anchovies. The salads were excellent; the romaine was crisp, and the anchovies added great flavor: 4 Stars.
My seafood linguine was packed with an impressive amount of seafood, including plenty of calamari and a good number of mussels and clams, but it only had one shrimp and one scallop. The noodles were just average. I would have rated it 5 Stars, but the mussels had a slight fishy odor. My friend enjoyed his sandabs as well: Both 4 Stars.
The restaurant has a classic Italian ambiance, complete with white tablecloths, and the service was exceptional. Our waiter and the rest of the staff were very attentive: Both 4 Stars.
If you find yourself in the area, Neil's is a solid alternative to other Italian restaurants nearby. The portions are huge, the food quality is good, and the service and atmosphere are both impressive."
