Best Damn Take-out: Nino’s Pizzeria and Chic E D’s excel

Date: 4/14/2020

SPRINGFIELD – At this time, we are being asked to support local restaurants by ordering take-out.

If you’re like me, you have a collection of take-out menus stashed somewhere in the house, but I thought that besides relying on the tried and true, I should also try some eateries that are new to me, as well.  

The following are two Springfield independently owned restaurants that are great on service and value, but also create some very tasty food at reasonable prices.

The new one for me is Nino’s Pizza at 674 Dickinson St. They pride themselves on being “the home in the city for a $1 slice,” but my wife and I decided we wanted to try their meals.

We are very glad we did.

The place is small and it’s clear that take-out is the focus. The service was both friendly and quick.

Besides pizza, the restaurant offers a variety of dinner plates, such as an Italian combo dinner with chicken parmesan, stuffed shells, eggplant and ziti or spaghetti; baked ziti with ricotta and mozzarella; spaghetti and meatball parmigiana; spaghetti or ziti with garlic butter sauce; and Nino’s style ziti with sausage, broccoli, green peppers and onions baked in a red sauce. All of these dinners include a side salad and bread and garlic butter.

My wife and I chose two different dinners to try. I had the chicken and broccoli with ziti in a white sauce, while she had stuffed shells. Being a garlic bread guy, I also ordered their garlic bread with cheese.

When I picked up the order I was a little shocked by the weight of the bag. Once home, we unpacked the very generous portions which struck us. No exaggeration, we have had three meals from what we bought.

The food was delicious. There was plenty of chicken in my dish and the white sauce was superb. My wife greatly enjoyed the stuffed shells. The garlic cheese bread comes with a container of red sauce and could have been a meal in itself.

We will be ordering again.

The restaurant has a Facebook page but not a website. The menu is on Menu Pix at https://www.menupix.com/menudirectory/menu.php?id=375639. To order, call 734-6466.

Another restaurant we love is Chic E D’s at 1375 Carew St. I will venture to say they have the best fried chicken in the city. If you think KFC is good, you need to get some chicken from Chic E D. Prepared fresh and with great sides – I like their cole slaw and mac and cheese – the chicken tastes home-made.

Not a fried chicken fan? They also have a great fish and chips meal as well as a variety of chicken sandwiches, burgers and pasta dinners. I’ve tried one of their specialty burgers and it was excellent.

Again they don’t have a website, but you can check out their menu at www.zmenu.com/chickeds-chicken-and-grill-springfield-online-menu/ and call them at 301-8582.

What restaurant is your favorite for take-out? Drop us a line at news@thereminder.com.