WHICH VALENTINO PLEASED ME MOST?
No. For those of you old-time movie-lovers...Rudy VALENTINO didn't have a famous brother. Even if he did, I'm too young to have met either one of them...back in the 1920's.
Though I DID watch a really funny movie this evening on You Tube about Cassanova. Made in 2005, it starred Heath Ledger and Jeremy Irons.
So - back to the Valentino's...I am talking about Valentino's Grand Italian Buffet. If you are in Central Nebraska and you're hungry for an Italian...meal...don't waste your time at the Kearney Valentino's. I've been there a couple of times, hoping each time that the last one was a fluke...to no avail. But when I reluctantly discovered this other Valentino's it was love at first taste!
If you are headed West to East on Route 80, it is worth the extra 45 minute drive to Grand Island. Get off at State Road 281, turn right on Webb Road, and turn into the small shopping center right before Capital Avenue. It is next to Party City.
They give small senior discounts. If you live in the area they will even give you a punch card. After 12 visits, the 13th meal is free. All you can eat! Now that is a bargain!
The variety and freshness are both much better at Grand Island's Valentino's. You especially have marvelous choices in the late afternoon and evening when they add the roast beef au jus to the buffet. That is scrumptious.
Fat chicken fingers and fried chicken are staples. Next to that sits real mashed potatoes just like Mom's. Shrimp crowns the buffet, along with two kinds of gravy - white cream and brown. Fresh corn, veggies with carrots, and boiled cabbage square up for the vegetarians.
There is also quite a line-up of fresh, home-made pizza...mmm...yes- thick crust!
On the other side of the main dish line-up you can choose broccoli and chicken smothered in cheese, and meat lasagna. Have to admit the lasagna is not nearly as good as Stouffers, or my own home-cooked. It just doesn't have the Italian herbs we good home-cooks always use. But it will suffice when you get that tomato sauce urge, and you don't have to go through the trouble of making an entire pan.
There are also spaghetti, meat balls in sauce, and an offering of Mexican food.
A sprawling buffet of fresh salads include macaroni salad, tuna-macaroni, a bean salad, green noodle salad, your basic variety of salad greens and then peaches and oranges. The salad dressings are also delicious.
I don't think I've seen their sweet pizza crust crumb pies anywhere else like they make them here. Pizza Hut's buffet has some very plain fruit pies in comparison, but nothing as stellar as these. They top some with strawberries, blueberries, or cherries. Once I lucked out and had what I think was a peanut butter and banana, carmel pie covered with powdered sugar drizzle icing, my favorite so far.
To top off your fruit pie there is fresh frozen custard right out of the machine: vanilla, chocolate or twist. All in all it is a great bargain, even the Sunday brunch which is a little higher than the weekday regular price of around ten bucks.
Just don't expect a holiday meal when you go. Even on Easter Sunday you won't find ham or turkey. Just the regular steady line-up. But that is okay. Hopefully this is one buffet that will stick around when so many are going out of business.
When you think about how much it costs to eat, even at a fast food restaurant anymore...where sandwiches easily run $7.00 and up...it makes more sense to head on over to Valentino's Grand Italian Buffet in Grand Island. It will satisfy every one's appetite...even if you don't yearn for Italian! Or even like old movies!
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