Food Review: Cherry Street Artisan and Bambino's

After both getting paid from our new jobs (and realizing that apparently Missouri income taxes are oh so much lower than Wisconsin's), the Hubs and I decided to go out for dinner.

But, first we stopped off at our very favorite coffee shop in Columbia -- The Cherry Street Artisan. Cherry Street makes one of the best cups of coffee in town, and don't get me started on the double-chocolate cookies (or as I like to call them the chocolate-chocolate-yum-yum-cookies).

So, after some hemming and hawing, the Hubs and I decided to check out Bambino's. To make it clear, it was only new to me, as Bambino's is both in the Hubs' old stomping grounds and he used to earn a part-time paycheck in his grad school days delivering pasta and subs. I'd been begging for a trip, so tonight was it.

First of all, we started the evening splitting a margarita. It was oh-so-tasty and only $3! Really? God Bless Missouri.

We started off with some garlic cheese bread. I seriously think it was the best cheese bread I have ever had. It just melted in my mouth. Don't skip it if you make a trip.

The Hubs was digging his Pasta Al Bambino. I got whole wheat penne (my favorite) with Alfredo Carbonara. Mine could have used a bit more gusto (a touch more of cheese maybe?). And, let me tell you cheese bread and alfredo in one meal is about enough to drive you into lactose intolerance in one night. I think next time I'll go with something less rich for one course or the other.