Nicholas Ballew (Big Back Ballew)
Some meals are fine. Some are memorable. And then there are the ones where the table goes quiet because everyone’s too busy eating. That was our experience at LaCascio’s Scratch Italian
This is hands down some of the best Italian food I’ve ever had in East Texas. Even better, it earned the rare unanimous vote from my wife and our twin boys. No debates. No compromises. No emergency backup orders. Everyone was locked in.
We started with the Italian nachos, minus the black olives and jalapeños. Pasta chips shouldn’t work this well, but they absolutely do. Alfredo sauce everywhere, sausage doing exactly what sausage was put on this earth to do, and not a single chip left standing.
Next up was the shrimp Lindale, and honestly, that lemon basil cream sauce deserves its own fan club. Rich, bright, and borderline addictive. We were dipping anything within arm’s reach into it and had zero shame about it.
They also brought out fresh bread with butter that I’m convinced was handcrafted by a higher power. Warm, soft, and dangerous. The kind of bread that makes you forget you ordered actual food.
Everything here is made in house and it shows. Not in a “we say that on the menu” way, but in a “someone genuinely cares about what’s hitting the table” way. Service was phenomenal from start to finish, attentive without hovering. The dining room is beautiful and elegant without feeling stuffy. You can wear jeans and still feel like you’re somewhere nice. And the prices felt more than fair for the quality. No post meal wallet regret.
For our main dishes, both kids went the chicken parmesan route. One ordered the chicken parmesan sandwich, and the pesto was an elite move. The other went classic chicken parmesan but subbed alfredo and fettuccine, which is the correct decision if you enjoy happiness. Both pieces of chicken were incredibly tender and cooked to perfection.
My wife ordered the chicken marsala and barely spoke after it arrived, which is always the highest compliment. Rich, balanced, and exactly how marsala should be.
I went with the lemon basil shrimp, and it was easily one of the best dishes I’ve had in quite some time. Perfectly cooked shrimp, bold but balanced flavor, and a sauce I’m still thinking about.
Dessert was non negotiable. We went with the strawberry cinnamon bread pudding and the caramel topped cheesecake. Two different desserts, two flawless executions, and zero leftovers.
Bottom line, LaCascio’s Scratch Italian delivers across the board. Food, service, atmosphere, and value all dialed in. This is the kind of place you confidently recommend, bring people you actually like to, and quietly hope doesn’t get so popular that getting a table turns into a problem. We’ll absolutely be back and next time we’ll make sure to catch the dinner menu (after 5pm.)
… moreRichard N
I love the attention to detail of this restaurant. I ordered the Greek salad with grilled chicken and it was exceptional. The capers were a nice touch as were the olives (which I normally avoid). The hint of rosemary in the bread ahead of the meal was a pleasant surprise as well. Highly recommend!
… moreC W
This is a cute place inside! I love the decor. The bar side is especially nice. The food here is always delicious. The service can use polishing. The staff seemed disorganized and flustered. However, it’s the food that would make us come back! I really loved the shrimp Lindale and the short rib ravioli! Both were very good! It’s a local restaurant worth a try!
… moreShawna Bristow
If you like your sauces VERY sweet, then you’ll love this place. I like tasting the wine in my marinara and marsala sauce. Both of their dishes were horribly sweet to me. The pasta and meats were exceptional. The Italian nachos? Best out of 3 restaurants I’ve tried. I liked my Chicken and Shrimp Diablo ok but it didn’t taste like it was just made for me. Not temperature hot and a little dry. I feel like this restaurant needs a few “tweaks” to be worth the money we spent, but overall it was a wonderful meal and we will be back!
… moreC Stew
The drinks are 10/10! The staff is 10/10! Unfortunately when it came to the food it was really lack luster. I ordered the chicken broccolini and I wish I had taken a picture it wasn’t bad but it tasted like a frozen meal. The pasta was overcooked and breaking apart, the chicken seems boiled and sliced then tossed in the Alfredo sauce, and there was no broccolini just broccoli with tough stems. The pasta nachos were okay, the steak Marsala to be honest I’m not sure if my friend liked it, (we threw the leftovers away) the cheesecake had a weird texture and a rough twang at the end of the two bites I took. I thought it would be a nice ambiance but it was super bright in the restaurant. The staff is AMAZING, bar is SPECTACULAR, the food was just not for me. I wouldn’t go back for dinner, but with the staff and bar I would absolutely go see them!
… moreEdwin Portier
Very Impressive ! Went today for lunch after church. Had the brunch menu. We started with Italian nachos and boy, were they ever loaded. We have had these before at other Italian restaurants and never were they in the same ballpark as LaCascio’s are. Wife had meatball sliders and I had the Greek salad. Everything was very good and service was outstanding. The atmosphere here is excellent. Can’t wait to go back for dinner.
… moreC. Wade
I ate at this restaurant at about 7:30 in the afternoon. The food was really good. I had the Chicken Marsala! The chicken tasted like it was a pre-made patty and I had a few noodles stuck together, however the sauce and flavors were very delicious! There is complimentary bread and butter. I would go back and try something different.
… moreCindy Williams
We found a gem!!!!!! The food here was incredibly delicious. We will definitely be coming back!
… moreIsrael Moreira
They did a great job at this place. The atmosphere is incredible, service was very good, and the food is outstanding. My wife and I ordered the meatballs as an appetizer and I have to say they were probably the best I’ve ever had with fried basil, marinara sauce, mozzarella, in a garlic buttered bun. We then shared the chicken Parmesan and topped it off with the tiramisu. All outstanding!
… moreJoni Nilson
The food is absolutely delicious and so carefully prepared! I am gluten free (not by choice) and they are so knowledgeable and attentive when preparing my meal. The food is so fresh and hasn’t wavered from when it first opened. The service and atmosphere, drinks etc are bare none. You won’t be sorry for making the drive to Lindale if you aren’t local. It’s that good!!
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