G-Vegas Magazine.com - Food Critic Corner with Bigus

Carolina Pizza & Pasta Works

Though it is not my tradition to review a restaurant that has previously been featured in this publication, I couldn’t resist putting my thoughts in on one of Greenville’s most popular restaurants. During my predecessor’s time with this publication, food critic Dawn Roberson visited Carolina Pizza & Pasta Works, lovingly known as “CPW’s.” Her article appeared in the very first issue of G-Vegas Magazine. Now that some time has gone by since that review, I recently visited CPW’s for an update.

Opened in 1995 by owners Ralph Walton and Todd McGregor, Carolina Pizza & Pasta Works quickly became a local favorite. The pasta dishes are anything but traditional. Though traditional “Italian” dishes such as Spaghetti Bolognese and Lasagna are offered, many of the available dishes are given a southern flair or an outright facelift to suit the tastes of local diners. The menu is not set in stone either, as CPW’s features a rotating theme menu that changes every four to six weeks that include seasonal, and at times exotic ingredients.
Located in located in the Stanton Square Shopping Center near Pitt County Memorial Hospital, CPW’s exterior, expectantly doesn’t offer the same aesthetic appeal as stand alone restaurants. Upon entering the building however, you are welcomed to a classy, yet unpretentious environment. “We are upscale, but casual” said Associate Manager Lorrie Palaruan. The wait-staff are well dressed and groomed wearing white shirts and ties, black pants, and black aprons. Well presented servers are crucial to gaining insight in a restaurants commitment to their customers, and it seems CPW’s takes this commitment seriously. To further display their commitment to their patrons, CPW’s encourages their staff to take a more personal approach to their diners. “Our goal is to make our customers feel like family” said Palaruan “we try to make you a part of the family.” In addition, the restaurant shows off their engine room as they feature an open kitchen, complete with chefs hard at work in their traditional white chef coats. The dining area felt open and not cluttered though it seats well over 100 diners.

After waiting shortly for my dining partner to arrive, I was anxious to order. I decided to start with an appetizer featured on this month’s “Miami Spice” menu, which was called “Jalapenos on the Half-shell.” For my main course, I was offered an item not on standard menu or the rotating menu, but special Pasta of the day, which was a Pepper jack Shrimp Linguini. Though I typically write only about my orders, I did take the time to sample my partner’s choices which were the Honduran Beef & Shrimp Chowder from the Miami Spice Menu and The Carolina Cajun Pasta with Andouille Sausage.

Waiting what seemed to be only a moment filled with CPW’s homemade bread and honey herb butter, our appetizers arrived. Presented with the same care of any fine dining establishment, I was more than ready to dive into my Jalapenos on the Half-shell. The name was a bit misleading as they are not on a shell, but grilled jalapenos cut in half, filled with a delicious cream cheese and topped with lightly cooked bacon. Being a big fan of spicy food, I couldn’t believe I had never thought to serve this deliciously spicy appetizer myself. My partner’s Honduran Beef & Shrimp chowder was also impressive, with the taste and texture of a light clam chowder, but the boldness of Latin and southern flavors. Soon after leaving two empty dishes which once contained our starters, two small salads arrived. Personally, I am very used to being serve a simple romaine or iceberg salad featuring little more than a crouton and a tomato slice. I was delighted to see that I was today served a true garden salad which featured very fresh spinach, spring greens, cucumbers, onion, and tomato, with a small sprinkle of cheese. Happy with everything so far, I gladly welcomed our main course to the table with a hungry lust in my eye. My pepper-jack shrimp linguini was well prepared. The pepper-jack sauce delivered the spice and rich flavor I expected, while not overpowering its other ingredients. Just before tapping out to my extraordinarily full stomach, I sampled my partner’s Carolina Cajun Pasta, which was delightfully hearty. The blackened chicken matched with perfectly cooked penne pasta and Cajun cream sauce made it very hard to pick a favorite between our two meals.

CPW’s reputation is once again proven by an excellent dining experience. It is no wonder why they have been a Greenville favorite for nearly 14 years. CPW’s is located in the Stanton Square shopping center at 2422 Stantonsburg Road. Reservations can be made by calling 252-757-7756. More information is available on their website at www.cpws.biz.

Location: B+ | Atmosphere: A | Service: A+ | Food Quality: A
Price Range: $4 - $25
Overall Grade: A

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