On the perfect spring evening, with a warm sun and a clear blue sky, we were lucky enough to dine al fresco at Bravo Cucina Italiana - and sample their spring promotion.

Sundays - Thursdays, from April 10 – June 16, guests at BRAVO Cucina Italiana can choose two of BRAVO's classic Italian dishes and receive a half portion of each. The promotion includes a choice of soup or salad; dishes are priced at $14.99 during lunch and $17.99 during dinner. 

Guests can choose from the following:

Pasta Woozie: Grilled chicken, fettuccine, alfredo, spinach
Pasta BRAVO: Grilled chicken, mushrooms, rigatoni, roasted red pepper cream
Shrimp Fra Diavolo: Spicy tomato cream sauce, campanelle pasta, shrimp
Chicken Parmesan: Pomodoro, mozzarella, herb linguine
Mama's Lasagna Bolognese: BRAVO's signature meat sauce, alfredo, ricotta, mozzarella
 
In addition, try the seasonal Warm Berry Cake; drink specials including the Strawberry Fizz, Strawberry Mango Cosmo, and Strawberry Basil Smash.

We were interested in the seasonal drink specials, but wanted a non-alcoholic version. Our waitstaff, Rachel - who is a fellow traveler - created extraordinary, unique strawberry mango and strawberry basil smash drinks. To call them drinks is to not recognize her genius at mixology. They were delicious concoctions. 

Every time we've visited Bravo!, we've loved the conversations with our waitstaff. They are always interesting, friendly people with great stories. This evening was no exception. Rachel was attentive, funny, sweet, kind, helpful, and all around amazing. Kudos to Bravo for recognizing such talent. 

Bravo Cucina Italiana's Rachel - we love her!
 
It was very hard to choose what to eat. We ended up splitting a Spring dish, a fire-oven baked pizza, and the very spring-like and tasty cod. Let's dig in.

From the Spring Promotion, we chose Lobster bisque (as we always do), Pasta Woozie, and Mama's Lasagna Bolognese. 

We love lobster, and that soup was gone within minutes. The soup was smooth with bits of lobster in just the right places, and warmed just enough to keep you from getting cold from the outdoor breeze.

The pasta woozie had perfectly cooked chicken, not dry or too wet. The sauce was creamy and rich, with a hint of spices known to come up after winter's time. Get it!

The pizza...god, the pizza. One of the best we have ever had, it mixed flavors you may not think would bled perfectly. It embodied spring, even though it wasn't a part of the spring menu. The crust was thin, with a slight crunch to it. The proscuitto was delightful, the burrata had melted and was oozing goodness, and the arugula added a delightful crunch. Highly recommended.

The incredibly delicious cod fresca was served atop orzo, farro, haricot vert, grape tomatoes, and lemon butter, with a cucumber relish. The sauce was So light and flavorful, and the fish was perfectly cooked.

Let's talk dessert. Honestly, why order anything but the seasonal warm berry cake? It was what we were looking forward to the most, and it exceeded expectations by far. It was melty, fruity, soft, tart and sweet, and perfectly balanced. We devoured it (in a ladylike manner) as the sun was setting - and it was the best ending to an excellent meal.

Note: BRAVO will offer a spring gift card promotion perfect as a gift for moms, dads, and grads! For every $100 in gift cards purchased, guests will receive a free $25 bonus card.  

Learn more: https://www.bravoitalian.com/

Visit our local Bravo in Grand Rapids, Michigan (and ask for Rachel!): https://www.bravoitalian.com/knapp_039_s_crossing.html

All photos courtesy and copyright Wandering Educators