Mona Pizza And Pasta

Where: 6104 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.565.0505, www.monapizzaandpasta.com
Hours: Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday and Saturday till 11 p.m.
Cuisine: Almost 70 Italian American menu items - calzones, gnocchi, 
hot sandwiches, traditional and specialty pizzas, pastas, desserts
Scene: Casual, family friendly dining
Drinkies: Wine, soft drinks, bottled water, juices
Prices: $4.25-$21.95

ANNOUNCER: Across from LA Fitness on Sixth Avenue in Tacoma, Mona Pizza and Pasta opened in early spring. It serves Italian American cuisine in the form of almost 70 menu items - calzones, gnocchi, hot sandwiches, traditional and specialty pizzas, pastas, desserts, and even low-carb meals. The most expensive item on the menu is a 15-inch deluxe pizza for $21.95. This is definitely a casual place where you can take a family of four and not have to decide which of the utility bills will have to wait till next month to be paid. We're told delivery is available to Tacoma, Ruston, University Place and Fircrest.

JAKE: The woman who sat us did not seem enthused. Her lukewarm greeting was not slightly welcoming. I tried not to get judgey too fast; however, first impressions are everything. I breathed in delicious garlic, meat and bread scents and tried to relax. The place looks pretty much the same as it did when it was Opa Greek Cuisine. The fireplace was cold and empty. Sad since fire adds a lot of ambiance and visual comfort.

JASON: Judgey? Next you'll say matchy-matchy or use some other crap TV show jargon. Predictable appetizers: bread, bread covered in cheese, cheese filled something, or deep-fried meat. Ribs were the exception, and I just wasn't feeling it. We decided to be creative and opted for a full-size salad to start off our exciting dining experience at dazzling Mona Pizza Pasta. Energetic grilled salmon fillet seemed rather miniscule atop crisp romaine and mixed garden greens, red onion, crumbled gorgonzola and ruby-colored tomato wedges. I'm a sucker for good balsamic vinaigrette; this one did just fine. A fresh lemon squeeze kicked the salmon up a notch, too.

JAKE: In both size and price ($9.50), it worked as an appetizer. Presentation seemed odd - a deep, clear glass bowl for salad reminiscent of kitchen mixing bowls. Jason, some of your adjective use doesn't fit with what you're describing, by the way.

JASON: I think you're right to be Mr. Smart Guy and correct my grammar - it went away with "judgey." I'm trying to liven up our fairly blasé Wednesday night dinner with some unexpected descriptors. Let's face it, brother; sitting across from you while you smell everything and lick your fingers isn't the most kickass time on the town. Soup du jour was a thin broth - a lentil and scarce vegetable number that arrived as hot as our initial greeting when we walked in. We told the hostess/server, too, since she ended up waiting on us. People who came in well after us received their food first. I freakin' hate that.

JAKE: Well, you talk with your mouth full. I had a hard time choosing between pasta and pizza. Rosemary chicken ravioli won. It wasn't bangin', but I wasn't disappointed either. Three to four inches in diameter, these were healthy pasta pockets. I opted for rich Alfredo sauce with parmesan versus marinara. Rosemary, garlic, and basil made for an incredible trio of taste. A pang for vegetables hit halfway through, though.

JASON: Good thing my vegetarian lasagna was loaded with veggies so you could get your green fix. Onion, broccoli and spinach lay between mad cheese, yo. Ricotta, parmesan, provolone, Romano, oh yeah. Served in its own baking dish/ceramic boat, tangy marinara fully enveloped the lasagna. The topper of mozzarella was toasted into crisp, bubbled brown spots in places. I love crisp spots. Even meatless, lasagna is a serious comfort food. The house Cabernet Sauvignon was a jammy, spicy vino that went well with your dish, Jake.

JAKE: After our heavy entrees, dessert wasn't tempting. New York cheesecake, chocolate cake, baklava, tiramisu, and cookie crazy ice cream seemed like rather uninspired selections. Unwilling to face what we felt was probably previously frozen, generic, high fructose corn syrup laden, calorie max-out dessert, and given the fact that Jason was almost in a food coma post meal, we declined - not that it was even offered.

JASON: Too stuffed to think, I did grab a to-go menu on the way out; there are coupons on it. Word.