By the time my companion and I arrived at the restaurant we were more than ready for dinner. An array of appetizers were available including bruschetta ($6.50), garlic bread ($2), mozzarella sticks ($6), Jalapeno poppers ($6.50), onion rings ($5), and Cheecho Fries —smothered in bacon, cheddar and mozzarella cheeses ($8.25). For seafood lovers there was crab toast ($11.75), fried calamari ($10.50) crab puffs at Market Price and barbecue shrimp wrapped in bacon with barbecue sauce ($10.75).
We chose the shrimp tostada ($12). It arrived in short order and we quickly devoured the toasted homemade bread covered with shrimp cooked in a garlic and parmesan sauce. Delicious! Salads followed shortly and they were served chilled. I had a basic ranch, but my companion had a wonderful blue cheese dressing filled with large pieces of his favorite cheese.
It was difficult to choose an entree because the selection is so huge. We watched other diners’ orders being brought to their tables, which further confused the issue because everything looked so appetizing. The people next to us had ordered sub sandwiches and burgers — and Genova’s offers both hot and cold subs with sides of French fries, curly fries or pasta salad, or you can have onion rings for just $1.25 more.
Hot subs range in price from $5.50 (half) to $19.50 (whole) and include favorites like chicken, eggplant, sausage Parmigiana, and charbroiled chicken. A number of steak subs are also available. Cold subs include all the basics one would expect in luncheon meats and shrimp salad. Smaller versions of many subs are available as sandwiches with a smaller price tag of $6 to $8. Wraps round out this portion of the menu — $8.75 for a Greek salad version to $14.75 for a Chesapeake, stuffed with crab and shrimp salad seasoned with Old Bay.
From the entrée menu, my friend chose Chicken Francesco ($18.25), a boneless chicken breast prepared with a marsala sauce and mushrooms, topped with mozzarella cheese and served on a bed of fettuccini alfredo.
I had Chicken Francese ($15.25), a boneless chicken breast cooked in a white cream and lemon butter sauce over angel hair pasta. Both chicken breasts were cooked to perfection and were moist and tender. However both sauces left a little to be desired. I felt that someone had a heavy hand with the lemon juice as it overpowered the dish. His sauce had a lack of flavor one comes to associate with a savory mushroom based sauce.
We would both return to Genova’s, however, because service was good overall and the quality of the food was top notch.
Genova’s also offers a carry out section and bar, as well as pool tables and entertainment.
Genova’sRestaurant
230 Hanover Pike(North Carroll Plaza)
Hampstead
11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday
11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday
410-239-4100
www.Genovasrestaurant.com
