Covino’s Pasta & Pizza

I would absolutely come back! We ate here for dinner last night, and I had the chicken ravioli with basil cream sauce, and my husband had the stromboli. We also had the house salads and the house bread. Seriously, we don’t have one complaint! I left saying it was one of the best pasta dishes I’ve ever bad, and I’m honestly not even a big fan of ravioli. Yum yum yum!

Really good food. Enjoyed watching the game with the other patrons. Great whole-​in-​the wall place to eat.

Chicken aristocrat, BYOB and the cozy environment, fostered by the owner and his crew, making you feel that you belong to their place makes this small neighborhood restaurant a must try.

What a treat!!! No reservations & BYOB! Casual, great, authentic Italian that will make you feel like you are in Brooklyn! Had never been here and was a little skeptical once we drove up. The skepticism ended the minute we walked in the door. Met regular customers who told us how to get seated, showed us the wine glasses for our BYOB, and the night got better from there. The pizza and fried chicken wings were classics (yes, chicken wings). The food was delicious and inexpensive with large portions to share. Definite must do if you are not in a hurry. Lively atmosphere with Joe, the owner, greeting, mingling and enjoying meeting his patrons. A return visit will occur soon.

We love dining with locals. My cousin and his wife, Plano residents, hosted us at Covino’s. The braciola was fork-​tender, the manicotti excellent and the marinara sauce was to die for! Owner Joe Covino has brought a huge piece of New York gastronomy down to Texas. Be sure to get there early before the line starts! We’ll be back — for sure!

Where to start, where to start…
When I called at 7:30 to see what the wait was, I was greeted by a short «Covino’s» by the girl who answered the phone, and was told that it was an hour wait «longer if you don’t get here soon». The tone of whoever answered the phone was CLEARLY rude and it was clear she was upset. I’ve worked customer service. I know what it sounds like. So we ignore the tone and decided to go right away because we wanted a table. When we got there, there were tables open inside and outside. So no wait. Girl on the phone just did not want us coming in apparently. After standing in the entry that looks like it should be the back room, someone finally came up to us and told us to pick a seat. We choose the less dirty of the two table outside, and when we sat the waiter took a wet rag out of his back pocket and swept all the dirty food/​crumbs onto the ground. It was only later that I noticed the empty beer cans lying on the floor next to our patio table.
My husband left to go get a bottle of wine (It’s BYOB– corking fee is $ 1.50 we were told $ 2.50) and he came back with two. Is it normal to charge a corking fee for a bottle that doesn’t get opened? Because we were.
Our waiter only came over to use to take our order and bring our food. He never checked on us. I had to remind him of the cheesy garlic bread appetizer I had ordered when our food was brought out. He then brought out the garlic bread and our cold dinner rolls that I assume we were supposed to be given before the meal, since that’s what they do at every other restaurant in the country.
There was a man who I assume is the owner going around to all the tables and checking on them. He didn’t check on us. Maybe we weren’t dressed right?
I ordered the Braciole for my husband and it was mediocre. It would have been a better meal if the vegetables that came with it were cooked and/​or seasoned. I would have been happy with either one. They were blanched (barely cooked and cold) and they didn’t even bother to put salt on them.
We were not offered dessert (we wouldn’t have accepted but it would have been nice to be treated nicely once throughout this experience) or coffee and we could tell the waiter was waiting to give us our check so we could go. So we paid (two corking fees for one bottle?!) and left.
Basically, my husband and I are stumped as to why this place gets such good reviews and the only reason we can figure is because its BYOB and everyone gets wasted and can’t tell the difference.
Do not go here. Dirty restaurant, bad service, and mediocre food that by the time you do get it, you’re so fed up that complaining isn’t an option.

The food is delicious. I’ll say that.
However, I was irked with the corkage fees my friend and I were charged on each MINI wine bottle – that didn’t even require a bottle opener. I expected one charge… but not four, how crazy? I didn’t want to make a fuss in front of my friend who had never been there before, but it was off-​putting. It cost more for us to BYOB than order a glass of house wine at another restaurant. I definitely regret not saying anything while I was there.

Oh my, oh my, oh my.
Well worth the wait and oh-​so delicious. My sister has been raving about this place ever since she got a recommendation from a friend. I just thought, hm, another Italian-​American joint way out in the suburbs. It can wait.
No.
I was wrong.
So, so wrong.
The menu is basic enough. There are several pizza/​pasta items, certain specials each night, and a build-​your-​own-​pasta section. Brilliant. Never have I ever been so excited since Pasta Company closed. Judge away.
Built my own pasta, obviously, linguini with tomato cream sauce and meatballs. Best. Thing. Ever.
It’s also BYOB, if that’s important to you. There’s a small corkage fee per bottle.

We love this place! Their food and service is always top notch. They have been in business for over 25 years. They get busy and you may have to wait for a table but it is always prompt and friendly service. The owners love this community and truly care about delivering above board service and food. The wait staff is incredible! Kelly is one of the best in the industry. She always strives to make you feel at home.
We realize that some people will skew the ratings of a restaurant by exaggerated comments. This staff and owners have never left a table wait more than 5 minutes. Should you see someone commenting poorly you may want to check their Unilocal record.

As happens with so many places when they get somewhat successful, the service has gone down terribly. Our server, Kelly, threw menus on our table and then did not reappear for a good 15 minutes. We asked twice if we could get some service and waited while other tables seated after us were helped. We finally left. We’ve been here several times but not after tonite and I’m pretty confident no one will care. There are a lot of restaurants in the area to choose from so not worried. The food is not that spectacular, typical American Italian.

Best neighborhood restaurant in Plano…
It’s hard to say what we like best about Covino’s. Is it the delicious homemade Italian dishes, the fresh healthy salads with that creamy ranch style dressing, is it the friendly way Joe or his son greet you when you arrive, or is it the comfortable «I’m at home» feeling of their dining area, or is it because we can bring our own favorite beverages to enjoy?
In fact, it’s all these reasons that make Covino’s the best neighborhood restaurant in Plano. We are regulars. Go here and you’ll become a regular too.

Wow is all I can say about this place! The service was amazing and so was our waiter Brett. We had the Abruzzi bread as a starter and I highly recommend ordering it as it incorporates the perfect ratio of fresh spinach, provolone, and pepperoni. The dishes are made to order but the wait is TOTALLY worth it. We can not wait to try Covino’s again!

Covino’s is a neighborhood place because it’s off the beaten path, so it get’s more local regulars than anything.
However, it’s really worth traveling for. I would drive an hour once a month to experience the amazing food, the service of the «well-​oiled-​machine» waitstaff, and the benefit of byob.
Tonight we had the Abruzzi Bread, a log of thin crust stuffed with sausage, pepperoni, provolone and spinach. It normally comes with marinara, but Monttein and I recommend trying it with the spicy Arrabiata sauce.
We also enjoyed the Chicken Piccata, served with just the right amount of small capers, butter and a hint of lemon. The linguini was cooked to perfection and nicely soaked up the lemon butter.
And, of course, we couldn’t leave without sampling the Chicken Aristocrat, a tender chicken breast topped with eggplant, provolone, and a rich tomato cream sauce. The ziti was also cooked al dente, which added a hearty texture to the sauce.
We brought a young Zinfandel and our own wine stems to round out the meal. We rarely leave without ordering a lasagna to go, as it reheats so nicely.
To top of the fine meal and service, Joe and sone Joseph come by to visit and sit to talk about old times in New York.
Don’t miss this gem, and come early if you don’t want to wait for a table.

Wow! My girlfriend’s family brought me here a few weeks ago and she and I have been back 3 times since.
First, let me start by saying the Abruzzi bread might just very well be the best thing I have ever eaten. I love, love, love it!!!
I also highly recommend the baked ziti with tomato cream sauce, the amazing lasagna, and the chicken aristocrat. They are all stellar!
I only have one bummer to report. The last time we came, I had to try the braciole. I have never had this dish before, but I don’t think this was the best example. The beef was dry and tough. Very disappointing. But this is the only blip I have encountered at Covino’s.
The staff is amazing (and it doesn’t hurt if everyone knows your girlfriend!) and is BYOW. We’ve been there on Friday and Saturday nights and although small, the turnover is pretty quick and the wait is not very long.
I cannot wait to try the pizza. Every time we go, I see all the pizzas at the other tables and they look delicious!
If you even remotely like Italian food and are in the Plano area, I can highly recommend Covino’s!
Mangia!

This place quite out of the way, a bit cramped, but has great Italian food, especially the sauces they use (Perfect consistency and flavor).
I had a Veal Parmigiana, which was amazing with Diablo sauce. The Calamari appetizer was a bit tough, with a bit too much breading, but it’s an Italian restaurant (not seafood), and this area is quite far from the coast; not bad by any stretch.
I had some doubts about the Mussels Marinara; it tasted very starchy and pretty much fell apart when I tried to eat it, which can be a sign of under-​cooked noodles made from flour. When I complained, the owner told me that was the way it was supposed to be, and that the linguini was apparently «freshly made;» that is to say, the noodles weren’t salted, dried, and hardened, put into a bag, then shipped off to the restaurant and boiled later, but rather, the dough was made, shaped into linguini, and cooked, all in the restaurant. I don’t know if noodles were actually undercooked (I only had a small taste), but I was surprised since it was basically falling apart (I think it may have been made without seminola and only flour, which can account for weaker noodles).
Covinas has been operating for many years and are serious about their quality of food. I highly recommend this place and will probably revisit at some point to give a proper opinion on their freshly made noodles.

Covino’s is one of those awesome hole-​in-​the-​wall restaurants I almost hesitate to review simply because I want to keep it the hidden gem that it is. Fact is, it’s great home-​style Italian food. The place is tiny with maybe a dozen 4-​tops or so and one 6-​top so be prepared to wait for a bit even on weeknights. It’s also byob with a nominal corking fee. The pasta is delicious and reasonably priced. Italian is one of those things that often is overpriced if it’s any good; but not here. Service is great as well.

Really cozy little hole in the wall with very attentive and friendly staff. The appetizer — Abruzzi bread — was delicious, but the entrée — the Braciole — was a little disappointing.
On the menu the entrée was described as a marinara covered flank steak with prosciutto and onions. In reality it was a marinara covered somewhat gristly piece of beef with a TON of onions folded inside of it. On the positive side, the sautéed veggies served with it were really great.
Also, it is worth mentioning that the tiramisu was excellent and when we noted that it was our wedding anniversary, they gave us the dessert on the house. That alone earns them an extra star.
Overall, I would wager that if they could improve the quality of their entrée, add some wine to the menu (though they do allow byob in regards to that issue), and remove the TV playing sports-​center in the corner, this would easily be a 5 star place.
Until then, as far as locally run Italian goes, «Mio Nonno» off 75 and Stacy Rd. remains the champ in my book.

Today the owner of Covinos wrote me a distasteful and somewhat threatening letter. I have put his private letter to me in quotations with my response below it…
(A LONG READ)
You said…
«Normally I will reply to a comment when I see someone has a problem with my restaurant. Seeing that I don’t get very many complaints, i always try to make them right with that person. In your case I could care less.»
–Obviously you care or you wouldn’t have taken the time 14 months later to open up a scab by sending this message, after I had LONG forgotten about the 60 dollars plus tip that we spent at your place.
You said…
«You’re knowledge about food, if you have any is awful. Sense you seem to know everything»
— I think a man that is in his 40’s and eats out at least 4 – 5 times a week at 30 – 60 for dinner would have a great sense of what is good and what is not good. You are just mad that I gave your place a 1 star instead of a gracious 2 or 3 stars. I would have been simply been lying and covering my true feelings.
You said…
«The pepperoni, provolone and salami I use are „gmo“ free. Which technically would make them better for you than boars head.»
–I am glad you stand behind your product. In my opinion I did not care for the taste of the cold cuts that you used. Again my opinion is one of several thousand different opinions that your place has received in the 20+ years you guys have been open. I give you my opinion and it is scrutinized.
You said…
«Water in a seafood dish? Use your head its clam juice.»
–Maybe you use too much clam juice then or on that particular night. We ordered pasta not soup.
You said…
«Yes we use can soda. Don’t be such a penny pincher. We switched to cans because the „bag in a box“ if you know what that is, would sometimes sit too long. I will not give my customers old food or soda.»
For the record 99% of restaurants do not use fountain drinks. We are not a fast food restaurant.
–Man, I spent 60+ dollars on your food on two different occasions at least you can do is provide me with 5 cents worth of soda a few times in a glass. It is not asking much. 99% of the places I do eat at provide fountain drinks with free refills, including the Sushi places i eat at that cost us 100 – 150 dollars to eat at. If you guys were fast food then I wouldn’t have walked in unless I was specifically looking for a fast food burger.
You said…
«Yes our restaurant is a hole in the wall. The tables are not old the décor is not old. I don’t have to prove my self to you we will be open for 25 years this year, and business is better than ever. If you have a problem please feel free to come talk to me face to face before you bad mouth my restaurant on the Internet. I will be here for years to come. I put my heart and soul into my restaurant. For you to say you wouldn’t feed your dog with my food is just over kill. So if you feel the need to give us another try please DON’T.
Sincerely,
Joe Covino Jr.
–Well Joe I hate to say it but you décor is old, your place is old and I guess you are just proud of being a hole in the wall place. I am glad that your business is better than ever. Someone’s best food is another person’s worst place to eat, just like a book, movie, song or in this case food. Why would I want to come and see you face to face? You seem very threatening. Btw I don’t feel the need to give you guys another try because there are literally 1000’s of places to eat in DFW. The kind person in me wants to apologize for the comment about my dogs. But your letter of belittlement makes me not want to. Here are my last thoughts… If you cared so much about my 1 star rating… why did it take you 14 months to say something?

Great fresh Italian food! A small, Very busy and crowded spot because it’s constantly busy so depending on the day of the week plan ahead.
Great, fast service and a BYOB spot. Caprese salad was great, huge portions on the entrees too. Eggplant parmesan was yummy! Try the spicy marinara sauce for kick of extra flavor :) definitely will go back to try more dishes out but need to on Empty stomach.

Why have I not been here before now?! I feel like it’s EXTREMELY hard to make a bad Italian dish… but the other half to that coin means it’s also difficult to make an Italian dish memorable. This place did that for me.
QUICK TIP: It’s BYOB! And the uncorking fee is $ 1/​person. That’s a great price!
VENUE: This low key Italian place is hidden behind the Condom Sense (formerly Halfprice Books) off Parker. You’ll have to pull into the complex and make your way behind the buildings to find another set of buildings. When you pull up you’ll feel like you’ve discovered an elite club — members only. And for you Eliters… you know how wonderful that feeling is. Exclusivity. The place is small with limited seating out front and some inside. And the ambiance is fantastic. The music playing will take you back to the days of Frank Sinatra and the rat pack. Perfect for any Italian meal.
FOOD: My two friends and I ordered the Covino’s Chicken Salad, Chicken Agnolotti, and Chicken Picatta. And for dessert the tiramisu.
Covino’s Chicken Salad: Generous portions of cut lettuce, tossed in a caesar style ranch. Strips of chicken breast are laid on top. Just a simple salad. Pretty standard. But it gets better.
Chicken Picatta: I’m not a fan of thinner noodles for Italian dishes (i’m more of a penne/​bowtie kind of gal) but the sauce with this dish I couldn’t imagine having with any other kind of pasta. It was a light white creamy sauce, with a hint of lemon. There were capers tossed over it (for that nice extra something something of flavor) and the chicken breast was tender and lean. A nice light option. It was the special of the night.
Chicken Agnolotti: OMGAH. So good. The ravioli was PACKED full of chicken and a creamy mushroomy kind of sauce. I am DEVASTATED that the dish only comes with 6 pieces as I could have eaten this for days. But the ravioli pieces are pretty big and that’s not even the best part. The BEST BEST BEST part, is the sauce. The overwhelming portion of sauce. And let me tell you why this is the best part. The rosemary garlic bread they serve to you (which by the way is perfectly warm and soft with very thin crispy crust), goes PERFECTLY with this sauce. Take a piece. Dip it in the sauce. Take a trip to paradise. Repeat. Then go to the gym the next day because you’ll have eaten enough carbs to run a marathon. But it is OH so worth it.
Tiramisu: Okay, I’m not a fan of anything remotely coffee/​espresso tasting, but this was MOIST and rich and yet light and fluffy. It was great. I had no qualms about eating most of it although we got it to split 3 ways.
SERVICE: Service was great. Our server was very attentive and friendly and cracked a few jokes here there without making us feel like he was trying to hard to be a part of our table. It was excellent. I will definitely return.