From this menu?

My mom's birthday is tomorrow and she wants us to take her to an Italian Restaurant. I found the menu online, here: http://www.mankatoindependentoriginals.com/Us erFiles/file/NeighborsDinnerMenu.pdf

I'm really picky so have a few choices I think I might eat, but wanted your opinion(s) as to which may be the best? So...from what I am looking at possibly getting is:

• Cappellini Pomodoro (with chicken added, for protein)
• Lasagna
• Spaghetti
• Fettuccine Alfredo (with chicken; isn't this a really fattening/high-cal meal though?)
• Champagne Chicken
• Caprese Bruschetta
• Insalta Panzanella (without onions...ick)

That was all from the dinner menu, if that is what we have to order from. I think the lunch menu is basically the same. It says it has some salads, though, so if so, this is what I might get:

• Roquefort Salad (Crisp romaine lettuce, toasted almonds, bleu cheese crumbles blackened chicken and homemade bleu cheese dressing.)

Opinions? If I am able to get the salad, I will simply because I assume that is the healthiest. But otherwise...?

OOooo it all looks delicious.

I would get the Cappellini Pomodoro with chicken and eat half.

The cappellini pomodoro with chicken is most likely the lowest calorie option since it does not have cheese or a cream sauce.

Don’t assume salad is always the best option. Lots of restaurants actually have salads with 1000+ calories. Blue cheese and almonds are fatty and high in calories. I don’t know the cals for blue cheese off the top of my head but I do know 1/3 cup of almonds has 270 calories.

 If you do want a salad go for the insalata panzanella because balsamic vinaigrette has less calories than a creamy dressing.

The caprese bruschetta would not be a bad choice either. Fresh mozzarella is comparitively low in fat and calories to other cheeses.

If I do the cappellini pomodoro, should I skip adding mozzarella? Probably...

Well that’s up to you to decide. If you will enjoy your dinner more with a little mozarella than I say go for it. An ounce of mozzarella has about 80 cals which in the grand scheme of things makes almost no difference. Personally I would rather get parmesan cheese grated on top if the server comes around and offers it. It has about 120 calories an ounce but it’s way more flavourful than mozzarella. I find mozzarella very bland, it doesn't really add any flavour so I don't consider it worth the extra calories.

Yummy!

Be careful here are you looking for the most nutritious or the lowest calorie choice? I think Italian restaurants are my most difficult place to make good choices for me. I usually order the grilled salmon with steamed veggies. Also don't be afraid to ask for special orders! I ask for the dry spices only on my salmon. Avoiding the huge loaf of bread sitting on the table in front of me is the hardest part for me. Enjoy your dinner.

The fettucini alfredo is probably one of the most fattening, like you thought.  I've heard of single plates running a whole days worth of calories!  It's also mostly empty calories too.   I'd say go with one of the chicken dishes with no cream sauce, and if it's huge just eat half.  And try to eyeball a cup of pasta.  

Personally, if I could afford a treat I'd go with the lasagna... mm... and lots of protein from the 2 kinds of cheese!

Panzanella is bread salad, so it will probably have more calories than a regular salad.  It is usually made with chunks of grilled, olive oil brushed bread.  I would also go for capellini pomodoro with parmesan grated on top.  The good thing about parmesan is a little goes a long way. 

If I were going to this restaurant this is what I'd get: (healthy picks in my mind)

1. Fritto Misto - without it being fried - I'd see if they could broil it for me
2. Mussels in the RED sauce
3. Truffled Salmon without the caper butter sauce and prosciutto (I'd ask for extra vegetables - spinach)
4. Blackened Shrimp without the bacon
5. Insalta Panzanella without the goat cheese and the dressing on the side --> Wait I just read someone's post saying this is bread salad.... I'd ask for them to OMIT the bread! ha ha!