The staff of Johnny Carino’s Italian won’t intentionally spill red wine on the tablecloth, as in the traditional Italian welcome for guests.

But they want you to feel just as welcome at this casual full-service restaurant as you would in the warmest of Italian farmhouses.

Located in Cascade Village Shopping Center on Bend’s north end, Johnny Carino’s is a locally owned franchise of the Austin, Texas-based chain of Italian restaurants.

The homey feeling at Johnny Carino’s starts with the cottage-stone facade on the Italian farmhouse-style building. Step inside, and green-check tablecloths, mismatched chairs and warm wood tones fill the dining areas. The restaurant features a large main dining room, semiprivate tables that can be closed off with curtains, and two more intimate dining rooms, which can also serve as banquet facilities. Deep, red-upholstered booths line the dining room and the cozy bar.

The restaurant feels Italian, from the familiar songs played over the sound system to the grapes, vases and other artwork that line the walls. Collections of black-and-white photographs fill some walls, photographs that include members of the Hubert family (Greg and Teresa Hubert own Restaurant Development Corp., or RDC, the company that partly owns the restaurant and members of the family that owns the Johnny Carino’s brand.

”Kids are always welcome,” kitchen manager Jeff Thompson says, ”and may particularly enjoy watching the staff in the trademark open kitchen, where they will toss pizza dough and make pasta dance and pans sizzle.”

For grown-ups, Johnny Carino’s offers an extensive menu of classic Italian dishes and signature favorites. Their 12-layer lasagna (11.99) is made daily. It’s a popular item, and the restaurant can run out, Thompson said. Chicken Milano ($13.99) features fresh basil, ham, provolone cheese and chicken served with fettuccine Alfredo.

Pizzas ($8.49 to $9.49) include cheese, herbs, vegetables and meats in various combinations, including the Margherita pizza with basil, roma tomatoes and mozzarella cheese.

Many items on Johnny Carino’s menu can be ordered in grandioso size, which is a family-sized platter that serves two to three people.

The restaurant also offers catering and provides curbside to-go service.

– Julie Johnson

Johnny Carino’s Italian

Location: 63455 N. U.S. Highway 97, Bend

Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday

Price Range: $9.99 to $19.99 lunch entrees, $11.99 to $19.99 dinner entrees

Alcoholic Beverages: Full bar

Kids’ Menu: Yes

Reservations: Not accepted, call-ahead seating available

Credit Cards: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover

Contact: 318-6300