Grisanti’s on University Drive in Coral Springs bills itself as a causal Italian restaurant.

That means this restaurant, part of an 18-unit chain, offers somewhat Americanized versions of Northern and Southern Italian cooking. You won’t find any really unusual Italian entrees.

But what you will find at both lunch and dinner are well-prepared Italian dishes at reasonable prices. And that’s enough to keep me returning.

From the lunch menu, chicken tarragon, $5.95, consisted of two chicken breasts marinated in lemon juice and tarragon and served with lemon-flavored linguine, which was dotted with chopped, fresh tomatoes. It was a tasty, light entree.

Fetuccini Alfredo, $4.95, had delicious noodles, in a creamy tangy sauce. The more-than heaping helping was delicious enough to eat beyond your fill.

Scallops Romani, $5.95, was chock full of tender scallops, and mixed with mushrooms and diced tomatoes in what is described on the menu as a seafood- basil sauce. Served on a bed of linguine, the dish was very tasty — although the green sauce was a bit overwhelming; there was far too much of it.

Entrees are served with choice of soup or salad and Tuscan-style garlic bread. The salad is delicious with fresh lettuce, mushrooms, tomato quarters, red onions and black olives. The dressing is a vinagrette. Salad is brought to the table in a large bowl. The server puts it on small plates and tops it with grated fresh grated Romano cheese. Diners serve themselves to the remaining salad.

I was less thrilled with the bread. Served on a metal platter, the bread was all right but not outstanding and lacked that rich garlic flavor I prefer.

Many of the lunch entrees also are on the dinner menu, including three types of lasagna, $4.95 for lunch up to $8.95 for dinner, and chicken Toscani with red and green peppers, mushrooms and olives, $4.95 and $7.95.

Sandwiches on the lunch menu include grilled chicken, $5.50; meatball sub, $4.50, and Italian sub, $5.50.

Dinner specialties include chicken Florentine, $9.25; chicken Parmesan, $8.95; shrimp Alfredo, $9.50, and seafood linguine, $9.95. Combination dinners include the Southern combo of lasagna, chicken Parmesan and toasted ravioli, $10.95; the Northern combo of veal Marsala, chicken tarragon and cannelloni Florentina, $11.50; and the Italian Medley — eggplant Parmesan, cheese panzerotti, toasted ravioli and meatballs, $9.95.

Service was caring and efficient — making dining a pleasure.

Grisanti’s is part of a chain with locations throughout the country (four of which are in Florida). The restaurant makes some of its own pasta including lasagna and ravioli noodles.

Grisanti’s building started life as a Mexican restaurant, which had a good reputation. Grisanti’s is a lovely restaurant, with lots of tile and plants for accent. The dining rooms are light and airy and comfortable. One caution: we asked for non-smoking but the smoking area was right above where we were seated and the smoke drifted down. Be sure to ask to be seated away from the smoking section.

GRISANTI’S

— 1580 University Drive

Coral Springs

755-9444

Italian cuisine

— Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday; noon to 10 p.m. Sunday.

— Credit cards: MasterCard, Visa and American Express

— Non-smoking area: Yes

Budget Dining is a regular column of the News and Sun-Sentinel devoted to helping readers find inexpensive, local restaurants. Budget for two diners is $15 for lunch; $25 for dinner. The Budget Diner makes every effort to remain anonymous, and all the reviewer’s meals are paid for by the News/Sun-Sentinel.