66 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • JANUARY 2018 66 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • SEPTEMBER 2017 66 LONGISLANDPRESS.CO M • SEPTEMBER 201-----------TUTU111
PRESS MAIN DISH
Northern Italian served North Shore style
By JEFF and VERA WURST
La Piccola Liguria, a Port Washington
mainstay, pleases the palate
with freshly prepared unique dishes
and Italian standbys. The bright,
comfortable restaurant with harbor
views is also easy on the eyes.
Note the magnificent antipasti
display upon entering the dining
area. We came for trenete al pesto,
a traditional Ligurian dish with
roots in the owner’s native Finale
Ligure, halfway between Genoa
and the French border along the
Italian Riviera.
The owner, Victor Raimondo,
serves it without string beans
(fagiolini) and potatoes. If you
order it “ala Genovese,” you’ll get
the string beans and potatoes. They
may suspect we sent you.
Waiters Vlad or Frank recite a
lengthy list of specials: vitello tonnata,
calves liver Veneziana, grilled
anchovies, rabbit cacciatore, roast
duck, along with an array of salads
and appetizers, whole fish, pastas,
duck, short ribs and ossobuco.
“And, of course, there is the menu,”
the recital concludes.
Our latest visit started with a glass
of Prosecco with zucchini florets.
Rich flavorful tomato soup is
a perfect intermezzo. The
unique flavor of delicate
truffle oil compliments
the porcini mushroom
and fennel
salad.
The pasta special
was strozzapretti,
which translates
to “priest choker.”
The story goes that
when this pasta was
invented and first
served at an Italian
monastery, the priests
could not get enough,
kept eating, and choked.
Complimenting this pasta
was mixed seafood that blended
this Tuscan pasta with flavors of
the Ligurian coast. Whole-roasted
branzino is perfectly prepared and
deboned in sight at the serving table.
Save room for the fresh desserts on
the trolley. Jeff’s favorite is the torta
della nonna. Vera loves the homemade
tiramisu. There is chocolate
ganache, fruit salad, and many
other fresh treats.
The wine selection is excellent,
covering all price ranges. Jeff likes
the La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino,
but the La Fortuna Rosso di
Montalcino is a good substitute.
La Piccola Liguria, 47 Shore Rd.,
Port Washington, 516-767-6490.
Open daily except Monday. Lunch
12-3 p.m. Tues.-Fri. and dinner is
5-10 p.m. Tues.-Thurs., 5-10:30 p.m.
Fri.-Sat. and 4-10 p.m. Sun.
CHEFS ON THE RUN
Coming soon to downtown Oyster
Bay: Watch for the January opening
of 2Spring by Iron Chef winner
Jesse Schenker.
ANTONETTE’S
Even on a Tuesday night, diners
flock to Antonette’s not only for its
fine cuisine and romantic ambiance,
but also its live music.
The first impression of the wine
list was that the fine selection
appeared to be underpriced. Most
The mouthwatering dessert display platter at Antoinette’s is irresistible.
restaurants charge customers
three times their cost for wine,
but the owner charges 1.5 his cost.
Amongst the choices are Banfi
Brunello di Montalcino for $63.
Other restaurants charge well
over $100.
We selected the Michele
Chiarlo Reyna Barbaresco,
one of our favorites
from the Piemonte
region. At $38 for
such a fine wine, we
knew we were off to
a great start for the
evening.
The opening was
an ample platter of
antipasta Italiana
followed by servings
of grilled calamari and
grilled octopus, each with
a lavish presentation and distinguished
taste. We grazed on
an excellent Caesar salad but miss
the tableside preparation when Antonette’s
was in Rockville Centre.
We shared the veal chop prepared
perfectly at medium rare. Our companions
had sole and the special,
shrimp courted by burnt string
beans, a colorful combination in
both taste and appearance. Another
shared special was shrimp stuffed
with an intense crab meat accompanied
by whole clams in the shell.
Unobtrusive music started later in
the evening. It felt great to work off
our lavish meal with an energetic
dance.
The lush dessert platter presentation
made it impossible to resist at least a
small sampling. The molten chocolate
cake and the apple tart were the
perfect ending to a perfect evening.
Antonette’s, 290 Glen Cove Rd., East
Hills, 516-626-6490. Closed Mondays.
Dinners served until 9 p.m.
weekdays, until 10 p.m. Fri.-Sat.
Jeff is a practicing attorney. Vera is
a retired school teacher. Both love
Long Island food and wine and are
delighted to share their discoveries
with you. Contact them via lipressfood@
gmail.com.
The Strezzapretti at La Piccola
Liguria is to die for.
BEST OF THE WURSTS
