76 THE QUEENS COURIER • BUZZ • APRIL 25, 2013 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com Photo by Bradley Hawks Ornella serves up true Italian fare, like the pasta with Bolognese sauce. At Ornella, you are home BY BRADLEY HAWKS “Now this is the real fusilli, not like the spiral stuff… this is so much better…” smiled Giuseppe Viterale as he proudly placed the masterpiece on the white linen before me. His deep, melodic voice is as thick and comforting as the Bolognese sauce blanketing the long coils of fresh pasta. Half the joy of dining at Ornella, after all, is having Giuseppe serve you. As I devour the savory meat sauce and thin, hollow al dente noodles, he points out one of the greatest joys of eating homemade pasta. Since he never uses a machine, each noodle is slightly different in thickness, shape, and texture, making each bite uniquely enjoyable. The fusilli Bolognese is a dish from his hometown that his mother in-law has made by hand probably thousands of times over the course of her life. Each and every dish comes with a family story, and there are well over 100 different dishes available in the restaurant any given day of the week, though only a select few are listed on the menu.This is the man who was famous for his contraband supply of casu marzu (worm cheese) as well as his seasonal offering of the legendary sanguinaccio—a chocolate pudding made with fresh pig’s blood, which Giuseppe also uses as a cannoli filling. Giuseppe’s menu is undeniably the most diverse Italian menu anywhere around. Will he make you chicken parmigiana? Sure. But only because he likes to please each customer, not because it’s a favorite authentic dish. The signature dish at Ornella is undeniably the imbustata. Italian for “envelope,” the imbustata is a sheet of fresh pasta piled with chicken, veal, mascarpone cheese, spinach, mozzarella and mushrooms, all folded into a tight parcel that is baked in a creamy tomato sauce with a dusting of Parmigiano cheese, like a gigantic ravioli or edgesealed lasagna. Also, be sure to order the duck meatballs, stuffed with herbs and cheese, and glazed with an orangebrandy reduction. If you truly want to enjoy what makes this restaurant so incredibly special, simply ask Giuseppe about the dishes inspired by his home in Salerno, Italy. From his father, who ran a flour mill, Giuseppe learned the nuances of making different flours. One of the most exquisite dishes he serves is the pizzoccheri alla fontina, featuring long flat noodles made from buckwheat flour. The hearty pasta ribbons are tossed with tender braised cabbage, golden potatoes, fontina cheese and a touch of garlic and olive oil. The dish is simultaneously light, hearty, decadent, and a playscape of textures and flavors. The whole restaurant is a tribute to his family and history. Painted like a quaint Italian street scene, the walls hold signs for various piazzas named after each of his four sons, who also sometimes serve in the restaurant—which is named after his beautiful and effervescent wife, Ornella. In fact, do not be surprised when on your second visit Giuseppe remembers your name. He quite literally treats everyone like family. View Over 200 Reviews at queenscourier.com ORNELLA TRATTORIA ITALIANA 29-17 23rd Ave 1/2 block from Ditmars N/Q station 718-777-9477 www.ornellatrattoria.com Open daily from noon to 10 p.m. dining out Georgia D I N E R & R E S T A U R A N T D I N E R & R E S T A U R A N T ACT V ACT V Complete Dinner Served 4 to 10 PM Monday thru Friday Except Holidays Complete Dinner Served 4 to 10 PM Monday thru Friday Except Holidays Cup of Soup, Salad, Entree, Potato & Vegetable or Spaghetti, Dessert and Coffee, Tea or Soda Cup of Soup, Salad, Entree, Potato & Vegetable or Spaghetti, Dessert and Coffee, Tea or Soda $1995 $2095 ACT 1 Choice of Soup SOUP DU JOUR - MANHATTAN CLAM CHOWDER or CHICKEN CONSOMME with Fine Noodles, Matzoh Ball or Rice ACT 1 Choice ACT of Soup IIII DINNER SALAD with Choice of Dressing SOUP DU JOUR - MANHATTAN CLAM CHOWDER or ACT IIIIII CHICKEN CONSOMME with Fine Noodles, Matzoh Ball or Rice Choice of Entree ACT II BROILED FILET OF SNAPPER ALMONDINE STUFFED FILET OF LEMON SOLE FLORENTINE with Spinach and Feta Cheese BROILED HALIBUT STEAK DINNER SALAD with Choice of Dressing ACT III in Lemon Butter Sauce Choice of Entree BROILED BOSTON SCROD BROILED FILET OF SNAPPER ALMONDINE STUFFED FILET OF in Lemon Butter Sauce LEMON SOLE FLORENTINE with Spinach and Feta Cheese BROILED HALIBUT STEAK BROILED FRESH BROOK TROUT in Lemon Butter Sauce CALAMARI FRA DIAVOLO in Lemon Butter Sauce Calamari and Mussels Served over Linguine CHICKEN PARMIGIANA BROILED BOSTON SCROD with Spaghetti in Lemon Butter Sauce TWO BROILED PORK CHOPS BROILED FRESH BROOK TROUT with Applesauce in Lemon Butter Sauce ROAST YOUNG TOM TURKEY CALAMARI with FRA Dressing DIAVOLO ROUMANIAN SLICED STEAK Calamari and Mussels Served over Linguine Mushroom Sauce CHICKEN PARMIGIANA SMOKED VIRGINIA HAM STEAK with Spaghetti BAKED CHICKEN in Light Mushroom Sauce CHICKEN BROCHETTE TWO BROILED PORK CHOPS with Applesauce with Onions, Pepper and Tomatoes GRILLED CHICKEN SORRENTINO ROAST YOUNG TOM TURKEY with Dressing with Eggplant and Mozzarella ROUMANIAN SLICED STEAK BROILED BEEF LIVER with Fried Onions ROAST HALF Mushroom CHICKEN Sauce with Dressing SMOKED VIRGINIA HAM STEAK PENNE CON BROCCOLI E GRILLED CHICKEN Mixed with Garlic and Oil BAKED CHICKEN in Light MOUSSAKA Mushroom Sauce CHICKEN BROCHETTE Eggplant and Chopped Meat, Topped with Bechamel Sauce ROAST SIRLOIN OF BEEF Au Jus with Onions, Pepper and Tomatoes GRILLED CHICKEN SORRENTINO BAKED LASAGNA, WIDE PASTA LAYERED with Ricotta and Mozzarella in a Delicious Meat Sauce with Eggplant and Mozzarella ACT IIV BROILED BEEF LIVER with Fried Onions ROAST HALF CHICKEN with Dressing CHOICE OF DESSERT: Assorted Danish, Apple Turnover, Assorted Pound Cake, Chocolate Pudding, Bread Pudding, Rice Pudding, Jello or Ice Cream FIINALE PENNE CON BROCCOLI E GRILLED CHICKEN Mixed with Garlic and Oil CHOICE OF BEVERAGE: Coffee, Tea, Fresh Brewed Decaf or Soda • No Substitutions MOUSSAKA Eggplant and Chopped Meat, Topped with Bechamel Sauce OUR NEW AND EXCITING MENU AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY, OFFERS COCKTAILS, STEAKS, CHOPS, SEAFOOD, PASTA, POULTRY ROAST SIRLOIN OF BEEF Au Jus BAKED All Baking LASAGNA,done on Premises WIDE • Private PASTA Parties LAYERED Available with Ricotta and Mozzarella in a Delicious Meat Sauce 86-55 Queens Blvd. • Elmhurst • 718.651.9000 ACT IV (one block west of Queens Center Mall) CHOICE OF DESSERT:LARGE Assorted FREE Danish,PARKING Apple Turnover,LOT Assorted Pound Cake, Chocolate Pudding, Bread Pudding, Rice Pudding, Jello or Ice Cream FINALE CHOICE OF BEVERAGE: Coffee, Tea, Fresh Brewed Decaf or Soda • No Substitutions OUR NEW AND EXCITING MENU AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY, OFFERS COCKTAILS, STEAKS, CHOPS, SEAFOOD, PASTA, POULTRY All Baking done on Premises • Private Parties Available 86-55 Queens Boulevard • Elmhurst • 718-651-9000 (one block west of Queens Center Mall) Large Free Parking Lot
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