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FOODIE
La Parma A Hotspot For
Family-Style Dining
By Luann, Loise & Logan/ foodie@longislandernews.com
There is no denying that
bonds are formed over breaking bread. Whether for business
or pleasure, sharing a meal with someone connects you in a
way few other activities do – it levels the playing field,
emphasizes your humanity and forges a relationship, and it’s
been working for centuries.
The bond grows even stronger when you’re sharing a dish
and that is where family-style dining comes in.
A handful of restaurants in Huntington are synonymous with
family-style dining and La Parma II on Jericho Turnpike is
one of them. A giant menu posted on the wall presents an array
of dishes, served in generous portions intended to be shared
by the table. And finding a few dishes everyone will like
is easier than you would think.
Appetizers include staples like fried calamari, stuffed mushrooms
and baked clams, to dishes you don’t see everyday, like
fried peppers and zuppa di mussels. A variety of pastas are
offered in red or white sauces, with seafood, meat or vegetable
choices, while the entrees offer a similar variety. Tempting
specials allow frequent diners to deviate from their usual.
As they cater well to large parties, that is mostly who you
will find dining at La Parma, which lends to a busy, bustling
atmosphere – almost like one big party. The nature of
the restaurant makes good service key, and the wait staff
is well trained and accommodating, clearing the dozens of
plates and utensils away and replacing them with new ones
between each course. Did we mention we’d hate to be the
dishwasher?
For our party of seven, one of each of the following dishes
offered the perfect variety and just the right amount of food
that we didn’t leave with any leftovers.
Clams Casino comes piping hot with plump clams and crisp bacon
that opened our palate and whetted our appetites. A plate
of some of the largest mussels we have ever seen is served
in a delicate white sauce we didn’t want to let go. One
of the specials, the sweet Summer Salad, is cool and refreshing
with strawberries, a delightful dressing and cheese.
For our entrées, we chose a pasta and three meat dishes.
In our Filetto di Pomadoro ($19.75), we went with angel hair
to complement the plum tomato sauce with bits of parma ham
thrown in, putting a unique spin on the dish. Chicken Parmagiana
($21.75) is always a crowd pleaser, with an above average
marinara sauce.
Our favorite dish of the night was a veal dish, served in
a light red sauce with melted mozzarella and eggplant slices.
The veal is so tender you can cut it with a fork, and the
mozzarella so light and creamy you can only say “mmm”
after trying it. A chicken scarpariello dish was another standout,
with juicy on-the-bone chicken, crispy potatoes, onions, peppers
and tasty sausage, making for a filling but scrumptious dish.
Prices are reasonable, especially when split amongst the number
of diners. Our entrees, for example, ranged from $15.75 for
one of the chicken dishes to $27.75 for the veal. They only
take reservations on holidays, so call-ahead seating is recommended
on busy nights for large parties.
La Parma II
452 Jericho Turnpike, Huntington
631-367-6360 • www.laparma.com
Atmosphere: Busy, family-friendly
Cuisine: Family-style Italian
Hours:
Lunch: Tues-Fri, noon-2:30 p.m.;
Dinner: Tues-Thurs, 5-10 p.m.; Friday, 5-midnight;
Saturday, 4-midnight; Sunday, 3-9 p.m.; closed Mondays.
Main
Menu
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