|
A Sunday Italian Feast
At Bertucci’s
By Alessandra and Co./ foodie@longislandernews.com
If you want to experience an Italian Sunday meal, Bertucci’s
in Melville is one of many places to choose from. The Foodies
took the liberty of going to the restaurant on Sunday afternoon
for the real deal – and we got it!
The restaurant is huge with plenty of space to sit –
unless, of course, it’s jam-packed with people, which
we’re sure it often is. When you first enter, there’s
a desk for the hostess, who will seat you, but if you turn
to your right, you can pick up your called-in meal.
As we sat down, the very friendly waiters came over and gave
us Bertucci’s famous soft bread rolls and a delightful
selection of olive oil, red pepper, salt and parmesan cheese
in a dish to share.
We didn’t know what to start with – there was just
too much to choose from – so we started with the Antipasto
Sampler ($10.99) that includes mozzarella fritta, Tuscan chicken
wings, meatballs and tomato bruschetta. The mozzarella fritta
was like a mozzarella fillet – incredible – especially
with the red sauce on top. The Tuscan chicken wings were tasty
– a little spicy, but nothing anyone couldn’t handle.
The meatballs were just like grandma’s. With all of this,
the tomato bruschetta couldn’t compare.
By the time we were done, we were already getting full, but
we kept going – with so many tasty dishes at our fingertips,
how could we stop? We eventually went with the Shrimp Rossini
($15.50), tender shrimp blended with tomatoes and cream, capers
and a hint of hot peppers tossed with spaghetti. The dish
has a hint of spice to it but the creaminess of the meal cooled
off the heat.
Bertucci’s is well known for their brick oven pizzas,
so we took them up on that by eating the Italia Davide, a
brick oven pizza with roasted zucchini and fresh mozzarella
with roasted tomato sauce ($10.99 for individual, $18.99 for
a large). The pizza had a soft crust but a delicious topping
of zucchini that was unlike anything we’ve had. Another
topping we know for sure is great is prosciutto. You can even
get a side salad with it – either an insalata or a Caesar
for $2.99. The Caesar was perfectly tossed in dressing with
the right amount of crunchy croutons and shaved parmesan slices.
Another meal we’d like to go back and try is the “Taste
of Bertucci’s” which is a trio of Bertucci’s
favorites – chicken parma, fettuccine alfredo with asparagus,
and rigatoni abbruzzio served with a side of insalata or cup
of soup ($15.99). There was also a salmon filet which was
grilled filet with lemon butter and fresh herb and served
with string beans and mashed potatoes.
We couldn’t fit any dessert into our stomachs but had
we been able to do so we’d try the new apple cranberry
or chocolate hazelnut crostata, which are warm homemade tarts
filled with apples, cranberries and honey or with organic
chocolate hazelnut spread, baked to a golden brown in the
brick oven and sprinkled with powdered sugar.
Whether you’re looking for a family get together for
10 or more, or just looking for a nice Sunday meal for two,
Bertucci’s will suit your appetite.
Bertucci’s
881 Walt Whitman Road
Melville
631-427-9700
www.bertuccis.com
|
