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Italian, The Mascali Way
By The Foodies./ foodie@longislandernews.com
WHidden away in East Northport is a community gem – an
Italian gem, to be specific.
Mascali Restaurant, owned by Huntington native James Bancheri,
whips up delicious food at desirable prices, and the restaurant
is just as beautiful as the food that comes out of the kitchen.
The lights are slightly dimmed, setting the tone for the perfect
romantic night, or even a family outing. It doesn’t matter
if you’re bringing your girlfriend or your kids, you’ll
enjoy sharing this secret.
Bancheri, who has owned the Larkfield Road restaurant for
three-and-a-half years, learned how to cook from European
chefs. While the restaurant is mainly Italian, some specials
reflect various types of cuisine, from continental to French.
He mixes in his own style, and his plates show his creativity
at work – from the antipasto to the platter of desserts.
His passion, he said, is food, and he goes for the freshest
ingredients every day. He often shops in the mornings at local
farms, such as White Post and Schneider’s. And he likes
to stay in touch with all of his customers.
We started off with the Mozzarella in Carozza ($8.95), which
is mozzarella, pan fried in olive oil and served with a choice
of marinara or anchovy sauce. It burst with taste complemented
by the hearty marinara. The Clams Casino ($8.95), which is
topped with garlic butter, roasted pepper and bacon, also
caught our eye. There are a number of salads to choose from,
including the Fresh Spinach and Mushroom ($7.95), fresh spinach
and sliced mushrooms served with a warm bacon dressing.
Pastas are a really special treat at Mascali Restaurant; some
of them, like the linguini and spaghetti, are made in-house.
We tried the Gnocchi Bolognese ($13.95), sautéed in
a rich meat sauce. The gnocchi was, simply put, wonderful,
and the bolognese didn’t overpower with meat.
The entrees at Mascali Restaurant are just another way the
restaurant shines. We went for the classic Chicken Parmigiana
($16.95), and we just couldn’t get enough of it. But
if you want to try something a little different, Mascali has
what you’re looking for. The Veal ala Mascali ($21.95)
is veal scaloppini sautéed in a brandy cream sauce
with shallots, porcini mushrooms, artichoke hearts and pink
peppercorns. There’s also the Swordfish Oreganata ($18.95),
broiled in a white wine lemon sauce topped with seasoned breadcrumbs.
The Seafood Combo Marinara ($23.95) is served with clams,
shrimp, mussels, scallops, calamari and sole filet.
Some places just do Italian right, and Mascali Restaurant
is one of them.
Mascali Restaurant
631-757-2404
277 Larkfield Road
East Northport
www.mascali-restaurant.com
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