A Surprise Italian Treat At Tanger
By The Foodies./ foodie@longislandernews.com

If the idea of grabbing meal while shopping at the mall brings to mind fast food, think again.

Fratelli Trattoria offers a delightful haven for shoppers at the Tanger Outlets at the Arches shopping mall in Deer Park. More than a place to grab a quick bite, this Italian eatery is a destination on its own. Instead of saying, “Let’s grab a bite while we’re shopping,” you could find yourself saying, “Let’s go shopping as long as we’re at Fratelli Trattoria.”

Fratelli Trattoria is located in a prominent corner of at the heart of Tanger’s outlet center; the restaurant is directly across from the movie theater, making it an obvious choice for dinner and a film. For shoppers on the go, it’s likewise an obvious choice representing a tastier and healthier choice than the fast food outlets also located nearby.

The surprise is that Fratelli Trattoria is so much more.

Entering the restaurant, the pizzeria is to the right. A counter display contains a variety of pizzas by the slice and stuffed breads. Heroes and virtually anything from the menu are also available. The difference is that it’s self-seating – guests choose their own table from what’s available, and when the weather is cooperating, can take it to the 10 or so tables located outside the restaurant. These seats are in the middle of the action, facing the busy plaza at the center of the mall. Often Tanger provides live music and other entertainment, and the plaza can get quite busy. It’s a great place to enjoy the action.

If you choose a more serious dining experience, you’ll turn to the left when entering the restaurant. Beyond the hostess station is a bright, spacious, two-level dining room. A window/service area to the kitchen gives a glimpse into the heart of the restaurant.
The menu at Fratelli Trattoria is extensive and reflects a serious approach to Italian cooking. Appetizers range from $2.95 for garlic bread to $9.95 for a half-dozen baked clams or the house specialty, mussels ala Fratelli’s, with garlic- and herb-infused sauce. Make sure to save something from the complimentary basket of house-baked bread for sopping up the sauce.

A variety of salads are offered, our favorites being a classic antipasto of fresh greens topped with mozzarella, provolone cheese and Genoa salami. (8.95 small, $12.95 large), and cold seafood salad with shrimp, scungili and calamari in a tangy dressing ($11.95 small, $16.95 large).

The entrée selection is tremendous, and one can spend a good length of time deciding just what to have. All are served with choice of penne pasta, spaghetti, linguini, fettuccini, rigatoni or farfalle with a choice of sauces, or a side salad.

Fratelli Trattoria excels with chicken dishes. The caper-flavored Chicken Picatta ($16.95) is light and lemony. Chicken Mezzaluna ($17.95) is topped with a flavorful sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts and asparagus. A bit of grated parmesan cheese completes the complex blend of flavors.

The pasta list is likewise extensive, and all are ably prepared al dente. Linguini with clam sauce ($14.95) is our gold standard for judging restaurants, and Fratelli Trattoria’s stands up nicely with its whole fresh baby clams, briny taste and hints of garlic.

Pasta ala broccoli rabe ($13.95) is likewise a favorite. Its simple preparation was ably handled.

Service is fast and friendly at Fratelli Trattoria. And judging by the looks of them, servers are drawn from the pool of local college students. We’ve always found ample staff on hand, and when the place is busy the room virtually buzzes with servers.
On to dessert. There is a selection of must-try cheesecakes and cannoli, but we leaned toward taking an Italian Ice to go. A stroll through the mall with the flavor of the day is a perfect end to a meal.