This was a disappointing stop on our journey around the world. I knew Italy was going to be difficult because Italian food is so well known and represented or is high end and expensive, tasty but not necessarily authentic. I decided that it would be fun to try the restaurant owned by a family that lives near us. They are originally from NYC and I 
thought it would be authentic. They do have this fun wood fired stove. The place was packed when we arrived so my taste buds were prepared for some good old New York Style Italian food. After we'd eaten I can't say I can figure out why it is so crowded.
The appetizers and desserts were the best parts of the meal. The Vongle Oreganata was yummy with
lots of garlic, parsley and toasted breadcrumbs. The clams were tender not rubbery and the topping perfect. The Melanzane Ripieni were good although very small. Roasted peppers in the stuffing gave them a distincly sweet finish.
The pizza Napoletana was good. The crust is very thin; just the way I like it. It actually looked exactly as it had been described in a book by someone who had been to Naples to get this exact pizza. A sweet thin tomato base is topped liberally with fresh mozzeralla and a few basil leaves give it some color. The basil leaves are missing because we were so hungry we forgot to take a picture.
Everyone else chose pasta dishes. Julian got Fettucini a al Chingale. Very disappointing. I think we found three small pieces of boar nestled in the pile of pasta. We should have known. Lidia's in Kansas City makes a truely exceptional wild boar ragu and I am not sure if anyone can measure up to it. Spaghetti Puttanesca is a typical southern Italian 
dish so Julia got that. It was tasty enough; slightly spicy with a disctinct yet mellow anchovy flavor. Still I make as good or better at home. John got Linguini al Vongole. We were impressed by the amount of clams and the fact that they were tender but otherwise just a pretty OK dish.
thought it would be authentic. They do have this fun wood fired stove. The place was packed when we arrived so my taste buds were prepared for some good old New York Style Italian food. After we'd eaten I can't say I can figure out why it is so crowded.The appetizers and desserts were the best parts of the meal. The Vongle Oreganata was yummy with
lots of garlic, parsley and toasted breadcrumbs. The clams were tender not rubbery and the topping perfect. The Melanzane Ripieni were good although very small. Roasted peppers in the stuffing gave them a distincly sweet finish.
The pizza Napoletana was good. The crust is very thin; just the way I like it. It actually looked exactly as it had been described in a book by someone who had been to Naples to get this exact pizza. A sweet thin tomato base is topped liberally with fresh mozzeralla and a few basil leaves give it some color. The basil leaves are missing because we were so hungry we forgot to take a picture.
Everyone else chose pasta dishes. Julian got Fettucini a al Chingale. Very disappointing. I think we found three small pieces of boar nestled in the pile of pasta. We should have known. Lidia's in Kansas City makes a truely exceptional wild boar ragu and I am not sure if anyone can measure up to it. Spaghetti Puttanesca is a typical southern Italian 
dish so Julia got that. It was tasty enough; slightly spicy with a disctinct yet mellow anchovy flavor. Still I make as good or better at home. John got Linguini al Vongole. We were impressed by the amount of clams and the fact that they were tender but otherwise just a pretty OK dish.We had a glass or two of wine; a very fruity Gavi and an Orvieto that was a bit sour not just dry.
The two house made desserts are tiramisu and cannoli. Neither one dissapointing. The cream in the tiramisu is light and not too sweet. It has a nice coffee flavor which left me wanting more. Cannoli are not my favorite but the filling is light and not too sweet a very nice finish to a meal.
Dolce Vita is fine if you just need to get a meal that isn't horrible, but we save our eating out dollars for what we hope will be worth spending money on; something we can't make at home or wouldn't make at home. Not necessarily fine or fancy dining but something worth going out for. I guess the trouble is we eat a lot of Italian at home and have become pretty good at the usual suspects. I hope we can find a better choice when we get to Northern Italy.
The two house made desserts are tiramisu and cannoli. Neither one dissapointing. The cream in the tiramisu is light and not too sweet. It has a nice coffee flavor which left me wanting more. Cannoli are not my favorite but the filling is light and not too sweet a very nice finish to a meal.
Dolce Vita is fine if you just need to get a meal that isn't horrible, but we save our eating out dollars for what we hope will be worth spending money on; something we can't make at home or wouldn't make at home. Not necessarily fine or fancy dining but something worth going out for. I guess the trouble is we eat a lot of Italian at home and have become pretty good at the usual suspects. I hope we can find a better choice when we get to Northern Italy.
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