We visited Avoli Osteria after having driven by it many times but for some reason, just never finding our way inside. And oh boy - I'm so glad we finally did!
The ambiance of the restaurant is homey and warm, but with a dash of glam. Several chandeliers hang from the ceiling and gilded mirrors adorn the walls. It has a modern feel with a nostalgic essence at the same time.
We started our meal with the Bread Service and Caprese Salad:
-The bread was a rosemary focaccia and obviously freshly baked. It came with a delicious oil for dipping, but was so fluffy and flavorful itself that it didn't even need it!
-The Caprese was divine, with thinly sliced tomatoes (that were so light and fresh, they definitely seemed super farm-to-table), wonderful bits of mozzarella, and a drizzle of tangy balsamic.
For our mains, we tried to stay a little lighter and stuck with the Primi menu options only (saving room for dessert!). We each shared bites of each other's dishes because they both looked so appetizing.
I had the Ricotta Gnudi, and it was superlative. Little gnocchi style dumplings filled with ricotta (instead of potato), topped with kale, pistachios, and prosciutto! Each bite literally melted in your mouth. The richness of the ricotta in the gnudi was perfectly paired with the saltiness of the prosciutto and crunchiness of the kale.
My husband had the Sweet Corn Risotto, which came with accompaniments in the middle of the plate of Asiago, little exquisitely marinated cherry tomatoes, and summer squash (perfectly seasonal as we have a bit of summer left!). The base of the corn risotto was delightful and flavorful all on its own, but add in the tomato for acid and the squash for the umami, and it was heavenly!
We took a look at the desserts and were so happy we saved room because we decided we wanted to try two of them.
My favorite dessert on the planet is tiramisu, so when I saw they had it as a dessert option, that was definitely my first choice. It was super scrumptious with fluffy/not overly-soaked cake, a creamy spread of delectable mascarpone cheese, a dollop of not-too-sweet ice cream for pairing, and a dusting of tasty crumble on the plate below. One word: YUM!
So after we decided we were ordering the tiramisu, my husband wanted to add one more sweet treat. We asked our server which is her favorite and, without hesitation, she said the Budino. We trusted her, ordered it, and let's just say - she definitely did not lead us astray.
The Budino was an indulgently lovely pudding-like custard (with a butterscotchy flavor), that had a salty caramel layer at the top of the glass along with a dab of whipped cream - and a sugar cookie on the side to top it off. This was one of the best desserts I have ever tasted! I kept stealing bites from my husband's glass.
Final Thoughts:
If you haven't already deduced from my rating and review, I will suffice it to say I definitely recommend you do not make my mistake and pass by Avoli Osteria without stopping in!! read more