So the old saying is definitely true "you can't judge a book by it's cover" nor a restaurant by it's pizza counter.
All I can say is WOW, it has been month's since I have not been back in Park Slope, after being oversees on business in the U.K., my first thought after landing at JFK, was that of my last great meal I had a few month's before we left here at Da Nonna Rosa's. Well it's definitely become a staple in the few month's it has been opened.
Well last night we had a meal to remember. My wife and I decided to head back to Da Nonna Rosa. We remembered the last great meal we had here before we left the U.S. in early March. As we entered the door, it hit us, the smell of perfectly cooked pizza, the aromas of fresh home cooking coming from the kitchen we couldn't wait to sit down and sample some new dishes, and have a great meal that we have been longing for. Even though the U.K. has come a long way in the culinary world, it still lacks these great little places like Da Nonna Rosa.
We started with a selection from the wine listed, which has only gotten better since the last time we where here. We ordered the Ornellaia "Le Volte" a great Super Tuscan for those who know wine and a hard find at that, so Nonna Rosa knows her wines too. It was served at the perfect temperature, which more high end restaurants can't even seem to get right at times, but these guys definitely did.
We started our meal with the Burrata appetizer special, it just brought us right back to having a meal on the Amalfi coast a few years back. I ordered the Cavatelli Campagnola and my wife ordered the Grilled Octopus entree. The fresh homemade cavatelli was just the taste I was looking for, perfect balance of flavors, crumbled sausage, asparagus and a light tomato sauce. The Grilled Octopus was another pleasant surprise, I have to admit I was skeptical at first but after I saw my wife's expression after having the first bite, I knew I had to try it. Well low and behold, I was back on the Amalfi coast once again eating the freshly caught grilled "polipo".
The service was exceptional, not intrusive, but remarkably attentive. Finally, our waiter suggested we try the Lemon Tiramisu, which we had never even heard of, so we said sure. According to him, a house specialty and made fresh daily. What a treat, ladyfingers drenched with limoncello, topped with mascarpone, what a taste sensation. Oh and let's not forget the espresso, honestly the best I've had in any restaurant in all of NYC. To top it off our waiter let us try an Italian tradition after a great meal and that is the "Amaro" or Degestifs as so many other European countries serve after a great meal, but somehow, the Italians have perfected this too. We had the one called Ramazotti, it was slightly herbal, with a pleasant sweetness, truly a great way to finish a great meal.
So for the record, for us DA NONNA ROSA is that gourmet restaurant nestled behind a pizzeria, how cool is that! Well for the people that are in search of great food, regardless of the stigma of it's location or having to walk past the pizza counter to get to the dining room, it is GREAT!
Let's face it, if you go to Italy, some of the best food you'll have in your life is served in trattorias or osterias. Nothing pretentious just great food, and I truly feel that this is what Da Nonna Rosa will become. That little hidden gem, with great food, and great staff that you Will keep coming back to... Grazie Nonna! Cent' Anni! read more