I cannot believe this was my first time at Ortobello. Everything about this place feels a little magical. From the outside, it honestly does not look like much. I have walked past it many times and always assumed it was closed. Turns out they only serve dinner, which explains a lot. The dining room is small with just a handful of tables, so it is probably best to come early or make a reservation. The tight space and rustic interior give it a lot of charm. It almost feels like stepping into a place that has not changed in decades, which really adds to that old school Italian vibe. The service was incredible. The waiter, who might also be the owner, was so friendly and welcoming. He made the whole experience feel personal, like you were being hosted in someone's home rather than just eating at a restaurant. Since it was my birthday, we went a little overboard with the ordering. I had to pace myself because I honestly wanted to devour everything that came to the table. The portions are generous and every dish we tried was great. The mozzarella in carozza was easily one of the most indulgent things I have ever eaten. It was rich, crispy, cheesy, and completely over the top in the best way. I thought that would be the highlight until the stuffed artichoke arrived. The stuffing was incredible and packed with flavor. I only wish the artichoke itself had a bit more flesh, but I would still order it again without hesitation! The entrees were just as satisfying. The chicken parm was excellent, but by that point we had already gone too hard on the appetizers, so most of the mains ended up coming home with us. Even though we were all stuffed, I made sure to save room for dessert. The ricotta cheesecake was absolutely worth it! It had subtle hints of lemon and the texture was light and creamy. I will probably be thinking about that cheesecake for a while. Overall, Ortobello checked every box. The atmosphere, the food, and the hospitality were all fantastic. I will definitely be back!!! read more

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So I have been looking for my Italian spot since I moved back to NYC back in 2016. And I finally found mine!!! Th customer service 10 Food portions 10 plus Flavors just wow 10 The owner was really friendly was really enthusiastic while singing the birthday song for my friend . Definitely coming back soon . The only thing that could be better is if they would allow wine without cork Fees and hard alcohol if someone wanted to . Would definitely recommend / and it states to get full after 6-630 read more

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Always a great treat and a great dinner when you go to this Brooklyn gem . Andy makes you feel great and serves you great food . Portions are huge. read more

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Food is as a bit on the salty side however the squid was so good but it does hurt the wallet lol. Service was good and ambiance is cozy. Overall try it once and see if it suits your taste. read more

Ortobello Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Best stuffed artichoke!!! It's been decades, not a lot has changed. The small room that you call for a reservation is like a warm hug! Bread arrives hot to the table. There are specials and a feeling of being unrushed with Frank Sinatra playing and many of us singing Ordered: Stuffed artichoke Broiled Salmon with spaghetti Broccoli As a stuffed Artichoke aficionado, this mind blowing monster arrives and I'm astonished. Just went to Parkside which has a Delicious one but this one takes 20 minutes and OmFG! Salmon was tasty & there's a great marinara sauce! Very accommodating service & an unmatched experience. read more

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What a fantastic old school charm restaurant! They are a staple in the neighborhood. So glad we stayed to try it. Small restaurant, cash only and they only serve beer, wine and sangria. Service was great, the owner Andy is attentive! I highly recommend the chicken parm! We will be back read more

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*Cash Only* A hidden gem in Bensonhurst. After visiting Italy, I wanted to eat some real Italian food back in NY. Ortobello was very close to the food I had in Italy. Ordered the fried calamari, the veal parmigiana, the penne alla vodka with shrimp and the ricotta cheesecake for dessert. I wasn't a big fan of the cheesecake, but everything else we ordered was amazing. The portions were very generous. The staff was extremely friendly. Definitely coming back, highly recommended! read more

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Walked pass this resturant so many times and just didn't notice that there was an italian resturant LOL. My friend's family decided to ordered take out from here and got the seafood salad $38 and stuffed mushrooms $18. The seafood salad was so delicious! It had mussels, shrimp, calamari, squid, clams, bits of chopped garlic and celery and lemon juice. Would definitely get it again! read more

Ortobello Restaurant - Seafood Salad - Italian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

This has to be the best "hidden gem" in Brooklyn. We had one of the best meals! Andy is a great guy with some great recipes. I am 2nd generation Italian and I know Italian fare. This is the bomb diggity of all time. Go there! read more

Unbelievable.... That's all I can say Shoutout to my new friend Andy Will be back for that grilled octopus read more

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My wife and daughter took me here today for Father's Day. What great Italian food! We had penne vodka, veal parmigiana and chicken parmigiana. Their sauce was amazing. Well worth checking out. It's small and a little cramp but it's the best Italian food I've tasted in Brooklyn so well worth it. read more

Old Fashioned Italian dishes and great recipes and service, chicken palm, and the stuff artichoke and bake clams were delicious read more

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For a real authentic Italian experience, come eat here. As soon as I arrived, you're welcome to an old school charm in this hole in the wall family restaurant. The space fits less than 10 tables, so it's quaint and busy. To start off, we got some complimentary bread that was nicely toasted. It went perfectly with the soft butter. We were starving, so we finish all the bread before our meal even arrived, but we got more bread so I could dip it into my pasta sauce --so good! For my main entree, I got the Ravioli Alla Vodka ($21) while the boyfriend got the infamous Pollo Parmigiana ($28). I'm not much of a ravioli person, but I had to try the vodka sauce here because it's so popular. Definitely opt for the vodka sauce when you come here. I noticed a few more options on their specials, which I wish I asked about earlier because they sounded delicious too. For the pollo parmigiana, it was humongous. This isn't something I'm usually into, but it's a solid dish. Overall, the food is delicious but it gets a bit overwhelming after awhile. Even though we were stuffed in the end, I knew I wanted to try their Homemade Ricotta Cheesecake ($14). Unfortunately, the texture was off for me. I was hoping it was more creamy and smooth, pass on that for me. Either way, it was a delectable meal. Such a great find in the area that feels like home. The service and people working here were also super friendly. read more

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We had veal capriosa . It was delicious. The portion was big enough that we could share the entree. The entree included pasta and bread was given to us when we sat down. The ricotta cheesecake was generous and again enough that we were able to be shared and the cappuccino was excellent. Definitely going back!! The service was excellent and very sincere and he told us that the serving was enough for the both of us. The owner of the place kept coming over to make sure we were happy. The restaurant was small and my recommendation is try to make a reservation! We didn't but we were lucky because it we were there upon opening. By the time we left there was a line to get into the restaurant! Highly recommend this place. It has been open for over 50 years! read more

It was not too long ago that Italians dominated the Bensonhurst scene, with Italian bakeries, restaurants, and pizzerias across 18th Avenue and 65th street. Depending on where you lived was your go-to for each of them, with their own personality, character, and dishes that were brought to the forefront of every meal. Ortobello Restaurant is one of those restaurants that represents that test of time perfectly. From the 1970's lamps, to the ten or so tables at the restaurant, to the intimate menu, to the large portions, Ortobello is a relic. The food is delicious too, to the point where you will be full for hours and need a takeout bag because the portion is more than expected. The sauces are clearly homemade, the pasta probably too. I can tell the meat is tenderized because of how thin it is. If it were a thicker cut, I think I would be full, but the leanness of the meat allows for a more generous intake rather than to save it for later. Thankfully, it is a short walk from the Bay Parkway station on the N train, and they accept credit cards at a smaller higher premium. However, there is no price on a time capsule restaurant like this. Before the Asian community expanded in, and the Italian community slowly declined, this restaurant is an excellent representation what Bensonhurst was, and hopefully can still be, even if it is for just one night. read more

This is the only place that my father being an old Neapolitan, would love to eat at. We have been coming for over 30 years now and it's still on point! Plenty of food, plenty of good energy. Highly recommended read more

The diversity and quality of food, and service was excellent!! A very nice and accommodating staff. Brian Long Island read more

Ortobello Restaurant - There wines are excellent - Italian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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The food, the atmosphere, the staff all top notch. Especially the owner! I hasn't been back to the restaurant since it reopened from an unfortunate fire. So glad I did! A tad pricey, but... the veal parmigiana was next level delicious! I chose the potato croquettes as a side. Sooooo delicious! But here's where I take the review up a notch... my friends and I inadvertently overpaid for the meal by $100. Error on the waiters part. We pay, leave and gather outside saying out goodbyes for about 10 minutes. All of a sudden the owner comes out full speed not realizing we were standing right there to give us a refund!!! $100! Talk about class and integrity!! He apologized for the mistake, which wasn't necessary and gave us the money back. I ask you, how many restaurants would do that?!? He did. Bravo for old school people. Go pay them a visit, you won't regret it! read more

A true neighborhood gem. Ortobello's casual yet romantic ambiance makes me feel as if I am dining in a small homey village in Italy. I end up smiling every time we eat here. The pasta is cooked to perfection and the food tastes incredibly fresh, like it was sourced and prepared that very day. Andy, the owner, goes out of his way to greet every guest. He will stop by your table to say hi in that old-school hospitality taught to restaurateurs of a different time. Honestly, if you're not looking to have a lovely evening, then this probably isn't the place for you read more

As real deal as it gets. Small, dilapidated interior (in a good way), surprisingly tight menu and great food. My wife loved the veal parm because it was thin, crispy with great sauce and not a heavy version. I tried the spicy vodka chicken parm and it was on point and a little unique. Rigatoni and the gnocchi. Fantastic calamari and a solid Caesar. And, like, memorably friendly. Seems to serve more locals than transplants. One of the great pure play Italian-American joints in Bk. read more

Please do yourself a favor and go to this place. Hands down the best Italian food I've tasted. I ordered the seafood salad which was delicious. Fresh sweet jumbo shrimp and that lemon sauce was golden. I had the shrimp penne vodka and my husband had the fillet of sole. All were absolutely delicious. This place never fails to impress. read more

Update, been coming here for years and wanted to update my review with some photos of the amazing food I receive here for takeout. Thanks Ortobello. Old-school comfort food for sure! Always great food. read more

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Imagine being surrounded by a bunch of Italian uncles yelling out life lessons from across the room as you dine on Nona sized portions of pasta, chicken parm, and calamari fritti. That is a typical night at Ortobello. My 4.5 hour Saturday night dinner date was an unforgettable experience that needs to be repeated! The bottle of Campagna and tiramisu almost pushed me to the edge of fullness, but there was no rush to leave because, well, insieme! So, if you want an instant Italian family, unsolicited life advice, and stick to your bones comfort eats come to Ortobello's. If you've got the singing chops, you can also have the pleasure of joining in with the uncles busting out La Scappa Pippi Pappa and Sinatra. Ooofa! read more

Ortobello Restaurant - Gnocchi Sorrentino...so much cheese, my god! - Italian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Went for dinner after reading all the good reviews. I have to say the hype that they get is well deserved. At Ortabello, you go for the food, not the atmosphere. This is old school Italian done right. Kept it simple: chicken parm with penne. Excellent quality, nicely made. Bro had veal parm which was equally good. I would definitely recommend this establishment. Last of a dying breed, but excellent food. read more

This little hole in the wall, that has been here since 1974 has the most fantastic and authentic Italian food this side of Italy. They only have 9 tables, very simple decor, not fancy, not a romantic date spot, you come here for the Food. I was blown away by the dishes I saw coming out. This is how I remember my grandparents cooking... simply the best of the best. If you're Italian you have to come here to be brought back to those Sunday dinners with the family. I believe you can't go wrong with anything you might order because they're masters at what comes out of the kitchen, old world recipes carried down from each generation. Shout out to Andy the owner, what a great guy carrying on with his dad's recipes. Don't forget the Italian ricotta cheesecake, homemade and outrageously delicious. True Foodies will love it here. Only open for dinner, leave time street parking only. Ciao read more

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One of the coziest delicious old school Italian spot, best to come for dinner time especially for Sunday dinner! The bread is fresh once it comes out, the baked clams taste so pure and fresh I don't think I've had seafood that fresh!! The pollo parmigiana and penne vodka were absolutely delicious!!! Till this day I am still drooling about it. The ambiance is great and welcoming I felt super comfortable in there. The service was amazing very polite and friendly, I am so going back!! ;) read more

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OMG this place was amazing. It may not look like much on the outside and the inside decor is simple but the service and food gives this place a high status and definitely worth visiting. Upon entering we were seated right away and they brought the menu and the toast and butter to wait. They had downsized on their menu but (the owner I Believe) they came out to take our order and we had asked about the menu. As we had looked over reviews on Yelp and saw some dishes. We asked about a few that didn't seem to be on the menu. The owner said that the menu was downsized to make it easy to read but they do make items of the menu of you ask about it. The fettuccine alfredo is not on the menu but an item that you can definitely order. We also got the penne alla vodka. The food took time but they were making it super fresh and authentic. The owner stated that they make their fettuccine alfredo with real heavy cream instead of flour and to me that is the only way to make good alfredo. The alfredo also had a good amount of garlic taste that I've noticed other places never add enough. The penne was also really amazing as you could smell and taste the vodka in it, and i know it was delicious as i didn't even noticed the piece of onion in it (and I really dislike onions in my food). The food here is definitely worth a visit as well as the staff. 5/5 will return and hopefully soon! read more

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The food is delicious and the service is so friendly and attentive. you may have passed by this place and didn't even know it was there. take the time to go in and have dinner. chicken parm is amazing. , so is the tortellini bolognese. see for yourself. a hidden gem in business over 50 years . read more

Old school restaurant in the old Bklyn Tradition Not fancy but that ain't why ya go... Perfect Italian food served the way it used to be!!! Fantastic!!! read more

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Came here for the 1st time after wanting to try it for years ! Ordered Veal Fiore (side of potato croquettes), Chicken Parmigiana (side of spaghetti), Seafood salad, house red wine, beer. Everything was BEYOND excellent. Growing up eating from my Nonnas kitchen it's hard to have Italian food that truly tastes homemade but this place honestly did it ! The tomato sauce had that fresh tomato taste with the perfect amount of soft onion in every few bites. The veal dish was covered in the freshest arugula salad and fresh mozzarella, the chicken parmigiana was so crispy yet buttery tender, and the seafood salad was incredibly vibrant and fresh with not one piece of seafood being over cooked or rubbery, and potato croquettes were so soft and buttery on the inside while being so crispy on the outside. If 1st impressions tell you a lot about a place one thing I can say is that this place is beyond amazing. The portions are massive and even more than that, the care put into the food is just exceptional. I'm a professional chef working over 20 years in the kitchen and I honestly couldn't find one negative remark. Nothing was over salted, overcooked, or under-seasoned. 100000% will be back many times and cannot wait to try dessert next time ! read more

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My Lovely wife and I had a spectacular dinner at a Bensonhurst hidden gem called Ortobello Restaurant, a 50 year old Italian restaurant everyone drives by. Fortunately, we got there just after it opened, because it filled up fast. We started off with garden salad that came in a garlic-rubbed wooden bowl along with an incredible aged balsamic reduction. I had unbelievably fresh baked clams (Steamers and Littleneck) while my wife had a Caprese salad with milky fresh mozzarella, garden fresh basil, roasted red peppers and perfectly ripe tomatoes, drizzled with aged balsamic reduction. Next, she wanted to know if she could have rigatoni with vodka sauce (not on the menu), to which she was told "why couldn't you?" I had a huge, exquisitely tender veal parmigiana with homemade marinara and a side dish of perfectly cooked penne. It was one of my top ten meals of all time. If you go, bring cash and don't be in a rush because everything is cooked to order. It's a family owned place and the family loves what they do. It shows in the service and the wonderful food. read more

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One of my favorite restaurants in brooklyn. Totally old school Italian food. The food is great and they give huge servings. The service is impeccable. The place truly is a throwback. Don't be shocked by the decor. It's all about the food!!!! read more

This family owned Italian restaurant serves dishes just like your Italian Grandma would make. Established since 1974, the current owner and Manager Andy, told us this place was run by his father. His father is proudly remembered with a lovely photo of him in uniform back when he was a Parachute jumper in the Military. Looking around, the nostalgia is there. No fancy decor - just seasonal decor on this visit (day before Thanksgiving). I came here to dine with my family to celebrate the holiday and my Grandma's 96th birthday. A fitting place indeed, where everyone is treated like family. Our server was Roberto, who was the only main server this evening. It was a packed house with two large parties (mine a party of 9 and the group of 11 just behind us). The dining room is not that big so the other 7 tables for four or so made up the rest of the place. While I have to say, our dinner service had quite the delay given only one server and another man down in the kitchen (as informed to us by Andy). The crew made the place as lively as possible and constant contact with all diners with refills on drinks and lots of bread for the tables. Once the large party behind me left, our appetizers started to appear - over an hour since ordering. I can honestly say this dampened the mood a bit in the beginning but once we started eating, all was forgiven. Plate after plate, we were wow'd by the portion sizes and the quality of food. Even my pickiest kid tried some new food (starvation works)! Our appetizers were all spot on: baked clams (very flavorful and light on the bread crumbs), caeser salad (no anchovies here but lots of cheese), the seafood salad (very generous amount of seafood - we requested no shrimp due to my allergy) and a plate of mixed greens to which the balsamic that accompanied it on the side, was phenomenal. They should bottle that recipe...I can tell you, it was that good. We must've used half the bottle because we wanted it on everything. LOL Entrees worthy of mentioning - All frankly but I'll just highlight the favorites: Veal Parm - my go to at any true Italian spot, that's how you know they are the real deal. It's my staple dish I use to compare places with. Penne Alla Vodka - robust in flavor and yes, you can taste the Vodka sauce, just needed more bread to clean the plate. I'm telling you, my kids shared it and there was not a piece of penne left on their plates. Shrimp Penne Alla Vodka - several folks ordered it and the aroma from the kitchen to the table made us take note. Linguini with white clam sauce - garlic and lots of it, clams mixed in everywhere, linguini was Al dente, this was a favorite. By the way, for the entrees that didn't come with pasta, we were served with a choice of potato and veggie options. The potato croquettes were a hit! I even asked for more as a side order! Evenly brown on the outside and a creamy whipped inside. Perfection! Desserts were on the menu but we didn't partake since we brought a birthday cake. The restaurant did not charge a plating fee, I asked to be sure prior to busting the cake out. Some restaurants have done it before and it's not a pleasant surprise on the bill so I make it a point to ask. The coffee and cappuccino's are totally worth mentioning. Try it, you'll love it. Lots of whipped cream on the capp. Delicious. Side note: Roberto forgot one of our entrees (he didn't write it down) but again, forgiven, as all was delicious and we ended up still with more than enough food. Still took three containers home! This neighborhood gem is on the corner of the block so don't miss the entrance, it is just slightly off the corner on Bay Parkway. read more

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Good food but about 10 yrs ago they drastically increased the prices. I think they are way over priced for the neighborhood.

Good and plentiful variety of Italian favorite dishes. Simple and comfortable decor . read more

Want to go to an old school authentic Italian restaurant? Well, this place is perfect for you! Walking into this restaurant brought me back in time to when I was a little girl visiting my grandparents' house for a Sunday dinner. I love how everything is made to order and super fresh! The stuffed artichoke was absolutely delicious! I wish I took a picture of it! The stuffing and juice was to die for! The fried calamari was fresh and tender! The food potions are huge and really delicious! Be prepared to take home leftovers. You really have to come here! You'll be missing out if you don't! read more

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Run don't walk to this homey, authentic Italian restaurant. Wish I could eat here once a week They have an amazing $33 dinner special which includes four courses- app, salad or soup, entree and dessert. 1. Mussels are the best 2. Parmigiana anything is perfect- also had the chicken francese with broccoli rabe for extra 10 3. Soup is home style/ if you don't want to get too full get a salad 4. Tiramisu or cheesecake are equally light fluffy good read more

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I am all about supporting local business, but when they try to rip me off, then no. Pasta dishes were over priced and lack in flavor. Ordered placed in 11/28/20. Order 2 linguini white clam sauce $24 x2, 1 spaghetti with meatballs $20 and 1 mussel app $22. The ratio of pasta to protein was 70% pasta and 30% protein. The container was completely filled with pastas. About 1 cup of clams and 2 small meatballs. The only decent dish was the mussel app, but still lacks flavor. read more

Ortobello Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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I'm not sure what I'm giving two stars for, but I am going to stay generous. The food here is MEDIOCRE. We ordered seafood salad, artichoke, Mozzarella sticks , rib eye, and veal parm. Everything tasted bland or over salted, no in between. Everything will get an individual rating. Seafood salad 8/10 Artichoke 4.5/10 Rib eye 5/10 Veal parm 5.5/10 Spaghetti on side 4/10 Water with lemon 10/10 Service 2.5/10 Salad dressing 10/10 * the thickest mozzarella sticks ever, check out photo* Oh yea the two stars I left, the dressing earned it. Guys if you have taste buds, and value your money, walk away. read more

Ortobello Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Old school, quiet, great food ... Exactly how I like my meals to be outside. My wife and I were feeling some good Italian food on a weekday, so we decided to take a trek out. After seeing the number of positive reviews on Yelp, we decided on Ortobello. Man, did it live up to all the great reviews. We walked in at about 7pm on Thanksgiving Eve and the restaurant was pretty empty. There were just 3 other tables occupied, although considering how small the restaurant was it was a decent amount of people. It seemed that the restaurant could only accommodate about 40 people. We were seated immediately by a casually dressed gentleman with an Ortobello t-shirt on, who seemed like the owner/manager. Following him was our waiter, a much older fellow who was extremely pleasant to us throughout the evening. Even though the menu was just 1 page, front and back, there were SOOO many dishes to choose from. Luckily, they offered a prix fixe menu on the back, which gave the choice of an appetizer, soup, entree and dessert for just $32/person! Yes, $32 for all of that, not to mention that they gave more than reasonable serving sizes too. And from the well-rounded choices offered, it was hard to resist, so we jumped at it. Here's a quick run-down of what we ordered. BREAD I have to mention the complimentary bread because it was that damn good. Every table gets one and the bread was piping hot and crispy when it arrived at the table. There was nothing special on the bread, but it the fact that it was hot made a world of difference. We liked that they heated up the bread prior to serving, which is a common mistake restaurants tend to make by not heating up bread. APPETIZERS - Chopped Baked Clams and Mussels Marinara There were 6 clams in the Chopped Baked Clams order. It seemed a bit small, compared to the huge order of Mussels Marinara, but they were still very tasty. We could have used a few more clams considering how good they were. As for the Mussels Marinara, excellent. We were surprised at how large the order was since it was just an appetizer. There must have been 20-30 mussels in the order and there was plenty of sauce in the bowl. There was so much marinara sauce that we asked for more of their delicious complimentary bread to dip in. ENTREES - Chicken Marsala and Chicken Parmigiana The chicken for both orders were delicious. For chicken breast, they were tender, juicy and we loved the flavors of both dishes. Chicken Marsala is my wife's favorite Italian dish, but she can be very critical of restaurants that do not make it well, however she loved it here. The Chicken Parmigiana was just 1 piece, but massive. For the geography nerds, it looked like it was in the shape of Pangaea (aka the supercontinent that existed before modern continents were formed). Anyway, it was one of the best Chicken Parmigianas I ever had. It was breaded perfectly, had plenty of cheese on top, was still tender/not overcooked and had lots of flavor. There were also pastas that came with our entrees. I ordered Ziti and she got the Spaghetti. All perfectly cooked with some marinara on top. DESSERT - Tiramisu and Italian Cheesecake Loved .. I repeat we loved the desserts. Although our dessert was straight from the refrigerator, it was amazingly good still. The Tiramisu had a dollop of whipped cream on top and it was so delicious. It didn't look pretty and wasn't presented in any type of fancy way, but who cares because it was very tasty piece of Tiramisu. As for the Italian Cheesecake, it was the 1st time we ever had Italian Cheesecake and were surprised at just how good it was. It was so diffferent than regular cheesecake because it was made with ricotta cheese and had an orange tang to it. Each bite was so light, but flavorful. To be honest, I don't think I can go back to regular cheesecake anymore after having Italian Cheesecake. We expected good things from Ortobello, but they obviously exceeded our expectations. The homey atmosphere was perfect for the cold night and our waiter made us feel right at home with his excellent service. He was kind, friendly and our food came out on time. As the evening wore on, more and more people arrived. By the time we left at 8:30pm, the restaurant was 3/4 full. The experience we had here was great and we would definitely come back whenever our stomachs are feeling for some Italian food. read more

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