Hadn't seen my old friend in a long time, and he suggested dinner in Mendham, where he's now…read moreliving. I wasn't enthusiastic, but he said to meet him at his Dad's house in Bernardsville, and he'd drive me up and back (with my bad night vision, I don't relish the thought up driving up through the Bernardsville mountains into Mendham in the dark, a hesitancy of which he's aware of). Given that he was making it as easy and painless as possible, how could I say no?
He suggested Dante's. I was agreeable enough, but with the new draconian diet I'm on, I had a little trepidation about ordering. It's almost an article of faith that in any new Italian restaurant I try, I'll be ordering (a) pasta fagioli (b) lasagna (c) ice cream.
The parking in back didn't seem particularly spacious to my cataract-compromised eyesight, but my friend was able to secure a spot without difficulty. Inside the restaurant was large and airy (an impression helped along, no doubt, by the fact that we were the only patrons at that point), and the server was friendly and enthusiastic. We followed her to our table and perused the menu.
No lasagna, so I was relieved of that particular temptation. Pasta fagioli was there under "Appetizers", but I was able to resist. The server presented us with complimentary Foccia Bread with cheese, which was delicious. We ordered glasses of water, and the only negative part that I could relate about the whole night's experience was that I also ordered a Coke, which I never got. Then again, the server might have perceived I was on a draconian diet, and realized that a Coke, with all its calories and sugar, wasn't going to help me in that endeavor. All joking aside, she was friendly and efficient, and I have no complaints about the service.
Bathrooms were clean and functional.
I ended up ordering the Lemon Sole Oreganata, accompanied by fresh broccoli and 2 sizable shrimp. I've never had a problem ordering fish (other than the expense) but I was a little apprehensive that it might not be filling enough. It was -- both filling and tasty. As usual, I didn't pay much attention to what my friend ordered, but he expressed more than an abundant satisfaction with it.
A word about ice cream--- I've given up alcohol, opioids, and I've been adhering to the diet I've belatedly become serious about (in a few months, I've lost 24 pounds), but I'm never entirely going to give up ice cream (and at some point in the future I expect to eat lasagna again too; not often, but...occasionally...). I haven't had a lot of ice cream since I started the diet, but...given my restraint when it came to the pasta fagioli...I threw caution to the wind and ordered 2 scoops of vanilla. I anticipated small scoops, but they were large ones. Did that stop me? No. I consumed this rare treat with great alacrity. It was a delicious, satisfying indulgence.
And... next morning...I discovered I had actually lost a pound.
I'm happy that ice cream can be like a cousin who lives far away. You don't see them often, but when you do, it's a happy, satisfying occasion. And lasagna? It's that favored uncle who lives in upstate NY...
The prices are reasonable enough, the food is plentiful, fresh and tasty, and there's a pleasant, down-home atmosphere to dining here. After we had been seated, a group of happy, Italian-speaking people came in to partake, and they seemed like regulars.
Evidently, Dante's has been around for a long time, and I look forward to dining there again.
Recommended.