Table for Two

New star shines along Sunrise Highway

Posted

San Remo Ristorante Italiano
328 Sunrise Highway, Rockville Centre
(516) 764-0800, www.sanremorvc.com

Newly opened and right on Sunrise Highway, San Remo promises to be a favorite for many. Long-time restaurateur and chef Ralph proves that experience paired with talent is priceless. Using fresh high quality ingredients, he and his kitchen staff prepare from scratch and send out impressive presentations. Hence, San Remo’s Italian cuisine can easily rival the finest.

Décor is lovely — spacious yet cozy, thanks to well-appointed warm shades of color. Chicly-styled teak ladder-back chairs, large lampshade-shrouded fixtures, and vibrant scenes of Italy merge together nicely.

Specials are offered each night. What we tried was from the regular dinner menu, so anything recommended here should be available. Soups, salads and appetizers are $6.99 to $12.99. Pastas are $16.99 to $23.99. Entrees are $18.99 to $36.99. Lunches are lower in price but the same sized portions, which are quite generous. The wine list is well selected, mostly Italian, some domestic, with bottles from $26 to $70.

Hold onto that bread basket; sauces are delectable and dip-worthy. Garnished with a flower, stuffed artichoke was perfection – leaves and heart perked with melted parmesan and breadcrumbs, settled over lemon-based sauce. We raved about the tender grilled squid (Calamari ala Grigia), finished with Balsamic glaze, served with baby arugula and red onions. San Remo salad — mixed greens, tomatoes, roasted peppers, fresh mozzarella, capers, olives and artichoke hearts dressed in homemade vinaigrette — was both stunning in appearance and delicious.

All pastas are homemade and those we tried were exceptional. Gnocchi was crowned with (meat) Bolognese; marinara or Alfredo sauces are alternate options. Tortelli San Remo, delicate hand-stuffed dumplings filled with a three-cheese and spinach mixture, was served in light cream sauce. Cavatelli con Broccoli di Rabe was a huge bowl of pasta, sweet Italian sausage and broccoli rabe tossed with garlic and olive oil.

Pollo alla Valdostana — a breast of chicken stuffed with mushrooms, prosciutto and mozzarella — was baked in dry sherry sauce. Vitello Milanese offered a tender beaded veal cutlet topped with chopped onions, tomatoes and arugula. Stuffed Gamberi — four jumbo shrimp — were heaped with crab meat and vegetables in lemon sauce, circling a mound of risotto.

With cinnamon-dusted cappuccino we sampled some luscious homemade confections. Italian cheesecake, sparked with orange zest, was moister than most. Tiramisu was airy just sweet enough. A bowl of fresh strawberries topped with creamy Zabaglione is always a refreshing finale.

San Remo opens every day at noon. Lunch is served Monday through Friday. Weekend afternoons are reserved for parties for up to 80 guests. Off-premise catering is available too. Dinner is served until 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Reservations are suggested. Valet parking is offered on Friday and Saturday.
 
Recommendations:
■ Stuffed Artichoke
■ Calamari all Grigia
■ Insalata San Remo
■ Cavatelli con Broccoli Rabe
■ Tortelli San Remo
■ Gnocci
■ Pollo alla Valdostana
■ Vitello Milanese
■ Stuffed Gamberi
■ Tiramisu
■ Italian Cheesecake
■ Strawberries with Zabaglione