Mike and I first discovered the restaurant back in September, and I knew my Italian-loving mother had to try it while she was in the city. Hence, we headed up to the Bronx so my parents could experience this little culinary gem.
While perusing the menu, we were bought a basket of fresh bread.
The sun-dried tomato dipping sauce really brought the Italian loaf to the next level- it was so good that I actually ate the tomato chunks with a fork after eating two slices of bread!
As a starter, I went with a simple insalata mista.
It was a substantial portion of fresh, dark, leafy greens. The dressing was spot-on as well- just a simple oil & vinegar with lemon juice.
I also tried a few bites of Mike's fried calamari-and-artichoke appetizer. How have I never had fried artichokes? They're delicious, especially with fresh marinara.
Despite my love for all carbohydrates, pasta really isn't my thing. However, Gerbasi's pasta is all homemade and the penne primavera sounded right up my alley!
Penne with carrots, zucchini, asparagus, peas, tomatoes and carrots, all tossed in garlic and oil. The whole dish had a wonderful herby flavor that I couldn't quite identify, and I loved that it was prepared with olive oil instead of butter.
For dessert, Mike and I split the tiramisu. It was as good as it looks. Need I say more?
My parents had the panna cotta, which they said was the best they've ever had. I don't usually go for creamy desserts, but I tried a small bite and it was better than I expected.
Overall, it was one of the best Italian meals I've ever had. The staff was friendly, the food was incredible, the service was great, and the prices are far more reasonable than the trendy Italian restaurants in Manhattan. I was lucky to have such a wonderful dinner with the people I love most!
If you had to choose: bread or dessert? This is a really tough question, but I think I'd go for dessert. Sweet tooth is my middle name. Thankfully I usually get to have both, though :)
22 comments:
BOTH! That pasta looks so amazing. I usually fill up on the bread and I have to take home leftover, which is NEVER a bad thing :)
You and your bf are super cute :)
Bread for me! My sweet tooth has definitely decreased this year. I can't stomach most sweets anymore! It's been an interesting change.
Dessert for sure; I'm all about chocolatey desserts. Your meal looks delicious!
OHHHH home made pasta? id def go w. that too!!!
your fam is adorable! (and you and the boy obviously!)
Dessert, hands down!
i feel like YOU lately....ending almost every day with some dark chocolate or sweet somethin somethin. usually im a fruit for dessert kind of person (dried or fresh). however, given my adoration for fluffy carbs, id have to choose bread. i always ALWAYS have bread with dinner. and usually wine too. im usually too cheap or full to do dessert in restaurants (plus all the good ones are dairy filled anyways). glad you had fun with your parental units.
bah i love bread AND dessert way too much..... it i HAD to choose id be dessert, but you know I'd still have both!
I'm glad you are having such a great time with Mike and your parents!
I would go for bread if I had to choose. I can usually take one bite of dessert and be over it, but bread I no way!
Dessert, hands down! I could easily forgo the bread (and often do) - I think it's so blaaah!
That meal looks truly delicious :)
Dessert. Especially if it's tiramisu. Ooooh, tiramisu.
Dessert FO SHO. Even though I love bread, some restaurant bread isn't *that* great, so it's not a travesty to pass up. But I've certainly never had a dessert I didn't like!!
Bread - I love the bread. When I found out I was gluten intolerant, I just about cried because I honestly rate restaurants on their bread. If the bread isn't good, the restaurant isn't good. :)
That meal looks delicious - I dip my gluten free pizza in this marinara sauce froma local italian restaurant.. and I always pick out the tomato chunks to eat them. :)
Bread! Because sometimes by the end of the meal I'm too full for dessert, but there's always plenty of room for bread at the beginning of the meal. :D
that is a tough call - I feel like anyone can make a really tasty dessert, but amazing bread doesn't happen that often. I'd have to go with bread.
YUM. I'd say dessert, the bread basket doesnt normaly attract me, idk, i think i get to wrapped up in my company/ excited for the food!! :)
enjoy time with your parents/mike! You have amazing skin ( i feel like a creeper writing that.) but its true!
Hmmm, hard question you post! I would usually say dessert, but nothing NOTHING beats warm, crusty baguette straight out of the oven in France. Their baguettes taste so different. Bertucci's rolls are delicious too. Fresh bread out of the oven in general is hard to beat, except maybe by a warm cookie!
I'd say bread first...unless the dessert was really tempting and I knew that in advance.
But always vino :)
Glad you had a fab time!
I think it depends on the bread for me- sometimes bread is SO good and sometimes it's a bit disappointing.
dessert - always, always, always
Dessert all the way!
Sometimes I'll even ask to see a dessert menu before I order my meal.
I'm bad lol.
I usually fill up on bread (and the main course as well) so I don't have much room for dessert. But if I had to choose, I would definitely pick dessert. When I go to a really nice place, I usually try to save room for dessert or eat a little even if I'm not that hungry. :)
I try to follow this rule when I got out to dinners like this. I always leave the bread basket alone and save room for dessert :-)
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