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Vittorio's
Charming Little Hot Spot In The Village Of Amityville The ambiance at Vittorio’s Restaurant & Wine Bar is cozy and upscale without pretension. It’s obvious why the restaurant was recently upheld as one of Long Island’s best date spots. The dining room embodies a private, romantic atmosphere warmly lit by the glow of decorative chandeliers and candelabras. The servers are attentive and knowledgeable. There is an award winning wine list and the food is all house made… which means we definitely recommend you make reservations!
Cocktails are surely something special in this establishment. The bartender uses only fresh ingredients, no bottled limejuice here. They even make their own simple syrups. We sampled the Espresso Martini containing vanilla vodka, their high quality Espresso and a twist of lemon for zest (below left). We discussed how good espresso has a slight creamy top when poured, and this was no exception. The martini was aromatic with a rich espresso flavor and a touch of sweetness – very classy.
One of the other signature drinks, the “Vittorio’s Secret” is made with fresh berries that they bruise just a little to extract the natural juice from the fruit (above right). Such a simple idea… using fresh ingredients when mixing drinks can make all the difference. A dish of baked Little Neck clams was our first appetizer (below left). There was a perfect ratio of ingredients; plump morsels of clam with a touch of crispy seasoned breadcrumbs. Served in their shells, they sat in a shallow pool of sauce heavy with minced garlic. We eagerly scooped and drizzled the sauce with a heavy hand onto each bite.
Our first entrée was a dish of Garganelli pasta with a slow simmered veal and sage ragu (above right). All the pasta served at Vittorio’s is made in house and this penne-style delight was no exception. It was refreshing to see and taste a more exotic style of noodle than we normally encounter. The entire plate came out piping hot, always an inviting notion. The pasta was cooked perfectly al dente and the freshness caused it to be delicate yet firm. Every forkful had a satisfying distribution of pasta and delicious crumbled veal with a hint of sage. Everyone kept going back for more until the plate was empty and the sauce absorbed by pieces of bread that seemed meant for this very occasion. For the USDA Prime T-Bone steak (below left), being that the restaurant is known for it’s award winning wine list, the waiter recommended a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon (Sterling). The beef was 28 days dry aged and served alongside a mound of mashed potatoes and rich and juicy sautéed spinach. The spinach was loaded with thick slivers of roasted garlic. The meat was lean and tender, melt in your mouth with a beautiful char and soaking in its own natural juices. After devouring the slices already provided for us we continued to cut off more meat until the bone was clean. Be careful if you are the only one at your table ordering one of their steaks, because no one will be able to resist trying a little off your plate…and going back for more.
A beautiful poached Chilean Sea Bass in a white wine, garlic and tomato brodetto, or broth, was served next (above right). The waiter recommended the 2007 Castle Rock Pinot Noir and the 2008 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc both of which nicely complimented this light and fresh fish entrée. This nicely presented dish was not too heavy and full of fresh flavors with more of that delicious garlic laden spinach we weren’t sorry to revisit. The fish was tender and moist in a light tomato sauce that was wonderful. We have sampled many Crème Brulee’s in our travels, but always remain curious with each one we sample (below left). The first test was passed when we successfully cracked into the caramelized sugar top with ease. Next we nodded in agreement that the custard beneath was appropriately sweet with a superb consistency we all thoroughly enjoyed.
The second dessert was a concoction of sweets named “Chocolate Decadence” and was entirely sinful (above right)! Imagine an Oreo cookie crust filled with warm, ooey-gooey chocolate fudge placed upon a thick smear of peanut butter, drizzled with raspberry sauce and a powdering of cinnamon. And let’s not forget the fresh whipped cream in case you needed more satisfaction. Order a cappuccino to help ease you into the rich sensation of flavors that make up this mouth-watering creation that is great to mischievously share with someone.
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