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Northern Italian Masterpiece Located
in the heart of Garden City’s shopping district, you can find Seventh Street
This
restaurant is owned and operated by the renowned Scotto Family. The Scotto
Family is well known for its premiere dining and catering establishments. Jose
Cruz, head chef, came to the United States about 15 years ago.
He began his culinary career with the Scottos and thrives at Seventh
Street Café. Chef Cruz is very passionate about his work creating masterpiece
dishes for the many patrons that frequent Seventh Street Café.
When
we entered the restaurant, we were greeted by smiling faces that assisted us in
removing our jackets, and placed them into a large dark armoire. One
can’t help but notice the large collection of wines along the right wall and
the beautiful dining room set off to the left.
Ornate decorations are found throughout the dining room area –
including large bronze vases, faux floral arrangements set on half walls,
Italian artwork, square pillars, and a fireplace in the middle.
Elaborate cast iron ceiling fans hang above your head, and off-white
curtains decorate the front windows looking out onto Seventh Street. The beige walls and terra cotta finished floors create an Italian
countryside setting. It is a
romantic and charming place with a casual atmosphere. Downstairs
houses a private
catering room, which is capable of accommodating up to sixty people.
They specialize in showers, communions, christenings, rehearsal dinners,
birthdays, anniversaries, and corporate events. The
staff was incredibly attentive. We
were greeted immediately upon entrance by the manager Heather. She was beyond
polite and accommodating. We never
saw her without a smile throughout the entire evening.
The entire staff was extremely amicable. We thoroughly enjoyed our waiter, George.
He was knowledgeable of each dish brought to the table, and was not shy
with his personal recommendations. The
friendly manner of the staff made our dining experience that much more
enjoyable.
Warm
fresh Italian bread (above left) was served with a dipping dish filled of olive
oil (above right), balsamic
vinaigrette, and a pinch of Parmesan Romano cheese. The oil was extremely tasty, and the balsamic was a nice touch.
Also, in the bread basket were breadsticks covered with a fresh tomato
basil paste, which provided a delicious aroma and flavor to the fresh bread.
The
martini menu at Seventh Street Café contained a variety of unique options.
Our table sampled the Pomegranate Martini, which was sweet on the palate.
The Finding Nemo Martini was a yummy decision.
It appeared as blue as the ocean, and had a “beachy” essence with its
coconut undertone and hidden little gummy fish. For those that prefer another intriguing cocktail, we suggest the Tezon
Pomegranate Cosmo. The Patron Grand
Rita was a classic margarita garnished with a fancy lime.
It perfectly combined the sweet and sour flavors of a margarita.
The wine list offers an array of options between sparkling, red and
whites. We were informed that the
list is currently undergoing some changes, and will be updated in the near
future. Based on our waiter’s
suggestion we experienced a bottle of Dry Creek Valley’s 2005 Crush.
A 51% Cabernet Sauvignon and 49% Merlot blend.
It had an intense berry aroma and flavor.
Crush is a light and smooth option which pairs well with most dishes.
We
began our evening with the Seventh Street Salad (above left).
A plate of spinach and arugula with sliced mangos, gorgonzola cheese,
toasted walnuts and dried cranberries tossed in raspberry vinaigrette, served
with flaky tortilla triangles. The
dried cranberries and toasted walnuts were a great contrast to the gorgonzola
cheese. The salad was absolutely
outstanding. Our table agreed it
would be the perfect salad for lunch with the option of adding grilled chicken or shrimp.
The next appetizer was a cold Antipasto Assortito
(above left); a combination of
imported Italian delicacies including: cured meats, fresh mozzarella, provolone
cheese, lettuce, vine ripe tomato, roasted red peppers, extra virgin olive oil,
and vinegar. The provolone cheese
was wonderfully sharp. The mozzarella, made in house, was incredibly fresh
tastly. The meats included
pepperoni, prosciutto, soppressato, and salami.
It was a second great combination of Italian classics.
The
first entrée was Tortelloni alla Vittorio.
Homemade stuffed cheese dumplings were served with baby shrimp,
mushrooms, nutmeg, and shallots in a pink sauce. The tortellini was prepared well and the sauce added a delicious
flavor. The pink sauce was creamy
yet very light. Our second entrée
was one of the specials that evening, the Red Snapper.
The snapper was prepared in white wine, garlic, butter sauce, and then
broiled. The snapper was fresh,
delicate and flavorful. Each bite
melted in our mouths. Also served
with this dish was broccoli rabe and zucchini.
The zucchini was breaded and stuffed with vegetables.
The stuffing consisted of string beans, carrots, and peppers.
It was a great preparation of zucchini, enjoyed by all at the table. The stuffed zucchini was an excellent complement to the red snapper.
The
Italian Cheesecake was homemade perfection.
It was a heavy yet fluffy creamy heaven.
They also offer the “American” version, but we would suggest that
when in Rome, do as the Romans. We
then savored the Chocolate Soufflé with hazelnut gelato. The chocolate soufflé was moist.
The hazelnut gelato was amazing. It
added a distinction to such a traditional dessert.
Dessert was enjoyed with a cappuccino frosted to perfection in an
oversized coffee mug.
Seventh Street Café has mastered the traditional Northern Italian cuisine while adding their personal touch to every aspect of the restaurant. The menu offers a wide variety of options for diners. One of our favorite parts of the restaurant was their pacing. It was not too slow, and not too fast – each dish came out at just the right time. Heather informed us that the restaurant tends to get crowded on the weekend. We would recommend going during a week night to get the full effect of the dining room, which is just one more element of this wonderful dining experience. Whenever you decide to dine at this exquisite establishment be sure to bring your appetite – Mangia!
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