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Business & Tech

Bites Nearby: Cafe Testarossa

Italian food + American food = Amore

You could stand on a corner and look around until a restaurant sign draws you in. But we've got a better idea. Each week, Patch picks a great restaurant either in town or nearby that is worth checking out. Here's this week's choice:

Overview: It’s a little piece of Italy right on a plate.  

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Decor: Low lighting and small tables makes this restaurant romantic. The wood is dark and the walls are a cream color. It is very simple and elegant. There are mirrors on the walls that gives more depth to the restaurant and reflects the lighting, making it look bigger than the rooms really are.

The Drinks:

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  • Wines
    • Red: Rioja Reserva
    • White: Pinot Grigio
    • Champagne
    • Soft Drinks

Appetizers:

  • Tuna Tartar served with a Sesame Crisp in a Cucumber & Ginger Lime Vinaigrette
  • Veal Meatball Sliders
  • Fried Calamari with a Spicy Marinara
  • Roasted Peppers, Beefsteak Tomatoes, and Fresh Mozzarella Drizzled with a Basil Infused Olive Oil

Entrees:

  • Rigatoni with Vodka Tomato & Crème: This almost tastes like penne alla vodka. It is really good, sweet but tangy, great for the taste buds. The pasta is cooked al dente and there are very good portions to eat.
  • Grilled Black Angus Sirloin with Caramelized Red Onions, and Mashed New Potatoes: For an Italian restaurant, they make a very good Angus Sirloin. The wait staff are very good about making sure the chef brings out the meat the way you want it cooked whether it’s rare or super done. The red onions give the steak flavor and decorate the plate nicely. The mashed potatoes were steamy and melted in your mouth.

Sides

Salads:

  • Poached Pear and Red Beet Salad ~ Mixed Greens tossed with Mandarin Orange, Dried Cherries, Candied Pistachio Nuts and Feta Cheese in an Apple Cider Vinaigrette
  • Caesar Salad with Homemade Garlic Sourdough Croutons

Desserts:

  • Frozen Nutella Cake served with Chopped Hazelnuts & Cherry Vanilla Ice Cream
  • Baked Apple Turnover with a Warm Caramel Sauce and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
  • New York Style Cheese Cake served with Fresh Strawberry Sauce
  • Tiramisu, Cannoli, Tartufo
  • Caramelized Banana Custard Napoleon with Strawberry Vanilla Ice Cream

Service: Prim and proper, that’s what I would call the wait staff at Café Testarossa. They come exactly when they are supposed to with the food that they were supposed to bring. They are friendly but in a polite way. They smile and make small talk with the customers but it’s obvious they are very much into doing things ‘by the book’. They are very good with the orders, however, and you can be assured that they will almost never make a mistake.

Signature Dish: Grouper seared with a Mild Horseradish Crust served with Sauteed Spinach and Lobster Polenta in a Clam and Blue Crab Broth.

Address: 499 Jericho Turnpike, Syosset

Cost: $$- $$$ 

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