|
Emilio's~ Italian Restaurant |
|
|
It’s about time I wrote this review- Emilio’s has been Passing with Flying Colors for over a year... Andiamo a mangiare!
 ~
What a beautiful place- a cavernous, open brick oven warms up the room, figuratively & literally. The walls, arches and pillars are brick with Corinthian accents and tasteful, stylish lighting. I’ve visited here for dinner with my family, after hours dancing with friends, a business meeting, and even alone with a good book, and enjoyed it each and every time.
Where to begin… I crave saucy, meaty, hearty Italian pasta dishes. I nestle into warm, inviting spaces. I respond to friendly, knowledgeable staff. So Emilio’s is a perfect fit, since they regularly provide all three. On my first visit the waitress strongly recommended the lasagna, and she couldn’t have gotten it more right. Bubbling out of the oven with layers of fresh, housemade pasta, an interesting blend of cheeses and a tasty meat sauce accented with fresh herbs to finish it off just right.
The Man and The Boy ordered pizzas, with sausage and peppers. The crust was impossibly thin, crisp and kissed with olive oil. With a crust that thin it would be easy to overdo it, and I am happy to say Emilio’s has mastered creating a balanced pie. The good news- you can eat the whole thing without feel stuffed and bloated. The bad news- you can eat the whole thing without feeling stuffed and bloated!
The service was outstanding. Our waitress was personable, quick to refill the drinks, knew the menu and made excellent recommendations, right down to the Tiramisu which melted on your tongue. Our cappuccino had just the right amount of foam and robust flavor.
I returned a few weeks later with just a good book for company, and tried the Greek salad- stop laughing- it’s true! It came right before the Agnoliti- spinach and ricotta stuffed pasta with a mushroom cream sauce… to die for. Homemade pasta has a taste and texture that sets it apart from prefab noodles and it’s impossible to go back to the box once you’ve tasted it. Emilio’s will spoil you, so be prepared to have higher standards.
My most recent visit was for a friend’s birthday party- The Man and I arrived after 10pm on a Saturday night. The tables were cleared out of the dining area and a deejay spun everything from Rob Base to Flo Rida. The bar is fully stocked and the bartenders are attentive, friendly and aiming to please. Instead of cough-inducing smoke machines and annoying flashing lights, we partied by the light of flames licking the inner surface of the brick oven in a warm trattoria atmosphere- quite European! The music was loud enough to create a vibe but angled toward the dance floor so you can still have a conversation at the bar. The age is mixed, but I am happy to say I didn’t feel like a Cougar- plenty of thirtysomethings hanging out to make me feel at home!
The Pizza Carne Angelina was phenomenal, and I instantly regretted sharing it. Plenty of fresh mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, tomatoes and crispy crumbled Italian sausage… brick oven pizza is truly in a class by itself. I washed it down with a very nice Cab Sav- their wine list is deep with delicious variety.
When you are ready for a homey, hearty Italian culinary experience, head to Lansdowne- hungry- because~
Emilio’s Passes with Flying Colors! 
571-333-3350
Please login or register to add comments |
.gif "woofies100x100(1)")
