Trattoria L'incontro - Second Take (and still loving it)

Trattoria L'incontro - 21-76 31st Street, Astoria, NY 11105

718.721.3532

N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)

www.trattorialincontro.com

I reviewed Trattoria back in November and went back this past weekend. Did I rave to you about how much I loved it? Probably; and I will continue to rave some more. If you haven't tried it yet, I strongly suggest it--you'll make your tummy very happy. And for you Manhattanites, it's definitely worth the short trip on the N/W--last stop and you barely have to walk a block.

Trattoria was also on my recent list of V-day recommendations so if you're going there, here's a little taste of the menu.

New Things I Tried:

Grilled Calamari Salad: This was part of an appetizer special and we ordered it to share for the table. The calamari was light and very fresh tasting. Its chewy texture was paired well with the buttery flavor of white cannelloni beans and tangy, raw onion. A great starter, it didn't weigh us down and in fact made us hungry for more.

Delle Valli: This basically sounds like your standard antipasto platter except it's anything but standard. It comes with several varieties of cured meats, wonderful fresh cheeses, fragrant calamata olives and roasted red peppers--great for whetting your appetite. The dried sausage and pepperoni were big hits for me--and I could've polished off a whole plate of them. Of the cheeses, the muzz was exceptional and a delight to bite into--airy, fresh and super milky. My dining companions all agreed--this dish was truly excellent!

Caprino Pizza: I was eager to try Trattoria pizza, as I've been hearing good things about it. And I have to say that the Caprino did not disappoint. It consisted of fresh prosciutto and two kinds of cheeses--mozzarella and goat cheese. In a way, this was like a white pizza--no red sauce in sight, which was fine with me. While I loved the toppings, I have to admit that the best part was the dough and the crust. They weren't greasy at all and had that wonderful brick oven taste--I adored the delicious char absorbed in the dough.

Green Apple Ravioli: This was Kimberly's dish and she let me try it because I just couldn't resist. WOW! I absolutely have to get this next time I come here. It's such an awesome--and unusual--combination of sweet and savory. You taste subtle hints of the green apple in the filling but the pasta is nice and hearty. The sauce is creamy and goes down so smooth--oh and it's sprinkled with poppy seeds! You won't find this dish on the menu but look for it in the specials--it's one of a kind.

Chocolate Mousse and Lemon Tarte with Raspberry Sauce: As you can tell, dinner was pretty indulgent so why forego dessert? We clearly weren't messing around and instead of one dessert, we got two. I'm a huge chocoholic so the chocolate mousse immediately spoke to me. But Kimberly was in the mood for something fruity so we also chose the lemon tarte with raspberry sauce. Both were delightful and worked well together. The mouse was decadent and rich--it also had a hint of rum essence, which I was into but our friend Maria didn't care for. The lemon tarte on the other hand made everyone happy. It was super citrusy, sweet and the crust tasted homemade--I just wish there was more of it. Getting a bit gluttonous? I think so...

3 Mmmms for all dishes

Service:
The service is always impressive and our waiter was especially cordial. I have to fess up that we were being "difficult customers" but he handled us with charm and a lovely smile. I also found out that he was Hungarian--and so is my dad--so I felt the need to impress him with some lingo. He took it like a champ and I stand by my original review--the waiters here are "ambassadors of delight."

3 Mmmms