Trattoria L'incontro - Astoria, New York
Trattoria L'Incontro in Astoria and newly opened Maiella in LIC, are two of just a handfull of notable Italian restaurants that make you feel left out even if you live in Manhattan.
Trattoria L'incontro is the place to encounter the finer things in life, excellent food, fine wine and the company of friends and family. It all starts with the warm and welcoming personality of Chef Rocco Sacramone. Since 1999 when the Trattoria first opened its doors, Chef Rocco has been dedicated to offering NYers the finer things in life: The best in traditional Italian classics, fine wine and the company of friends and family. In other words a one-of-a-kind dining experience prepared with zest and flair.
As soon as you enter the Trattoria, the visual impact hits you immediately. The restaurant has that cozy Italian family feeling to it and the high ceilings create a spacious, open atmosphere. On both sides of the restaurant the walls are decorated with colorful murals depicting scenes from Rocco's hometown of Orsonga, in the Abruzzo region of Italy. The murals were all painted by hand by a local Astoria artist.
An American success story, Rocco and his beloved Mom Tina, came to the United States in 1970. Life was not easy for the Sacramone family during those first few years in their new surroundings. But mother and son who had always been close formed yet another bond over Tina's love of cooking. Rocco watched his mom at work in their modest kitchen. Tina taught her eager young pupil everything she knew about the cuisine from their hometown. One of the first lessons that Rocco learned was that a restaurant is only as good as the entire kitchen brigade, not just the chef. And, that it is up to the front of the house staff to give a make-or-break first impression to customers.
Upon being seated at your table, your server will recite over two dozen daily specials. Listen carefully because you won't want to miss out on any of these off-the-menu dishes. It's a bit of a restaurant industry cliche to say that you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. But in this case it can be said without the slightest hesitation. Chef Rocco takes great pride in his delectable and light home-made pastas. L'incontro's signature dish is Mezza Luna Ravioli. The fluffy pillows of pasta are stuffed with Mascarpone cheese and pesto. The dish is completed with asparagus along with brandy and walnut sauce. Not at all your typical, run-of-the mill Trattoria fare. Neither is chef Rocco's pasta Fagioli A Moddo Mio (pasta and beans by style). What is usually a heavy, soupy dish at most restaurants turns out to be something totally unexpected and light, thanks to the chef's fertile imagination and skill at the stove. Your plate is filled with little Tubettini pasta (the kids will go crazy for it), a silky puree of white kidney beans with fresh escarole, shrimp and truffle oil.
No one pays tribute to Italian favorites like eggplant and chicken parmigiana quite the same that Chef Rocco does. When you bite into your veal or chicken parm, the flavors will take you back to grandma's kitchen table. But you will also taste an intriguing ingredient or two that puts chef Rocco's own personal stamp on the dish. Then again, grandma never served a dish like Pollo Quattro Funghi: Tender chicken in a sauce of Porcini, Oyster, Portobello and Button mushrooms. Only the finest Arborio rice is used to make the risotto and it's is perfectly textured. All of the risotto dishes are served in a very decorative cheese basket. A great warm-weather choice is the risotto with diced pears, Gorgonzola cheese and arugula.
In the kitchen, Chef Rocco utilizes both olive and canola oil for cooking. For an olive oil to be any good you have to be able to taste the olive content, and the chef does know a thing or two about what it takes to turn out a fantastic jar of olive oil. As a child, Rocco watched his mom make oil from scratch using fresh Italian olives. Fresh fish for dinner is also a part of the Abruzzo lifestyle. L'incontro offers everything from Chilean sea bass and yellowfin tuna to Branzino. However, if you want to try a genuine Sacramone family recipe order the Cenia All'Abruzzese. The dish consists of a black Sea Bass topped with tomato sauce, capers, olives and red peppers.
The chef and his family make it a point to support and give back to the community in so many ways. Chef Rocco works with Mount Sinai Queens in their community outreach program. Alongside Mount Sinai nutritionists, the chef enjoys hosting healthy cooking classes that are free to one and all.
Rocco Sacramone is gearing up for the opening of his brand new baby Maiella, a casual but elegant restaurant in Long Island City. Featuring an outdoor terrace with spectacular views of Manhattan, Maiella is right next to Gantry State Park.
The ceilings are made from reclaimed wood and the space features a circular bar and two private dining rooms. The magnificant outdoor patio in the back of the restaurant faces Gantry Plaza State Park and offers views of the East River and the Manhattan skyline.
At a loss as to what to do this weekend? Well, make plans now to enjoy authentic, rustic style Italian dining at Maiella. Follow your brunch or lunch up with a walk along the waterfront or a shopping expedition on Vernon blvd.
Jump on the #7 or N or Q train, head over to either Maiella or L'incontro and make a day of it. Explore all the good things that LIC and Astoria have to offer.
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