DINING AROUND With Marilyn August 25, 2006

The mural transported me right back to Venice – elegant buildings lining the canal as your Gondola gently rocks in the water. Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra in the background, well, that was a fun twist! The sidewalk dining area is so charming as well. That’s what just walking through the door at Osteria Dante is like. And it only gets better!

Osteria Dante is a great place for Sunday afternoon, a Saturday night or even a Monday lunch.  That’s good news for the people that work in Red Bank; you can skip the boring sandwich.  Instead of Ham & Swiss, how does prosciutto and Mozzerella di Bufalo with tomato and arugula and pesto sauce sound? At $9, it’s a steal.  Or the tuna Carpaccio with mesclun and Parmigiano Reggiano or Dante’s fresh marinated salmon with dill sauce sound?  Each $7!!   You can’t beat that. 

For dinner, my friend and I decided to sit indoors. Even sitting inside it felt like you were outside with the beautiful French style doors that open out onto the patio.  It truly reminded me of a café we truly loved in Venice. 

We decided to start off with the ½ dozen Blue Point Oysters for $14.  Amazing!  Fresh, succulent and with just a bit of the Joe’s cocktail sauce, I want to go back for more! Chef Joe uses fresh seafood everyday, and it shows with these oysters.  Deal hunters, take note: on the lunch menu they’re $10!  We also tried the Polenta with wild mushrooms at $13, which were very authentic and a generous portion. On our list for next time are the Pear Salad with arugula, Mascarpone cheese with toasted nuts for $9.00, and a large sampler platter with oysters, clams, lump crabmeat, shrimp, calamari, tuna and salmon for $48, serving for two or four.  I’m sure this appetizer is fabulous. 

We shared our main course dishes.  Joe was nice enough to make a sampling of the Tortellacci – homemade strips of ravioli, ricotta & spinach.  As good as Mom’s!  I’m a connoisseur of ravioli and I must say this was superb.  I did quite like the wild mushroom squares in wild mushroom ragu, but I fell in love with that Torellacci!  I'm going back for that one too!  We also had the Day Boat grilled sea scallops for $24.00, with aromatic herbs over couscous.  They were grilled perfectly to a lightly crisp golden brown.  And again, super fresh! 

Oh, bonus for wine lovers!  Osteria Dante is a BYOB, but they have a lovely wine menu from the ever fabulous wine store, The Wine Cellar, right down the street Monmouth Rd.  Dante will call in your order with credit card, and The Wine Cellar will rush it right over to you.
 
Chef Joe creates daily specials that have the finest and freshest ingredients.  His gargonelli with lobster supper tail with hand rolled penne shaped pasta and ricotta finished with a brandy cream sauce sounded great, or the Lake Victoria perch with fresh tomato sauce sounded tempting as well.  There was so much on the menu we wanted to try but just couldn’t do it all in one night. Gotta save room for dessert.

Ohooo; Dessert.  We only had room to share one, but it was more than enough for the two of us: The Tiramisu Mascarpone and lady fingers for $6.  I have never had Tiramisu this incredible anywhere.  My friend, who is an excellent cook, said it was the best she’s ever had. Trust me when I tell you; that says a lot!!  It’s worth it to go to Osteria Dante for Tiramisu with some espresso.