You will not need a gondola to reach the aromas of an Italian kitchen. One family owned and operated restaurant on the picturesque North Fork successfully incorporates local ingredients to meld with imported Italian culinary gems for a delightful gastronomic escapade.
The eastern North Fork does not shut down during the winter months. Local wineries keep the fireplaces roaring and the wines uncorking for a relaxing afternoon. Bed and breakfasts host serene getaways for those who need a few days of a leisurely pace. Restaurants chefs continue to conjure epicurean magic to dazzle your palates. One such restaurant has been doing just that for more than 25 years.
A Touch of Venice Restaurant originally opened in Mattituck in 1988. Under the ownership of Etore, Barbara and Brian Pennacchia, the characteristic flavors of Italian cuisine have been savored by local diners and those who are spending the day on the island’s east end. Twenty-two years later, the Pennacchias took on an ambitious undertaking when they set their sites on a different locale, drawn to an available dwelling that sits in the heart of Cutchogue, where the family spent summer vacations for several decades. After four months of renovation efforts, a grand reopening took place in May of 2011. While the view has changed, the consistently delectable entrees have not.
In the restaurant’s current incarnation, a 20-seat bar offers a menu of small plates to accompany guest’s cocktails and conversations. The beer taps include offerings of local breweries, including nearby Greenport Harbor Brewing Company. Those who opt for a complete meal can dine in the 125-seat dining room, where cozy banquettes beckon relaxation. The décor is vintage Italian elegance with a casual ambience, with wood and tile flooring, tin ceilings, rustic woodwork and a stunning Venetian glass chandelier. The glass-enclosed, temperature-controlled wine room houses a respectable selection of bottles from Italy and from Long Island’s own wine country. A Touch of Venice Restaurant can host private catered events in the party room, and al fresco dining is available during the warmer months.
Ettore and Brian are the chefs responsible for the menu, which includes an array of Italian specialties and fish from our local waters. The most coveted appetizer is their stuffed artichoke. The mozzarella di Bufalo and the tomato bruschetta are also crowd pleasers. Pasta dishes include garganelli with broccoli rabe, sausage and sun-dried tomatoes, linguine with shrimp, clams, spicy cherry tomato sauce and basil oil, and chittari with North Fork little neck clams, sopressata, olive oil, and gremolata. For lighter appetites, consider the fried calamari salad drizzled with a citrus and truffle oil vinaigrette. The entrée choices include fish, shellfish, chicken, steak and veal as the stars of the plate.
If you are craving a repast that is reasonably priced and offers satisfying portions as part of your weekend jaunt along the North Fork, A Touch of Venice Restaurant promises a delicious celebration of Italy’s flavors and Long Island’s bounty in every bite.
A Touch of Venice is located on 28350 Main Road in Cutchogue. Visit touchofvenice.com for directions and to browse the menu.
The eastern North Fork does not shut down during the winter months. Local wineries keep the fireplaces roaring and the wines uncorking for a relaxing afternoon. Bed and breakfasts host serene getaways for those who need a few days of a leisurely pace. Restaurants chefs continue to conjure epicurean magic to dazzle your palates. One such restaurant has been doing just that for more than 25 years.
A Touch of Venice Restaurant originally opened in Mattituck in 1988. Under the ownership of Etore, Barbara and Brian Pennacchia, the characteristic flavors of Italian cuisine have been savored by local diners and those who are spending the day on the island’s east end. Twenty-two years later, the Pennacchias took on an ambitious undertaking when they set their sites on a different locale, drawn to an available dwelling that sits in the heart of Cutchogue, where the family spent summer vacations for several decades. After four months of renovation efforts, a grand reopening took place in May of 2011. While the view has changed, the consistently delectable entrees have not.
In the restaurant’s current incarnation, a 20-seat bar offers a menu of small plates to accompany guest’s cocktails and conversations. The beer taps include offerings of local breweries, including nearby Greenport Harbor Brewing Company. Those who opt for a complete meal can dine in the 125-seat dining room, where cozy banquettes beckon relaxation. The décor is vintage Italian elegance with a casual ambience, with wood and tile flooring, tin ceilings, rustic woodwork and a stunning Venetian glass chandelier. The glass-enclosed, temperature-controlled wine room houses a respectable selection of bottles from Italy and from Long Island’s own wine country. A Touch of Venice Restaurant can host private catered events in the party room, and al fresco dining is available during the warmer months.
Ettore and Brian are the chefs responsible for the menu, which includes an array of Italian specialties and fish from our local waters. The most coveted appetizer is their stuffed artichoke. The mozzarella di Bufalo and the tomato bruschetta are also crowd pleasers. Pasta dishes include garganelli with broccoli rabe, sausage and sun-dried tomatoes, linguine with shrimp, clams, spicy cherry tomato sauce and basil oil, and chittari with North Fork little neck clams, sopressata, olive oil, and gremolata. For lighter appetites, consider the fried calamari salad drizzled with a citrus and truffle oil vinaigrette. The entrée choices include fish, shellfish, chicken, steak and veal as the stars of the plate.
If you are craving a repast that is reasonably priced and offers satisfying portions as part of your weekend jaunt along the North Fork, A Touch of Venice Restaurant promises a delicious celebration of Italy’s flavors and Long Island’s bounty in every bite.
A Touch of Venice is located on 28350 Main Road in Cutchogue. Visit touchofvenice.com for directions and to browse the menu.