muf·fu·let·ta [muhf-uh-let-uh]
–noun
a thick, round sandwich similar to a hero, typically containing ham, salami, and cheeses and topped with an olive salad, a specialty of New Orleans
Sounds like the perfect sandwich to me. It has a little bit of everything that adds up to a lot of goodness. That’s how I would describe Muffuletta, the St. Anthony Park restaurant, as well. It has a little bit of everything that adds up to a lot of goodness.
We had heard rave reviews about Muffuletta from several friends, so a few dining companions and I decided to find out what the hype was about. We made reservations and ate there this past Saturday. We left feeling very full and very pleased.
I love the feel of this restaurant. It reminds me a European bistro with its small tables arranged around the room, a wall-length booth serving as the seats on one side. The lighting and atmosphere is dim providing an intimate feel and inviting you to linger over each course to savor the experience. The menu matches the feel of the restaurant with quality, fresh ingredients prepared in a variety of innovative ways and complemented by a wonderful wine list that is priced very reasonably. The finishing touch is the knowledgeable waitstaff, ready to assist with any question ranging from wine pairings to food preparation.
Our party of four ordered two appetizers, the cornmeal crusted calamari with lemon aioli and the crabcakes with corn relish. The only (slight) complaint was about the texure of the crabcakes. A personal taste, yes, but the consensus at the table was that they could be a little lumpier and crispy. Otherwise, both appetizers tasted superb.
We each ordered something different for the entree: duck a l’orange, pan-seared scallops, lamb lollipops and gnocchi. My choice was the gnocchi wth spicy pork meatballs, butternut squash puree and chevre. I loved the flavors and textures of my dish, as the spicy meatballs paired perfectly with the cool chevre. The one disappointment I had was with the butternut squash puree. I felt the taste could have been a little more substantial to hold up to richness of the other flavors. Despite this, we were all very happy with our meals and finished every bite. Following these savory entrees, we were ready for dessert. We ordered a cheese plate with a 4 year cheddar, fruit and single-sourced honey and bananas foster bread pudding. Perfection.
Although Muffuletta has been in business for many, many years, I am just now discovering it for myself. I think this St. Anthony Park restaurant is a gem, whether you’ve been going there for years or it’s your first visit. I know I will be back soon and many times after that to savor more of their “simply & perfectly prepared scratch cooking.”
Posted on March 26th, 2008 by katiejocannon
Filed under: Entertainment, Food
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