RESTAURANT REVIEW

Pete’s Café Bella Sera (cont.)

The food? Exquisite. Perfectly presented, perfectly combined flavors and ingredients that make simple sensational. Not frou frou, off-the-wall ingredients meets new age vibrations. This is old-world, best-money-can-buy, no expense-spared-ingredients, combined in a way only talent and an affinity for food can, bringing out the best in every dish. It’s Momma’s kitchen if Momma married Donald Trump. Here tomatoes taste like tomatoes, sauces are revered, and nightly specials light up diner’s faces like they discovered the cure for the common cold. A simple two-page menu offers some of the best fare, anywhere. Eleven appetizers ($11-26) are huge. Serving family style, adds to the wonderful party feel experienced by so many. The Cold Antipasto ($13 pp) is fantastic! Auricchio Provolone, Sopressatta, Kalamata olives, slow-roasted red peppers and stuffed Cubanella peppers that are simply outrageous set the tone for any meal. Add a drink from the full liquor bar or wine from a well-designed list; a hunk of the hot crusty-on-the-outside, chewy-on-the-inside bread placed on every table, and life is good. Pete’s famous Meatballs: ($19), two orbs molded at 8 oz, flash seared down to 7oz and then slow-simmered in a heavenly marinara, swelling back to 10 oz, served with fresh, cold ricotta are beyond articulation.

The special Shrimp Mediterranean. FOUR U-2 (that’s the 2 to a lb. kind) are sitting atop spinach sautéed in garlic and oil, capers, olives, diced tomatoes and fresh basil over filo dough which soaks up the heavenly sauce and makes you want to scream: I BELIEVE!

Desserts at Pete's Café Bella Sera

Enough for two (+) the freshness and homemade dressings on ANY of the salads are superb. Six veal dishes, ample fish, outrageous pasta, four chicken dishes including a signature Chicken Bella Sera ($29), a pan-seared cutlet, fresh mozzarella, cold ricotta, long-hot peppers (say not hot if you don’t care to be a fire-breathing dragon) and spinach, swim in a delectable plum tomato sauce. A dozen or so chef specials including NY Strip, Pork Chops, Eggplant Marinara ($22) and a Pasta Bolognese ($31) that has to be hands-down, one of the best anywhere; round out amazing dishes cooked to order in the open kitchen.

While the gorgeous desserts, food, amazing bar where you can belly up and eat; live music that morphs into dancing, all collide to give this place a vibe like few others, the real vibe comes from the sometimes rough, tough, ex-marine who inside, is a kind, generous to anyone in need mush. A warm-hearted, family man, he’s old-school where a hand-shake is the bond, where honor and respectability and doing what’s right go without question; things his father taught him. He has made his Dad (and mom) and family proud. Like Sinatra, he did it his way; and along the way, racked up his own formidable fan club.

7351 N. State Rd. 7, Parkland. Call for Reservations, 954.346.7373. Happy Hour In The Lounge: Tues. to Fri. 5 - 6:30pm. Ladies Night In The Lounge: Wed. 8pm - 12am. www.petescafebellasera.com.