Limoncello Ristorante & Bar
499 East Uwchlan Avenue (Route 113)
Chester Springs, Pennsylvania
(610) 524-3112
https://www.limoncellorestaurant.com/
Tucked away in a corner of the Lionville Shopping Center, Limoncello is the younger sibling of the restaurant of the same name located in West Chester, PA. Both establishments are owned by the Mingrino family; and members of the family – parents, sons and daughter – are very much in evidence, in the kitchen as well as at the front of the house, making certain that things run smoothly.
The outdoor facilities here – especially the side patio – are expansive, attractively appointed, and exceedingly popular. As long as the warm weather remains with us, this is definitely the place to enjoy al fresco dining. And, as a recent visit clearly demonstrated, the comforting southern Italian cuisine – based upon old family recipes or updated variations thereof – remains as solid as ever.
But the thing to keep in mind about Limoncello is that their entrée portions are downright humongous. So, unless you happen to have the peristaltic capacity of a starving yak, a doggie bag will be very much in order. And, given both the quantity and quality of the food, main courses are a genuine bargain. Especially since they’ll heat up just fine for lunch or dinner the following day.
To start things off, there are a number of options… You can make your own personal pizza or, perhaps, share a flatbread. When it comes to antipasto proper, nothing quite measures up to the Arancini, “little oranges,” a Sicilian specialty. Seasoned risotto croquettes are filled with beef Bolognese, green peas, and mozzarella cheese and then breaded and deep fried to a golden brown. Add marinara sauce, and they’re downright addictive.
This time around, however, on a nice warm summer’s evening, salad appeared to be more the order of the day. My dining partner and I decided to share the Berry and Goat Cheese, which the kitchen was kind enough to serve on two separate plates (pictured). Arugula and radicchio are accompanied by an artful arrangement of strawberries & blueberries supplemented by cherry tomatoes, shreds of red onion, toasted almonds, and creamy goat cheese. The pièce de résistance is a nothing-short-of-extraordinary champagne vinaigrette that provides the perfect gastronomic gestalt while, at the same time, totally mesmerizing the palate.
Entrée-wise, my dining partner and I have sampled a variety of dishes during our numerous visits, all of them highly recommendable. The kitchen definitely has a way of seafood and usually cooks up a nightly seafood special that is always worth checking out. On one particular evening, for example, I was very much taken with a beautiful presentation of Sautéed Grouper (pictured). This is lean, moist, firm-textured fish with a distinctive mild flavor that has often been described as a cross between bass and halibut. And the chef was wise enough to let the grouper’s unique flavor speak for itself rather than trying to gussie it up. A splash of lemon butter sauce proved just the right touch, as did a simple seabed of luscious mashed potatoes and extraordinarily tender broccoli rabe.
Then, of course, there was my dining partner’s memorable Chicken Messina, a bounteous offering with its own unique appeal. The parmesan-crusted chicken breast was stuffed with asparagus, Prosciutto di Parma, and fresh mozzarella, finished with a first-rate caprese cream sauce, garnished with mixed mushrooms & pancetta, and served up with a generous tangle of linguine. Needless to say, there was a lot going on here – and dish wasn’t exactly photogenic – but all the elements did work rather well together. The chicken was perfectly moist; and that irresistible caprese cream sauce kept you coming back for more.
During our most recent outing, however, three out of our party of four – myself included – ordered the Eggplant Parmigiana (the lone dissenter opted for the Tortellini Alfredo). Yes, I know. It’s one of the usual suspects… and as plebeian as you can get… but it has always been one of my favorite Italian dishes; and I knew from previous visits that it would be well prepared and there would probably be enough left over to supply me with two more dinners…
And I wasn’t disappointed. The eggplant was thinly sliced, lightly breaded, sautéed until soft (but not mushy!), crowned with melted mozzarella, and companioned by al dente linguine. The smothering of tomato sauce was rich & flavorful with just the proper amount of acidity. An excellent rendition of the Neapolitan classic. Not bad for $17.00.
Desserts offer a number of decadently delightful possibilities… Like the Limoncello Cake, for instance. This is a rich buttery cake splashed with Limoncello liqueur, filled with chunks of white chocolate, and finished off with a Limoncello glaze and dollop of vanilla ice cream… On the other hand, if find the combination of peanut butter and chocolate simply impossible to resist – as I do – the wickedly rich Peanut Butter Explosion (pictured) is simply not to be missed. The chocolate base is topped with peanut butter ganache and chocolate mousse, then coated in ganache and finished with chopped peanuts and a fabulous peanut butter sauce. Wow.
Limoncello also sports a nice selection of martinis, cocktails, and wines by the glass, as well as an interesting list of wines by the bottle, and draft & bottled brews.
Bon Appétit!
Be Safe
TAD
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