Hunter S.
Yelp
Maria is a small, low-lit restaurant with an intimate feel. We were greeted warmly and immediately and sat in a cozy little corner near the window.
We started with the mom's meatballs, made with whipped ricotta toast and pomodoro. They were cooked well and the sauce was pretty good. I thought they could use a little more seasoning, but my husband said he thought the seasoning was appropriate.
We also had the bang bang Brussels sprouts, made with fermented garlic honey, chili, pistachios, and a sesame pumpkin puree. Sprouts were crispy and smoky and had some gentle heat from a roasted Serrano pepper included.
They are apparently known for their roasted oysters and baked clams, but that's not our thing. Their selection also included crispy artichokes, cauliflower fritters, blistered peppers, and burrata and beets.
They have several high end Italian entrees. I had the wild mushroom ravioli, made with rosemary cream, asiago, and rocket (arugula). I didn't pick up on the rosemary much, but the dish was woody and pleasant.
My husband had the spinach gnocchi in the bolognese sauce (you can also choose Gorgonzola cream). I thought his dish was super savory and flavorful. I liked mine, but I think I liked his better.
Other pasta selections: black linguine, rigatoni, lasagna. There is a delicious looking gnocchi served with braised short rib rage and marsala parmigiano that I would like to try next time. The Pics cache e Pepe looks awesome too: smoked pecorino cream, telicherry pepper, and scallions (on second thought, maybe I'll try that next time).
There is an expansive pasta menu, as well as a veggie menu, serving things like charred carrots, crushed potatoes with rosemary and parmesan, and salads.
Mains include cod, Cornish hen, pork chops, salmon, octopus, lamb shank, and multiple cuts of steak. You can also choose various types of parm.
They have a short, sweet, yet sophisticated desert menu including tarts and cannolis. My husband had the tiramisu, which was classic. Cool, moist, and coffee flavored. I had the pistachio tartufo, which is pistachio ice cream or gelato served inside a chocolate shell. When combined with the strawberries served on the side, it was such a refreshing, satisfying way to end a meal.
I had a couple of glasses of wine. They have a few basic cocktails, but wine is the way to go here. Nothing fancy, but nice accompaniments to the food.
Service was absolutely wonderful. Our server was attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. He made helpful suggestions. And the rest of the staff checked in on us, made sure our waters were filled, and kept our table clean.
Definitely coming back again, for both the food and the service.