Lorin S.
Yelp
Rule No. 1 - Don't be fooled by the name. Yes, it is a bakery, but not just a bakery. I learned this after my wife texted me the name of the restaurant with the note "this sounds like fun." My assumption was, "this sounds like a nice place for a pastry and coffee on a Sunday morning." Therefore, I was confused when she told me we were going there fore a dinner on a Saturday night. That's because, as I learned, they are part Italian bakery and part EXCELLENT Italian restaurant.
Rule No. 2 - Bring your appetite, and expect to be leaving with a doggie bag. The food was very good (discussed below) and plentiful. They are not shy to fill a plate.
THE FOOD - I got the chicken parmigiana. It's my general go-to at Italian eateries and I'm kind of a connoisseur. It was possibly the best I've ever had. The chicken itself was moist and flavorful. But the real surprise was that it's served on pasta with a creamy parmesan sauce rather than a red sauce. I quickly found myself eating a bit of chicken and pasta on every bite. My wife got the fettuccini alfredo - her go-to. And she loved it. One of our friends got the lasagna and, likewise, loved their meals. the only people who were not raving were the two that got shrimp. Both said it tasted a bit too fishy. Not that they did not finish their meals, but . . . Before the main course, one couple got a large salad to share as an appetizer. The restaurant was nice enough to serve it on separate plates, and each could have been a meal in itself. One person got bruschetta, which she shared, and it was heavenly. The crust was light and crunchy and perfectly topped with tomatoes and cheese, and drizzled with olive oil and vinegar. We had them leave the plate so we could enjoy the left over oil and vinegar with the baskets of rolls that complimented the meal.
Finally, since we were in a bakery, we did something our dinner group rarely does; we got desserts. Of course, as would be expected, everybody loved their choices. My wife and I shared a chocolate cream filled lobster tail which was terrific.
THE SERVICE and ATMOSPHERE - The place is small, but we had no problem getting a table for 8. Unlike many restaurants now, the place did not feel the need to blare music - a blessing for a bunch of old folks who want to sit and talk. The waitress was absolutely delightful and really seemed happy to wait on us.
FINAL GRADE - Welcome to the neighborhood Pietro's Italian Bakery. We hope you are here for a long time.