Osteria Padre Pio: Southern Italian Fare in Mamaroneck

Though Osteria Padre Pio opened two years ago in Mamaroneck, we only learned about it recently and were so pleased when we were able to secure a table just before Christmas. The unassuming façade could have been taken for a neighborhood bar, but we soon learned that looks can be deceiving.

Our timing was excellent: not only were the restaurant and bar decked out for the holidays with lights, pine boughs and decorations – but they had just learned that they were included in the 2023 Via Michelin, a route planning guide to recommended restaruants. The chef and staff were proud and excited that their fresh and hearty interpretations of southern Italian fare had been recognized halfway across the globe.

The mood was festive, but it was evident from the moment we met our server Margaret, that they are serious about their traditional but innovative high-quality meals.

We each started out with wine from an extensive list of Italian reds and whites along with a cocktail from their full bar.

While we browsed the menu, Margaret delivered a board with a heaping bowl of caponata surrounded by warm focaccia and Italian bread. The delectable combination of eggplant and olives boded well for what was to come.Caponata

It was hard to decide what to order from a large regular menu and a tempting list of specials. As it was the Christmas season the special included lots of seafood and we agreed to share a few orders of the baked clams oreganata as an appetizer. They were large, smothered in breadcrumbs and olive oil and disappeared quickly.

Another tempting option was a Zuppa di Pesca, or seafood stew. The oversized plate looked like it could feed the four of us and included calamari, clams, shrimp, mussels and lobster, cooked in a red sauce and served over spaghetti. It was delicious and we cleaned the large plate.

Also hard to resist special was the Homemade Short Rib Ravioli in a classic Barolo wine reduction. The fresh pasta, filled with braised beef, sat in a rich brown sauce, and was topped with fresh parmesan cheese. Highly recommended.

Our friends chose two dishes from the regular menu: a Chicken Scarpariello with red peppers and a Branzino Mediterraneo served with arugula, peppers and sauteed zucchini. Everyone was pleased with their selections.

Zuppa di PescaWe will have to go back to try some of their homemade pasta dishes including the signature Spaghettoni Padre Pio, which includes garlic confit, datterini (sweet cherry tomatoes from Puglia), eggplant caponata and imported burrata cheese from Italy.

Though we were stuffed we couldn’t resist a tartufo for dessert – a generous helping of several layered flavors of ice cream covered in a hard chocolate shell.

And what of Padre Pio? Why the name? He is a legendary Capuchin priest who was known for performing miracles. Perhaps he is the inspiration for the restaurant’s chef Andrea Ingenito, who performs miracles of his own in the kitchen of Osteria Padre Pio.

Osteria Padre PioShort Rib Ravioli
501 Halstead Avenue
Mamaroneck, NY 10543
(914) 380-8704
Osteriapadrepio.com

Monday …… 3PM-9PM
Tuesday …… CLOSED
Wednesday …… 3PM-9PM
Thursday …… 3PM-9PM
Friday …… 3PM-10PM
Saturday …… 3PM-10PM
Sunday …… 12PM-9PM