Abruzzi - Arcata
Abruzzi
Description
Abruzzi is a spectacular spot for those who appreciate fantastic food and exceptional service. The staff is welcoming and well-versed in the menu, ensuring a great dining experience. Additionally, Abruzzi offers a Happy Hour for those looking for a good deal. This cozy restaurant prides itself on offering 100% organic, handmade pasta that is packed with delicious flavors and textures. Standout pasta dishes include bucatini with plum tomatoes, linguine with pesto, gigli with spinach, and gnocchi in a putanesca sauce. Their delightful desserts feature treats such as olive oil semolina cake, chocolate paradise, and vanilla ice cream with olive oil and sea salt. Abruzzi also caters to gluten-free diners with a variety of options available.
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The highlight of our experience was undoubtedly the service; our waiter was exceptional—friendly, approachable, and efficient. His attentiveness truly enhanced our meal. The restaurant features rustic brick walls, with warm incandescent lighting creating a cozy atmosphere. The old doors and squeaky floors add to its charm, while the young staff bring a vibrant energy to the place. As for the food, it was pleasing, but it didn’t leave us raving about it, hence no fifth star. For our first course, we tried the linguine da Pescara fra diavolo, which is a spicy sauce typically made with tomato and chili peppers, accompanied by prawns and clams, though we were disappointed to find no calamari in our dish. The search for calamari was fruitless! For the main course, we enjoyed the kurobuta pork loin, which was beautifully plated with a sauté of local wild mushrooms, greens, pancetta, cannellini beans, and a rich marsala cream. In my opinion, Abruzzi stands out as a top-notch restaurant in Arcata, but I do wish they had informed us about the absence of calamari; I would have opted for another pasta dish instead. Enjoy your visit!
We were pleasantly surprised by how much we enjoyed our visit here. Located downstairs in a charming arcade, the atmosphere was pleasantly quiet, featuring a lovely bar, an open kitchen, comfortable seating, and attentive service. The food was impressive, with portions that I found to be average to generous, and the sauces and dressings were particularly well-crafted. The potato soup was a smooth, creamy chowder without any lumps, and it was absolutely delicious. The fish was fresh and cooked to perfection, while the salads were vibrant and thoughtfully composed. The cocktails were also outstanding.
We started with the Cheese Board and some bread appetizers. The bread was served at room temperature, accompanied by butter and a plate of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. The Cheese Board was delightful, featuring fontina, gorgonzola, and double-cream brie, along with truffled honey, candied walnuts, and about six crostini. The crostini were perfectly seasoned with salt and pepper and tasted very fresh. The cheeses were fantastic! However, I wish there had been a few more crostini to balance out the amount of cheese. The portion was just right for sharing between two people. For our main courses, we opted for the Pesto Linguini and the Eggplant Parmesan. The pesto tasted incredibly fresh, and I appreciated that all the pasta is handmade by Pasta Luego. The Eggplant Parmesan consisted of two crispy, breaded eggplant slices served on a bed of marinara spaghetti, and it was a generous portion! Both dishes were topped with a hefty amount of fresh parmesan, which I loved. We both nearly cleaned our plates. Then, we decided to indulge in dessert. We ordered the Dessert of the Day: Affogato Chocolate Paradiso, featuring a slice of their rich, creamy chocolate paradiso cake topped with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream and a sprinkle of sea salt. Ashley poured a shot of espresso over it at the table. My stomach was protesting with every bite, but my taste buds were captivated. It was so delicious! Overall, Abruzzi offers a more refined atmosphere than most restaurants in the Arcata area, with knowledgeable and dependable service and delectable dishes.
I was hesitant to try Italian food in this area again.when we walked in the decor is a bit dated but the food was delicious! I had a 14 oz ribeye with mushroom risotto and asparagus. The steak was cooked a perfect med rare and the sides were a great compliment. The bread was fresh and the tomato basil soup was great. Chicken saltimbocca with linguini was also delicious. The service was fantastic. I wish we came here first when we were looking for Italian cuisine in Arcata.
For the wait, this place is not really worth it. I understand that italian restaurants usually take longer than most, but this place was not attentive enough to their customer. I came in looking for a specific restaurant that wasn't this place. The worker at the front desk suggested to give them a try and that the food was amazing. Thus, I gave it a shot. When they took my order, they asked if I wanted bread and I said yes. After a good 50 minutes, my food came in and they asked if I needed anything else, and I told them I could use that bread they offer in the beginning. Still took a while for them, and the bread wasn't even worth. However, despite all the gimmicks, the pasta was decent. Nothing too note worthy of the dish. I think the fact that I was hungry coming in and them taking forever made me loose my appetite and I was unable to enjoy the meal.