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 ights with
atmosphere, top-quality food
by Brooks Hines There were three names that always surfaced when we asked people about restaurants. One was Vinny Vanucchi's Little Italy, overlooking Galena's main street. The other two were Fried Green Tomatoes and The Back Street Steak House. We had already set up a visit with The Back Street (see our review by clicking on the story list to the left about great steaks), and we had made arrangements to visit The Grape Escape, which is owned by Fred Bonnet, who is also the owner of Fried Green Tomatoes, planning a later trip to the restaurant itself. But we almost overlooked Vanucchi's. The loss would have been ours. We recouped when we boldly walked into the restaurant to meet Jack Coulter, the Irishman who conceived of Vanucchi's. (That's right, he's Irish and he has a great Italian restaurant). We told him about our visit and stories, and he graciously invited us to give Vanucchi's a try. Coming from St Louis, which is
world-famous for its Italian restaurants, we had to be a bit skeptical
about the ability of this charming Irishman to deliver a similar high
quality.
From the moment one enters Little Italy, it is evident that the greatest effort has been made to ensure an authentic Italian Bistro quality. There is an outside patio, complete with dinner and drinks being served. Inside, a massive display of Italian cheeses, seasonings and breads greets you. The entire restaurant is tastefully
done. The multi-storied But, it was the food that capped the
evening. We started our meal with a 'fried' ravioli. We were
especially interested to sample it to see how it compared with toasted
ravioli, a St. Louis favorite. Our salad, with a Raspberry vingerette dressing, was equally delightful, offering a tasty, yet not too-filling step before the entrees. Be prepared to eat when you come to Vanucchi's. When our entrees arrived, we were overwhelmed by their size. (Yet, all are relatively moderately priced in the $15 to $20 range.) I had a fantastic seafood over pasta that featured a white sauce that blended perfectly with the lightly sautéed shrimp, crab and fresh sea scallops. It was prepared perfectly. My husband, Dan, had Veal Marsalla with capons. This is a favorite of his, and again Vanucchi's live up to its reputation. The sauce was lightly caramelized, giving the veal a rich, lingering mouth feel and taste. My son, Peter, devoured a triple-layer lasagna, that again reflected the taste of freshness and quality ingredients. For dessert, we shared a rich chocolate cake that provided a perfect ending to our meal. In conversations with Jack afterwards,
he explained that the many fine restaurants available in Galena have set a
standard of excellence that all must meet if they are to succeed. |
Read Stories on our special section about Galena Backstreet Restaurant is a great steak house Stillman Inn offers a new level of B&B experience Trolley ride provides information on historic sites, homes Balloon
ride at |
restaurant offers an authentic, intimate
look and feel, and, the staff reflects Jack's commitment to hospitality.