So after going to one place and having to leave, needless to say we were a bit hungry since it was now around 8:00 or so on Friday evening. I immediately went to my trusty Iphone and used my open table app to find a place where we would now have a reservation. I booked an 8:30 for a new place in Berwyn called Alfredo. Alfredo is located at 668 Lancaster Ave.
We arrived and were seated immediately. The restaurant is handsomely appointed and looks like some money was spent on the interior. There is no bar and it is a byob place. Our server was young and eager to please. We ordered rather quickly and things seemed to be looking up.
The appetizers arrived in a reasonable period of time-- I along with one of my dining companions ordered the bruschetta. This was a nice appetizer and had four nice sized pieces of bread in each order. The bruschetta was nicely prepared and a good buy at $5.00. My other companion ordered the caprese appetizer. This appetizer was too pricey for $9.00 when there were only 3 slices of tomato and 3 slices of mozzarella. The quality of this appetizer was lacking because the tomato and mozzarella were both a bit hard and there was not enough balsamic vinegar with the serving.
In addition to the appetizers we were served what I would describe as a mini half loaf of Italian Bread. The bread was not as fresh as it should have been and there were 5 small slices in the serving. Again, a disappointment if you are trying to make it as a new Italian restaurant in an area with many great ones.
My main course did not live up to the hope I had after my appetizer. I ordered the Vitello Riviera which is described as veal medallions with shrimp, crabmeat and white wine sauce. This also was served with a side offering of spinach and white potatoes. The veal was fairly tender and tasty, but as a real "foodie", I have always despised a dish in which the shrimp come with the tails on and I must take the time to dissect the tails from the meal. Also, there was not much crabmeat. The dish while tasty did not flow well with the textures of the three components fighting each other. I will say that the spinach was done very well in a bit of garlic and the potatoes were cooked nicely although overly salted. The platter was an okay value at $19.
My first companion ordered Penne Alla Vodka which was described as prosciutto, cream, tomato and vodka. This dish was highly disappointing. The prosciutto was too crunchy as described by my companion and my impression upon tasting was that there was not nearly enough sauce for the portion of pasta and the pasta seemed dry. I make a Vodka sauce which I borrowed from the Barefoot Contessa which is light years better and will share some day when I make it again. This dinner was $16, but disappointing.
My other companion had The Gnocchi Alla Sorrentina. This was described as hand rolled, house made gnocchi with fresh mozzarella and tomato sauce. When I read the aforementioned description on the menu, I almost ordered this, but after tasting it, I am glad I did not. Again, I thought there was not enough sauce and while the gnocchi were tender, they were not the homemade variety I was hoping for. The best gnocchi I have ever had and still search again for since the restaurant is no longer there were the gnocchi from Felicia's at 11th and Ellsworth in South Philadelphia. This dish paled in comparison and was a bit over priced at $17.
We were eager to try dessert since the menu described desserts as "a selection of house made desserts from our pastry chef." One of my companions had the caramel flan-- this was tasty, but nothing to make it memorable. I had the bread pudding which was a nice sized piece, but lacked a finishing sauce to make it one that you would come back for. The bread pudding was not as good as my own homemade one and certainly not near the top of the food chain in bread puddings (this honor goes to the Desmond Hotel). Both desserts cost $6 each.
Before tip, our meal was about $87 for 3 people and I would tell you that I would debate trying them again. Now in all fairness, this is a recently opened restaurant so they probably do deserve a second chance, but in an area with many excellent Italian eateries, other people may not choose to do so.
Overall 2.5 brownies out of 5!!
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