Tag: BYOB

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Chicken Parmagiana at Rosalina’s

Chicken Parmagiana from Rosalina's Kitchen on Hamilton Street in Worcester, MA

Chicken Parmagiana from Rosalina's Kitchen on Hamilton Street in Worcester, MAHaving dined at and enjoyed Rosalina’s Ktichen a few times in the past year, I was excited to find out our next Foodies gathering would be at this cozy, BYOB restaurant on Hamilton Street. The atmosphere at Rosalina’s Ktichen is casual, the service was great and as you will find out shortly, the food was outstanding!

We started with an Antipasto to share amongst everyone at our end of the table. To say the salad was large does not do it justice as 6 people shared the antipasto and there was enough left over to take some home. Grilled vegetables, hot and sweet sausage, stuff peppers, tuna, chicken, assorted meats and cheeses were drizzled with a balsamic and olive oil dressing and placed atop a huge bed of mixed greens. Everything was fresh, the creamy mozzarella cheese was in stark contrast to the veggies and the hot sausage and hot stuffed peppers not only added some heat, but outstanding flavors as well.

For my main course I had a much harder time making a selection. In past visits to Rosalina’s Ktichen I have enjoyed the homemade Ravioli and the Fra Diavolo, so tonight I thought I would try something new. As I scanned the menu I found so many dishes that sounded delicious I knew I would never be able to make a decision so I went to my “go-to” Italian dish, the Chicken Parmigiana. As I always do with Chicken Parm, I ordered the chicken crispy with very light sauce and asked our server to have the chef add a little “heat” to the sauce. When my dish arrived, two large, lightly breaded chicken breasts topped with mozzarella cheese sat atop a generous portion of al dente pasta. The breading was flavorful with a hint of fresh basil and the chicken was cooked to perfection, crispy on the outside and tender and moist on the inside. The homemade sauce had the heat I had asked for but also was rich in traditional flavor. I enjoyed my meal with the complex flavors of an ice cold Yuengling Lager which complimented my somewhat spicing and rich meal very nicely.

Luckily our group is made up of wonderful people who encourage sharing so I was able to enjoy some other great tastes including veal, cheese ravioli, Arrabiata (spicy white wine sauce with mushrooms, tomatoes and pepper rings) and an incredibly adventurous peanut butter and Nutella dessert ravioli that was simply incredible.

As with my other visits to Rosalina’s Ktichen I was utterly impressed. If you haven’t yet dined here, you should. If you have, go back and eat here again. The attention to detail in the food, the service, the flavors and the presentation all exceeded expectations and I would highly recommend Rosalina’s.

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Three Cheese Ravioli and Veal Parmesan

Three Cheese Ravioli and Veal Parmesan from Rosalina's Kitchen on Hamilton Street in Worcester, MA

Three Cheese Ravioli and Veal Parmesan from Rosalina's Kitchen on Hamilton Street in Worcester, MAWhen hearing that Rosalina’s Kitchen was closed Tuesday for the sole purpose of making their homemade raviolis, I knew exactly what I needed to order before I even glanced at the menu. The waitress happily read off the ravioli specials for the day, and all of them sounded delicious. Given the fact that it was an Italian eatery, I had to go with a classic…three cheese ravioli and veal parmesan ($26). Anxiously waiting our meals, I took in a beer (courtesy of the restaurant’s BYOB policy), some delicious table bread and the ambiance…all of which reminded you of an Italian grandmother’s with the familiar décor and smells permeating from the kitchen. When my meal arrived, I could not believe that size of the portion! The piece of veal was the size of the plate itself. Underneath, gigantic raviolis the size of post-it notes were covered in bright red tomato sauce. I had already dug in before I had a chance to count the number of raviolis in my order but I would have to guess between 6-8. The red sauce was sweet and seasoned perfectly. The raviolis were cooked al dente and the three cheese filling was creamy and flavorful.

I have been lucky enough to make my own raviolis at home, and while they have been tasty in their own right, I am not sure I could ever obtain the consistency and quality of these raviolis. The veal was cooked to a crispy, golden brown and draped in gooey mozzarella cheese. The meat was still tender and the breading was thin and didn’t take away from the veal’s flavoring. I enjoy a nice hearty portion and this certainly was right up my alley. By the end of my eating extravaganza, I was surprisingly full but yet finished my dish…it was that good! A more conservative eater could easily get a second meal out of this dinner. I went home happy and full and that is always a good thing, especially when you are eating hearty food that is made from scratch and with love. I cannot wait to go back and try more of their ravioli variations or any number of Italian classics on their menu.