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Melanzane alla Parmigiana

Melanzane alla Parmigiana from Mare E Monti Trattoria on Wall Street in Worcester, MA

Melanzane alla Parmigiana from Mare E Monti Trattoria on Wall Street in Worcester, MA

Pasta…only second to chocolate, is one of my favorite indulgences. But like chocolate, it must be limited in my diet because once I start eating…quite frankly, I can’t stop…especially when it is as delectable as my MELANZANE ALLA PARMIGIANA: Baked eggplant layered with homemade pomodoro sauce, parmigiano and mozzarella cheese served with linguine from Mare E Monti Trattoria on Wall Street in Worcester.

I had been looking forward to this Foodie outing since the date and location was set over one month ago. Having been to Mare e Monti Trattoria when it first opened, I could not wait to return. All day long my mouth watered with anticipation. I knew what I wanted to order, eggplant parmesan, because my friend had ordered this dish on my previous visit to the establishment and I just had to have it for myself.

The dish arrived piping hot. The plate, mounded with perfectly cooked al dente linguine, thin, crisply slices of flavorful eggplant, smothered in true Italian “gravy” that rivaled my mother’s homemade sauce. The stringy mozzarella cheese was melted throughout the dish and provided a creaminess that cut through the acidity of the sauce. I loved how thinly the eggplant was cut (not to mention tender and delightful). There is nothing more unappetizing than thick, watery rounds. I honestly don’t think I said 2 words after my dish arrived because I was too busy stuffing my face (not ladylike I realize, but an honest portrayal of my ingestion).

The atmosphere, attentive service, and most definitely the quality and authenticity of the dishes make Mare E Monti Trattoria, in my opinion, the BEST Italian restaurant in the city. I plan on returning as soon as I need to fulfill one of my frequent indulgent cravings for true Italian.

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Pollo Giuseppe

Pollo Giuseppe from Mare E Monti Trattoria on Wall Street in Worcester, MA

Pollo Giuseppe from Mare E Monti Trattoria on Wall Street in Worcester, MA

Mare E Monti Trattoria is yet another little hidden gem in the hills of Worcester.  Having been to this location prior (different restaurant), I was impressed with the renovations and change in the décor. There is a quaint bar when you first enter and to the left is the main dining area. The staff was welcoming and warm.

So – where do I start? Yes, the sangria – umm…. Mouthwatering delicious. I could not quite put my finger (tongue) on the exact flavor I was relishing but I did have to refrain from ordering more than one. So good.

Oh yea, food – I digress…. The bread and oil were excellent, but really how can bread and oil ever be bad? I was very torn on what my taste buds desired this warm Tuesday evening, as everything sounded delicious. Of course, as always, I had moments of food jealousy as the appetizer’s arrived and I had decided to forgo ordering any. However, for my meal I selected the Pollo Giuseppe ~ Sautéed chicken breast with prosciutto, eggplant, and fresh mozzarella in a pomodoro sauce served with choice of pasta.

First off, the portion sizes would be very suitable to share or split, i.e. HUGE. I wanted to devour the entire meal! The layered chicken, prosciutto, and eggplant were perfectly balanced with the pomodoro sauce. There was no need for any seasoning as it was already done so to perfection, just the right amount of garlic without you feeling as though you need to be in an Orbit gum commercial.

Every meal looked amazing and I only heard positive comments from everyone.

Then the desert tray…. Well again, I had an extreme bout of food jealousy so I boldly asked my handsome neighbor if I could try his scrumptious looking almond torte (?) and let us just say I think I boldly went in for three bites. It was amazing…. Ciao!