When 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.
