February 26th, 2010
Tramonti…Italian Ristorante…Restaurant…Review…Delray Beach…Florida…
On Thursday, the cold weather kept everyone in sweaters in Delray. When it gets chilly, watch you. The sky was so blue, though; it really should have been warm.
So, what do people do on a day like that? After the usual daily routine of exercising, what better way, if you find yourself on vacation, than to have lunch at one of the restaurants on the very busy Atlantic Avenue in Delray.
Even though it was colder than I would have liked it to be, we sat outside at the very well known Tramonti. This restaurant can get very busy. It is not big. I like it that way. Plenty of outdoor and indoor seating. Reservations are, definitely, a must during the height of the season.
Tramonti is located at 119 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach, FL 33444. Tel. is 561-272-1944, Fax is 561-272-1704. The website is www.tramontidelray.com. The restaurant opens for lunch from 11:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. and then dinner starts at 5:00 p.m. Take out is available but only for pick-up.
If you have visited Tramonti and have liked their sauces, well, they are available for purchase on the premises. They are sold in 26 ounce jars for $8.00 each and the choices are: Marinara, Braciola, and Arrabbiata.
Marinara: It comes from the Italian word sailor; marinaro. The sauce does not contain seafood, as some people might think; it was made in Naples for the sailors when they returned from the sea.
Braciola: This sauce is simmered for hours to capture the flavor of pork, sauteed onions, wine and herbs. Perfect for pasta dishes or meats.
Arrabbiata: Is a light marinara or red Italian sauce that is given an extra spicy flavor by adding hot peppers to the sauce. Arrabbiata translates to “angry mood”, but it will be an angry sauce that will delight your taste buds.
It was sort of a late lunch, the one we had at Tramonti. Giorgio was our waiter and he was very outgoing and enthusiastic. He did not care if others joined our table after some time; sitting outdoors is the best.
My husband had one of the specials of the day which was Risotto al Forno, which was risotto with squid in its own ink. It was delicious. I know; I took a bite or two. It reminded me when my grandmother, Mamota, used to make rice with squid in its own ink and the color was so dark. Fantastic.
I had a salad. The Spinaci Gamberi which was a salad of baby spinach, pine nuts, grilled shrimp and oranges. The combination with the oranges was unique. No dressing was necessary. A little pepper and a little parmesan cheese complemented the dish so well.
Tramonti has an extensive menu. It is pricey, but the food is prepared so well. I have eaten there a few times and has always been very good.
Yesterday the restaurant staff was a little nervous because, since it was cold, everyone that had reservations for outdoor seating wanted to come inside. I don’t know what they ended up doing because there was no way everyone was going to fit inside. All I heard was that no more reservations were being accepted for yesterday’s evening.
A few of the dishes that caught my attention were: Profumi Mediteranei which is baby octopus with celery, fresh garlic, olives, extra virgin olive oil and fresh lemon juuice, Spaghetti in Cartoccio Areo Special which is baked spaghetti with shrimp, parma proscuitto in a cognac cream sauce, wrapped in foil, and the Coniglio Cacciatore Alla Polenta which is farm rabbit braised in lightly spiced madeira wine sauce with Tuscan Polenta. The Cernia Nera dish is a local black grouper Livornese style with olives, onions, capers, and tomato sauce. There are plenty more dishes to satisfy a variety of taste buds.
Tramonti has a Sunset Special that is available from 4:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. The cost is $24.95 per person with no substitutions. There is a choice from several appetizers and a choice from several main courses, as well, for that price. A soft beverage and American coffee is included.
Even though I have tried a lot of the restaurants in Delray, now that I am reviewing them on my blog, I am paying a little bit more attention to my waiter, noise level of the restaurant, attitudes, and of course, the food.
Believe me, I like to cook so when I go out to dinner I want to relax. I don’t have to have a fancy dinner, I just want good food with the best ingredients; prepared for me like I am the only person at the restaurant. I want personal attention.
Tramonti has been here for some time and all you have to do is drive or walk past the restaurant to see a bustling restaurant in action. Italian is definitely spoken at Tramonti.
Go ahead, try it and let me know. I want to hear what other people think.
Note: The information for Arrabbiata Sauce was taken from www.wisegeek.com and the information for Marinara Sauce was taken from www.italianchef.com.
See you….company coming this week-end. Have not seen Maru and Lolo for a very long time. Looking forward to showing them Delray Beach.
Talk to you later…..
Tags: Carryout, Delray Beach, Florida, Full Bar, lunch and dinner, Restaurant, Restaurants, review, Reviews
