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Foodie Fridays: Rustica Brick Oven Pizza Cafe - A Gem In Garden City

5/29/2014

I have dined in many high-end restaurants throughout my life - in a plethora of cities in a multitude of countries throughout the world. I also consider myself a bit of a connoisseur when I comes to Italian food, being of pure Italian descent. So, when a little corner pizza joint opened a few years ago, a block away from my house, I thought, "Ok another Long Island pizza place, that's going to have "just okay" food. Boy, was I mistaken!!

On the corner of Nassau Boulevard and Cambridge Avenue in Garden City South, is one of the best foodie finds around. Don't let size and location fool you on this one! The owners, Maria and Enrico Viti have done an amazing job in creating a diverse menu with a cross section of traditional and original dishes. The flagship item, of course, is their brick oven pizzas, which comes in three sizes - 8", 12" and 16", in an expansive array of choices. I LOVE pizza and cooked in a brick oven, the flavor is no match to a traditional oven. Their regular cheese pizza is great,(my daughter Kelsey's favorite!) but I think their Margherita (with fresh mozzarella) is even tastier!. They will also customize toppings to your liking. From chicken and tomato and onion, to Penne ala vodka, and their House Special, which has pepperoni, sausage, meatballs, mushrooms, olives, onions & peppers, they are all great. They even have gluten free pizza, as well as Marinara pizza for vegans and those who prefer dairy free pizza.

Rustica Brick Oven Cafe

Maria Viti has a long history in the restaurant business with a family-owned restaurant in Astoria, Queens. Her expertise in managing a restaurant is evident from the way in which Rustica has become a neighborhood favorite over the past two and one-half years since first opening in September, 2011. As a result, the restaurant enjoys a number of "regulars", which we consider ourselves. We dine in at least once every two to three weeks. So, what do we eat at Rustica? Tedd is a bit of a creature of habit and either gets a well cooked garlic bread and Fettuccine Alfredo (which is creamy and delicious!) or will enjoy the garlic bread with one of their soups. Did I mention what incredible soups they have?! I'm gonna go as far as to say that Rustica has some the best soups I've ever eaten! Their soup menu staples include Pasta Fagioli (white cannellini beans & pasta), Minestrone, Stracciatella alla romana (Italian egg drop soup with spinach) and Minestra all Genovese (mixed vegetables with pasta and a touch of pesto). But, it is their Soups del Giorno that really tilt the scale on flavor and originality. I LOVE their Sweet Potato soup (with chunks of fresh mozzarella), which is served seasonally; and their traditional Chicken Noodle which is better than I could ever attempt making at home. Rustica's soups are hearty , flavorful and steaming hot!!

Brick Oven Pizza - 8"

The appetizers are also a must-try! Tedd has also been know to switch it up on the appetizer front and will often order the baked clams and fried calamari, which, by the way, my very picky Kelsey loves, (funny, the kid will eat a squid, but I can't get her to eat a piece of broccoli!). The baked clams have been thoroughly enjoyed by my sister Danielle as well, who is a very harsh restaurant food critic since she is an amazing cook. She often drives from Rockville Center (20 minute ride) on a school night, to have dinner at Rustica. Her son, my nephew, Julian, always begs to go their for the Vegetable Lasagna! Tonight, while dining there, we had a delicious trio of appetizers, which included a stuffed artichoke, vegetable stuffed rice ball and stuffed pepper. The rice ball was crunchy and tender and not at all greasy. The pepper, stuffed with beef, peas and topped with mozzarella was cooked to perfection - the peas added the right amount of delicate crunch, according to Tedd.

Stuffed Artichoke, Rice Ball & Stuffed Pepper

Gnocchi Marinara with dollop of ricotta

My daughter Gianna's usual is the Gnocchi Marinara with a dollop of ricotta. I've been known to steal a few from her plate and what I can say about the gnocchi is that they are perfectly cooked. Not too hard , not too soft , but firm and delectable. As for me, I'm a salad girl. Ok I'm a pasta girl too and a pizza girl, and an eggplant girl - let's face it, I love all Italian foods and have a long ways to go before I get through Rustica's menu. But generally speaking, I will order one of their salads. My two favorites are the La Mela which has mixed greens, sliced green apples, dried cranberries, walnuts and goat cheese. The other is the Arancia which has shaved fennel, red onions, orange slices and olives over baby arugula. With either a balsamic or Italian vinaigrette, they are each a perfect meal in themselves with some fresh bread! And like their pizzas, the salads can be personalized with toppings and preparation. Of course, they have an entire menu of daily specials, as well as gluten-free pastas, so don't forget to ask about them. With a nice glass of wine, or the fruity, home-made sangria, your dining experience is complete!

Rustica's home-made Sangria - sweet and delicious

Tossed Salad with balsamic vinaigrette

Rustica has a showcase of sinful, Italian dessert specialties including their Cookie Fudge Cake. This decadent delight is more than enough to share, even though my kids insist on getting their own so they can take some home! If you are in the mood for pizza for dessert, try the Nutella Pizza! The Gelato Affogato is a wonderful combination of cold and hot with 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream topped with a shot of hot espresso. The interior of Rustica is very cozy with limited seating, making it very intimate. Maria, a working mom, is hands-on and has built a friendly and accommodating staff. Many of the wait staff they employ are from the local college, and reflect the same warmth as their boss.