Review: Leftovers Are Inevitable at La Famiglia

If you are hungry, go to La Famiglia.

This restaurant is not shy with their freshly prepared, family style portions. Guests enter the restaurant and walk across the bar area, where the bartender promptly offers a cocktail,  "or perhaps a little vino."

The restaurant is warm and welcoming, softly lit and decorated in earth tones. From the minute guests enter into La Famiglia, they are treated as if they have been going there forever. The staff asks for your name and continues to call you by it for the rest of the evening.

The menu is classic Italian. Simple comfort foods as well as house specials are served in tremendous portions meant for "sharing." The fresh Mozzarella and Tomato ($13.95) was served with fresh-picked basil and fire-roasted peppers. The cheese melted well and the tomatoes were lightly salted and juicy. The portion was so overwhelming that one person can barely get through a quarter of this dish. The waiter generously offered to pack up the leftovers and hold them in the kitchen until the meal was over - a sign that they must be used to extras here.

The rightly named Rigatoni La Famiglia ($21.95) came next and was definitely enough for an entire family. Bright green broccoli rabe, sundried tomatoes and crumbled sausage sat atop roughly two pounds of perfectly cooked pasta, sautéed in a light garlic and olive oil brodino. 

The Seafood Combo ($29.95) featured a huge lobster tail accompanied by shrimp oreganata and baked whole clams. The seafood was prepared in a light white wine butter sauce and this meal could have easily served four people with some to spare. 

Although the portions seem to be the first thing guests notice, the food itself was well prepared and very fresh. There is a large dessert menu as well and a frothy espresso ($3) adequetely finished this meal. Lunch and dinner are available at La Famiglia, as well as take out and catering on or off premise.