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La Piazzetta

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garyrbeck
garyrbeck
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4 out of 5
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Editor Pick

La Piazzetta

  • May 4, 2008
  • Rated 4 of 5 by Andariega from Boca de Tomatlan, Mexico
La Piazzetta

La Piazzetta is another old favorite we had somehow forgotten about. The food had always been excellent. Judging by the expansion and the crowds, it still was. We were seated at one of the few remaining tables, right next to the sidewalk. Our waiter handed us our menus, politely took our drink orders and left. The crowd was a mixture of foreigners and nationals, tourists and locals.

La Piazzetta is a medium sized restaurant with almost all its seating outside on patios. The tables are elegantly set and the lighting is low. There is little decoration to speak of. None is needed. The corner it is on is busy with foot traffic. There is always something going on.

The menu is long and very Italian. There are twenty pasta dishes, twenty-five kinds of pizza, and all sorts of main dishes, soups, salads and appetizers. We didn't even look at the dessert menu. The prices are moderately high but worth every peso. Pasta dishes and single serving pizzas run about a hundred pesos (about ten US dollars). Main dishes cost between 150 and 230 pesos (roughly fifteen to just over twenty dollars).

First, we ordered starters, keeping in mind that we would be stealing each other's food. The waiter politely nodded and left, never questioning us about the next course. Years ago, the fried zucchini was my favorite here. I had to try it again. We also ordered the prosciutto wrapped melon, a caprese salad and the four-cheese pasta.

The zucchini is thinly sliced, pan-fried, and served in a vinaigrette. It is not breaded. It was just as good as I remember it being. Ripe, sweet, juicy melon and good quality prosciutto - the prosciutto e melone was incredible. The salad of tomato, fresh mozzarella, oregano and olive oil was great. I am used to it with basil; oregano was a nice change. The quality of the ingredients is what made it wonderful. The penne ai quattro formaggi, like everything else, was perfect. The sauce was rich, cheesy and tangy.

We asked for more drinks and more time. We couldn't decide which main courses sounded best and if any would really fit in our already stuffed bellies. The appetizers looked small but must have been deceiving. We all agreed. We were too full for more but it was too good to stop. We would split two dishes between the four of us. We ordered the gamberi alla diavola and the scaloppina alla contadina. The first was shrimp with garlic, onions, black olives, bacon and red peppers in a tomato sauce. The latter was beef medallions with spinach and cheese in a cream sauce. As we had expected, everything was wonderful. Once again, the portions looked small but were very filling. I can't believe it took us years to get back to La Piazzetta. It won't happen again.

Sails said, "I'd forgotten how good the food was here. When are we coming back?"

sample menu
Prosciutto e Melone............97 pesos/US$9.25
prosciutto ham with cantaloupe
Spinaci............63 pesos/US$6.00
cooked spinach marinated in
lemon and olive oil
Spaghetti Cozzolino............125 pesos/US$11.90
shrimp, squid, clams and garlic with
white wine and tomato sauce
Fettuccini Alla Paesana............95 pesos/US$9.00
ham, mushrooms and a béchamel sauce
Pizza Romana............107 pesos/US$10.20
tomato sauce, mozzarella, anchovies,
black olives, oregano
Pizza La Piazzetta. ...........112 pesos/US$10.70
tomato sauce, mozzarella, mushrooms,
pepperoni, black olives and oregano
Filetto Tricolore............181 pesos/US$17.25
beef filet in a three-pepper cream sauce
Gamberi Alla Diavola............235/US$22.40
shrimp with garlic, onions, black olives,
bacon and red pepper in a tomato sauce

La Piazzetta is open Monday through Saturday from 4:00 pm until midnight. Visa and MasterCard are accepted.

Directions - La Piazzetta is on the corner of Olas Altas and Gomez. From the southwest corner of parking/plaza Lazaro Cardenas (the ocean is to the west) head south along Olas Altas four blocks. The restaurant is on the right side of the street.

From journal Romantic Italian Dining

La Piazzetta

  • February 24, 2005
  • Rated 4 of 5 by garyrbeck from San Francisco, California
4pm-12am, Closed Sunday

In the corner of a small building since 1995, Dommenico Mimmo Lorusso's place serves up very fine small, wood-fired pizzas [24 types, including calzone 70-95p] and pastas [pesto, Arrabiata, or four cheeses all 78p]. There is good ravioli and lasagna, both 83p; seven styles of spaghetti; cannelloni; fusilli; penne; shrimp pesto or Diavolo 199p; chicken funghi 121p; beef medallions four styles 135-145p; and starters such as fried calamari 98p, antipasto, garlic mushrooms, insalatas 42-50p, and tasty bruschetta 42p. Order several items and share. Close your eyes and you are dining in Italia. There is very friendly and attentive service coupled with good prices. This is a cozy spot that is mostly outdoors with indoor air-conditioning, wonderful food, and great local scenery.

From journal Gary's Puerto Vallarta Travels

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