Restaurant Review
Nonna Maria - by Vicki Slotnick

  

This most recent visit we are greeted very hospitably by Judy the chef/owner's wife, and she seats us promptly. The dining room is a cute smallish room, not decorated in any particular fashion, just pleasant in a non obtrusive kind of way. A waiter promptly and efficiently takes very good care of us. There is a fairly nice wine list, and our drinks arrive quickly. Good, crusty country Italian bread comes out quickly as well, and we devour it with butter or a very nice olive oil, as we peruse an extensive menu. We are hard-pressed to choose...everything looks and sounds so good! R. began with a wonderful creamy wild mushroom soup, L., E., and I started with the arugula, watermelon, and feta salad with citrus vinaigrette. The arugula was fresh and peppery, just the way arugula should be. The watermelon cubes were sweet, and the feta was tangy. The citrus dressing just pulled the different elements of the salad together so well. Another time we visited, one of our friends had French onion soup which she loved. The first two times I was at Nonna Maria I had the braised short ribs of beef over risotto with a Chianti reduction. It was sublime, so tender and sauced perfectly, and I thought that I would have it once again, or someone else would have it and I could snag a bite. But I decided to try something different this time and so chose the yellowtail snapper francese. E. had that also. (Why oh why didn't he order something different so we could taste each other's???) Anyway, it was served over spinach and sauced with lemon, white wine and butter. The fish was moist and the sauce was perfectly seasoned and balanced. L. had the veal saltimbocca. I had a taste, and I will probably have that the next visit...it was a perfect combination of the tender veal, prosciutto, in sage and wine reduction served with sautéed broccoli rabe. L. thought that the sauce may have had a bit too much butter or oil in it, however. R. Had linguini Bolognese. The very meaty sauce was slightly spicy, in a good way, maybe from sausage. One taste of that and perhaps when I return, I'll order that! It seems to me that Chef/Owner Francois really knows his way around the kitchen, in particular, his sauces.

There are many appetizers, pastas, meat, fish, and seafood entrees that will surely fill the bill for even the pickiest eater. Desserts do not disappoint either.  If they do everything on the menu as well as the items that I have already tasted, this place is a keeper.

NONNA MARIA RESTAURANT by VICKI SLOTNICK

529 NORTHLAKE BOULEVARD

NORTH PALM BEACH, FL. 33408

561-863-6584