Sunday, December 01, 2013

The Post-Thanksgiving Meal: Pasta Pasta, Port Jefferson, NY

In our family, and most families I imagine, there is the obligatory visit with the family that you didn't see on Thanksgiving.  This year our visit took place in Port Jefferson, NY, a former shipbuilding town that is now home to several touristy shops and a ferry that traverses Long Island Sound to Connecticut.  Eating was on the itinerary.

We usually eat at a spot called the Fifth Season that is very close to the ferry dock, but they do not serve lunch on Saturdays so we headed to an oft-recommended spot, Pasta Pasta.  Although no one was really in the mood for Italian food, I assured the group that Pasta Pasta offered more than just it's name.

The dining room is quaint, romantic almost, with frilly curtains and mirrors.  Yet they were kid-friendly and did not seem to mind when little D was wailing while waiting for the Wi-Fi to connect.  (Yes, full disclosure, I let my boys use their electronic devices sometimes at restaurants).

The menu is massive.  In addition to the assumed pasta section, they have a major focus on seafood and landlubber items.  At lunch, this came in the form of salads, sandwiches, pizzas and entrees.

While we perused the menu, a gigantic bread basket arrived that contained several pounds of garlic-slathered bread.  This thing was heavy to pass around the table but quickly got lighter and lighter.

Ordering took awhile as there were so many choices, but we finally settled on two seafood salads, one with crab cakes and the other with lobster, two filet mignon quesadillas and one hamburger with fries.

Contrary to the bread, the crab cakes were miniscule.  After two excellent bites of crab cake, it was all lettuce.  The lobster salad had more meat to it and tasted especially fresh and light.  The filet mignon quesadillas were packed with flavorful ingredients including alouette and mozzarella cheese, caramelized onions and roasted corn.  The quesadillas themselves were crispy, covered with chipotle lime aioli and plentiful.  My Dad who was still hungry after the crab cakes was able to fill up with my remaining quesadilla donation.  Oh and as always, the boys enjoyed their hamburger and fries.

Now, I do wonder if we ordered correctly.  I think everything we had was fine, good even, but not outstanding.  Other tables appeared to really have some winning dishes, including wasabi calamari and all of the pastas.  I guess in a restaurant called Pasta, Pasta, that is probably the right order.

Until our next Berger,
KLB

Pasta Pasta
 234 E Main St
Port Jefferson, NY
631.331.5335
pastapasta.net

PS -- After lunch, we stopped in an adorable restaurant, C'est Cheese, that sells grilled cheese, cheese boards, wine, etc.  It is on my list for the next visit.  We did take home some amazing Point Reyes Toma to tide us over until our next trip to Port Jeff.

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