A generous serving of American-Italian

By Tet Andolong

IT seems that the number of restaurants located in shopping malls has increased exponentially over the last decade. Think of a particular cuisine or dining motif and you’ll surely find it in any of the shopping establishments in Metro Manila. Take al-fresco dining, for instance. There are now a lot of them. Unfortunately, only a few are worth patronizing—and one of them is Italianni’s, where people find delectable American-Italian fare and an incomparable level of service. 

Over the years, Italianni’s has impressed its clients, us included. Their dishes are cooked to order, always served fresh and made with only high-quality ingredients. An initial encounter with the warm focaccia bread accompanied by dip of extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar and herbs, and guests would always look forward to a return engagement.

Besides the comestible selections from the menu, the ambiance is worthy of note—black-and-white framed images of Italian families, big murals holding places of honor on the walls, with the wine list detailing the various facets of an Italian opera while diners listen to Frank Sinatra and other famous American singers from the songbook era. The green-and-white checked tablecloth, as well as the rich-wood chairs and sofas, give the place a ritzy touch, while keeping the feel refreshingly homey. This is the traditional setting of Italianni’s, which is managed by the Bistro Group of Restaurants headed by William Stelton, who started it all 12 years ago.

The 12th and newest branch of Italianni’s opened in April and is located in the ultramodern Midtown Wing of Robinsons Place Manila in Malate. Including the al-fresco seating fronting the mall’s captivating dancing water feature, the establishment can accommodate 120 guests. The restaurant also has a bar that seats eight people and serves premium house wines from Italy such as the Ruffino Chianti DOCG, Zonin Pinon Grigio, Villa Girardi Bardolino Verona, Ruffino Libaio Di Toscana Chardonnay IGT and the Robert Mondavi Merlot from California.

Italianni’s is known for its big servings meant for sharing. Regular customers go back for their favorite soups, salads, starters, pizzas, pastas, house specialties and desserts.

 The fish-fillet dishes, seafood risotto, grilled salmon oreganato, chicken parmigiana, herb roasted chicken, chicken cacciatore, grilled pork chops and Tuscan beef tenderloin are all exquisite.

The pasta entrée list has Italian staples and favorites such as the angel-hair pomodoro and mediteranneo, penne arrabiato and verdure, shrimp linguine and con vongole, classic carbonara, fettuccine alfredo, lasagna, baked ziti, seafood cioppino, shrimp fra diablo and the famous spaghetti with meatballs. The ground sausage is homemade and the meatballs are more meat than filler. Order an entrée of spaghetti and meatballs, and you will be suffused with memories of your first experience with really good spaghetti. A rich red sauce with just the right amount of garlic and oregano makes it so.

Just recently, executive chef Sonny Ong prepared something exciting—the Festival of Towers, which features five “towers” consisting of three courses each, served for two to three persons.

These are the “Sienna” (a tower of Italianni’s house baked babyback ribs, prawns thermidor and 7-oz US Ribeye with red wine mushroom sauce); “Milan” (rosemary roasted chicken served with simmered vegetables, pasta pepperoncini and pan-fried Dory alla limon with crispy onions); “Venetian” (a starter tower of garlic Tuscan toasts served with smoked salmon and tomato-basil dips, baked mussels and Italianni’s chopped salad); “Pisa” (braised oxtail, chicken mushroom marsala and grilled fish fillet with mango basil salsa), and the “Tuscan” (a starter tower of spicy shrimp and calamari with garlic, capers and olives served with Tuscan bread, beef and garlic sauté and mixed greens with candied walnut salad).

The Festival of Towers is available in all Italianni’s branches: Greenbelt 2, Greenhills, TriNoma, Robinsons Place Manila, SM Mall of Asia, Bonifacio High Street, SM Megamall, Tomas Morato, Glorietta 4, Alabang Town Center, Gateway Mall and Eastwood Libis. Guests may also enjoy the free Wi-Fi access at Italianni’s.

For information, visit www.italiannis.com.ph.

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A generous serving of American-Italian

IT seems that the number of restaurants located in shopping malls has increased exponentially over the last decade. Think of a particular cuisine or dining motif and you’ll surely find it in any of the shopping establishments in Metro Manila. Take al-fresco dining, for instance. There are now a lot of them. Unfortunately, only a few are worth patronizing—and one of them is Italianni’s, where people find delectable American-Italian fare and an incomparable level of service.

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