PAPAZZIO REASTURANT
AND CATERER
39-38 Bell Boulevard, Bayside
718-229-1962, Fax: 718-229-0418

CUISINE: Italian (Tuscan)

HOURS:  Lunch from 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Dinner from 5 p.m.—11p.m.

PARKING: Curbside or at nearby Municipal parking lot.

SPECIALTIES: Catering private parties on and off site (reservations required), take out and delivery service.

CREDIT CARDS: Major cards accepted.

My dining partner and I enjoy returning to Papazzio where the food and ambience are always top notch.

The evening we visited was right after a large private party but the attention and service was exemplary. Joshua, the General Manager, offered his expertise in discussing the menu and selecting our dinner.

We also read the wine list and selected our favorite wine, Santa Margarhita Pinot Grigio ($35), to go with the meal.

We started with a creamy, rich Shrimp Bisque. The three large shrimp topping the soup were perfectly cooked.

The other appetizer was Insalata Tre Colore, a large portion of arugula, radicchio and endive with a light Balsalmic dressing served on a properly chilled plate ($7). The side dish was a dipping fine Italian olive oil with sun-dried tomatoes and garlic- great with the hearty bread. Irresistibly good!

The other entrée was from the menu and is a house specialty, Marsala Di Vitello. It is medallions of veal sautéed with mushrooms in a marsala wine sauce ($16).

There is an interesting menu that ranges from Antipasti to chicken, fish and steak. There are also some wonderful pasta combinations – a result of the care and attention that Papazzio’s proprietor, the dynamic Domenico Bruccoleri devotes to this restaurant.

We were treated with a tasting of several desserts — Amaretto Cheese Cake, Chocolate Key Lime Cake and Chocolate Mousse Cake surrounded by fresh fruit slices on a large plate- all palate pleasing and a tasty ending to a fine dining experience.