Travel to ‘Stino da Napoli for authentic Italian fare
By Cynthia Schuster-Eakin
happenings
Published Jan. 11, 2006

The next time that you are in the mood for authentic Italian cuisine, journey to ‘Stino de Napoli, located at 19070 Old Detroit Rd. in the heart of Rocky River. This intimate bistro continues to delight customers with its fresh and flavorful fare.

A recent Friday evening visit to the restaurant proved its popularity. Every seat was full, but after a brief wait, the hostess managed to find a table near the window. The server quickly took the beverage order and brought a basket of warm Orlando ciabatta bread and butter.

‘Stino has a license to serve beer and wine, and offers a nice selection of vintages. A house salad with your choice of lemon or raspberry vinaigrette dressing accompanies the meal.

The menu offers a lengthy list of pasta dishes at very affordable prices. House specialties include such dishes as gnocchi alla Napoletana, or homemade potato dumplings rolled by hand and baked in a light tomato sauce, with mozzarella, ricotta and Parmesan cheeses ($12.95), as well as southern Italian meat lasagna ($11.95). Fettuccine alla ferdinando is sautéed with proscuitto, tomato sauce, fresh basil and baby mozzarella ($11.95). My order of spaghetti aglio e olio was simply tossed with finely chopped sautéed garlic and fine olive oil. Priced at $7.95, the generous portion was more than I could eat. My companion managed to consume every last bite of the spaghetti puttanesca ($10.95), made with black olives, capers, olive oil, garlic, whole peeled tomatoes and fresh parsley. Other menu options are linguine alla pescatore with sautéed mussels, calamari and shrimp in a light tomato sauce ($13.95), spaghetti alla carbonara in a creamy white sauce made with bacon, egg yolks and cheese ($9.95) and tube-shaped penne alla arrabbiata in spicy tomato sauce ($9.95). Meatballs are available with all pasta dishes at an additional charge.

The rest of the menu is comprised of mostly veal, chicken and seafood selections. Veal medallions are prepared in a Marsala wine sauce ($17.95), lemon butter sauce ($16.95), or sautéed with green peppers, onions, mushrooms and fresh tomatoes ($17.95). An eight-ounce boneless chicken breast is sautéed with fresh mushrooms, tomatoes and herbs in a light wine sauce for the petto di pollo alla Domiziana ($14.95). Chicken Milanese ($13.95) is lightly breaded and simply garnished with salt, pepper and lemon. Tilapia alla posillipo is sautéed in olive oil and served in tomato sauce ($15.95), and the tilapia con gamberi is accompanied by gulf shrimp in a light wine sauce ($17.95). Also on the menu is Italian sausage baked with green peppers, onions and tomatoes ($12.95). Meal-sized salads are available and include baby mozzarella and tomatoes over leaf lettuce and fresh basil ($8.95), and a seafood salad prepared with shrimp, squid and mussels over greens with vinaigrette dressing ($10.95).

‘Stino da Napoli offers daily dinner features. Tuesday’s fettuccine alla mugnaia is sautéed with diced eggplant, tomatoes and spices ($10.95). Cheese tortellini and vegetables are prepared in a light cream sauce ($11.95) on Wednesday. Beef tenderloin breaded with Romano cheese is the Thursday feature. Layered and baked eggplant Parmesan ($12.95) is very popular and was already sold out upon arrival on Friday evening. Saturday diners can enjoy veal medallions alla Tosca prepared in a light egg batter with lemon butter and wine ($16.95). Assorted freshly baked, beautifully prepared pastries are available daily.

‘Stino da Napoli is open for dinner from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday through Friday, and for lunch and dinner from noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday. Reservations are recommended. The restaurant offers carry out, as well as pans of a number of its specialty pasta dishes to go. A 24-hour notice is suggested on the half or full pans of pasta.