Mediterranean at Dino's

Dino’s Trattoria has been nestled along Main Street in the heart of Marlborough since 2007. After working in the family restaurant for 20 years, Dino Ferretti, along with wife Debbie, decided to take a chance and open up their own place. Many of the dishes found at Dino’s stem from family recipes handed down to him from his father, who is also a chef.

The trattoria is a blend of Mediterranean style dishes created within an intimate, family friendly atmosphere. The energetic, friendly wait staff greets the regulars by name – the presence of multiple regulars a reassuring indicator that the food will be above par. A basket of bread, accompanied by a bowl of olive oil for dipping, is quickly placed on the high top table while patrons scan the menu.

No matter the chosen dish, be sure to order a side Caesar salad ($1.99 extra). The perfectly blended Caesar dressing is made from scratch in the restaurant, and is not to be missed. The side salad alone is almost as large as an entrée. There are three different menus (lunch, dinner and pizza), although some of the dishes overlap from lunch and dinner.

From the popular baked haddock fillet and oriental salad to the sautéed chicken tenderloin marsala prepared with mushrooms and an oak mellowed marsala wine, there is a dish to suite every pallet and every wallet with reasonable prices.

Dino creates different specials for lunch and dinner every day, and he can be found in the kitchen cooking up new dishes throughout the week.

“Dino will occasionally repeat a dish from the specials menu if it’s been a huge hit. Every time the veal pot roast is featured, it sells out quickly early in the night,” noted Debbie.

All sauces, along with most of the salad dressings, are also made in house. Although the pasta is not, Dino always buys the pasta fresh so that the tender linguini, angel hair, spaghetti or penne seems to magically and rather delightfully dissolve in the mouth.

But remember to save room for dessert and coffee. The smooth Catavo coffee compliments the hard-shelled, sweet cannoli dusted in powdered sugar. Visit their web site to check out the menu, or give them a call at 508-481-0020 to place a to go order. Dino’s Trattoria is located at 277 Main Street in Marlborough.