Tuscan Oven is an Ideal Choice

For a casual family dinner, a nice night out for two or a gathering of friends, Tuscan Oven is the ideal choice.  On a recent Sunday dinner visit with my extended family, we ordered an array of choices. Some of us wanted pizza and a salad, while others wanted an appetizer and an entrée. Tuscan Oven took good care of us all.

Tuscan Oven's dinner menu offers antipasti (appetizers), salads, pasta, brick-oven fired pizzas, fish and meat main courses. To start, the table is offered a basket of warm breads, including an excellent foccacia. A small dish of delicious thick pesto comes alongside. We ordered the Fritti of Calamari, Shrimp and Zucchini ($13) which was an excellent variation on the norm. The calamari and shrimp were perfectly cooked. The zucchini could have been cut a little thicker to withstand frying but was still tasty. The accompanying sauces (marinara and garlic mayonnaise) were traditional and well executed. My husband had a Tri Colore salad ($9) with Bibb lettuce, endive and Lola Rossa (a red leaf lettuce). The white balsamic citrus vinaigrette was excellent as was the quality of the lettuces and the Gorgonzola dolce, but we did miss the pine nuts that were expected. Three of my dinner partners had the Caesar Salad ($8) and felt it was an excellent rendition of the classic. Another interesting appetizer choice would be the Cannelini Dip ($8). It is a baked cannelini bean dip with onions, pancetta, truffle cream and gorgonzola cheese. Sounds delicious! Also offered are Mussels in a garlic, white wine and tomato sauce ($11) and Torta di Granchio (Maryland lump crab cakes) with a julienned vegetable salad and spicy mayonnaise for $14.

Next, and probably best, are the pizzas. The adults at my table shared a Salsiccia (with fresh mozzarella, plum tomato sauce, sweet sausage, caramelized onions & peppers) for $14. The kids had a Margherita pizza ($12) with fresh mozzarella and plum tomato sauce that they thoroughly enjoyed. Everyone commented on the delectable thin crust that was perfectly crispy. You can not miss with all of the excellent pizza choices available here!

The pasta selections all sounded scrumptious. There is homemade lasagna ($15), Pappardelle con Pollo with roasted chicken, mushrooms and truffle oil ($16) and the Ravioli con Tartufo Nero ($18) which my husband raved about. It is hand made ravioli with impastata cheese, pureed olives and black truffles tossed with shiitake mushrooms in a butter sage sauce. The dish speaks for itself, a wonderful marriage of delicious flavors. 

I wanted an entrée and struggled over my decision. Did I want fish, chicken or red meat? The special Agnello sounded appealing (Barolo braised lamb shank over creamy gorgonzola polenta) for $23 or the Brasato al Barolo (Braised short ribs over saffron risotto with gremolata) for $21. The Pollo Milanese (crispy chicken breast with an arugula & red onion salad and lemon vinaigrette ) for $19 may be what I try next time, but I settled on the Pesce special of the day, Chilean Sea Bass with speck (a prosciutto-like ham) wrapped asparagus and a lemon risotto. It had clean and bright flavors and the generously sized fish filet was perfectly cooked.

The kids had house made vanilla gelato ($8) which was wonderful. It had a delicious vanilla bean custard flavor. We were all a little too full for dessert but we were tempted by the Vesuvio di Chocolato ($8), a warm molten chocolate brownie with the vanilla gelato or the Cannolis ($8), which are homemade and ricotta cream filled.   

Tuscan Oven also serves a lunch menu similar to the dinner menu, replacing the entrees with paninis and involtinis (stuffed bread). All of the sandwiches run about $12 and include such delectable choices as Polpette (homemade meatballs with mozzarella, ricotta, parmesan and tomato sauce) and Salmone (grilled salmon in a spinach and herb wrap with romaine lettuce, beefsteak tomato, red onions and Caesar dressing).

There is a separate bar for meeting a friend with a large list of wines by the glass. The service is prompt and helpful and the ambiance will fit almost any need. Even though you are in a row of retail shops on Route 117 in Mount Kisco, you will feel as if you have visited Italy for a brief period in time. Indeed, whatever you are in the mood for, diners will not be disappointed with their visit to Tuscan Oven.