Enjoying a Neighborhood "Pasta Night" at Viajo's Restaurant

Across from Pathmark Shopping Center in Dix Hills is Viajo's Pizza & Pasta Restaurant, a neighborhood friend for the past 13 years, where owner Vito DeFeo says, "Unlike many restaurants today, everything here is made the old-fashioned way.  There are no shortcuts when it comes to our tomato sauce."

"Pasta Night" on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays is a great value at $11.95.  There is a choice of Viajo's House or Caesar Salad to start and about ten or so pasta dishes to choose from, including dessert and a beverage.  The restaurant is casual and the atmosphere is warm and inviting.

 The Dish: Rigatoni Alla Viajo's ($9.95)

What's Inside:  Rigatoni pasta in a pomodoro wine sauce with onions, raisins, spinach and pignoli nuts.

How's It Taste:  A perfectly al dente pasta tossed with a light but sophisticated sauce blending the earthiness and acidity of the spinach and the tomatoes, with a slight sweetness from the raisins and onions, topped with the creamy crunch of the toasted pignoli nuts (pine nuts).  It's a variation of a Sicilian dish handed down from Mr. DeFeo's grandmother.  It's different from most southern Italian pasta dishes you'll see on menus around Dix Hills and it's Viajo's signature dish.  Mr. DeFeo says that Rigatoni Alla Viajo helped put his kids through college.

Sides:  Their House Salad is a colorful mix of about a dozen ingredients and is $5.95 (included in the "Pasta Night" meal). 

Mr. DeFeo has another Viajo's Restaurant located in Hicksville. Their newest restaurant is Fratelli Trattoria located at the Arches Tanger Outlet in Deer Park.

www.viajosrestaurant.com