Background
Our former Lunch Bunch crew tried to dine at Zottola's a few years back after getting a couple of calls of recommendation. We drove there only to find the beautifully adorned red front door locked. No lunch service. When we shifted to dinner mode, Zottola's was on our short list.
We took a drive on a recent Saturday night, taking a chance there would be a table available for four to dine. We were wrong. This place is buzzing on weekends, and it's best to call ahead for a reservation. Our party was given the choice of dining al fresco or in the pub area, because the dining room, which accommodates 36, was at capacity. Given the heat, we opted for the cozy pub.
Atmosphere
Zottola's main dining room features eight wooden tables and plenty of heavy floral tablecloths and cloth napkins. Windows feature heavy floral treatments as well. The ambiance is comfy and inviting just like grandma's living room.
The pub area is clean and has an antique feel. Pumpkin walls are accented by antique metal buckets that conveniently hold flatware and cloth napkins for each table.
We heard about the amazing old-time sports decor in the men's room, but we'll have to take the men's word for it. As for the ladies' room, it matched the decor of the dining room -- lots of floral accents in the artwork.
Menu
We started our dining experience with two appetizers. The Surfboard ($16) was our favorite. Two dollar-coin-size grilled scallops and three large shrimp were devoured first. Then, we indulged in a trio of fresh imported cheese wedges and an ample selection of ripe olives and strips of red roasted pepper on a bed of spring mix. We spread the cheeses on flat toast points and made good on our clean-plate society membership.
The Crab Cake ($10) that we shared wasn't worth its price. The crab cake was ho-hum, because although it was real crab, we didn't detect the large lumps of crab that can set this dish apart.
Despite a small basket of bread that was gone in moments, and numerous refills on our drinks (mostly ice water), we had a significant wait for our entrees to arrive after our side salads were digested. We didn't complain, because we know all the food is made homemade and fresh to order. Just be aware your meal might take up two hours.
Owner Ray Zottola proudly admits the kitchen doesn't include a microwave and instead prepares dishes "as natural as we can do it."
In part, meals can't be rushed, because the kitchen is limited in size, so there's only so much that can get out the door at one time.
Zottola says he has adapted the menu to ease the burden on the kitchen -- but more importantly adapts the menu to make sure entrees are fresh and seasonal.
In addition to a printed menu, Zottola's relies heavily on chalkboard menu offerings that change daily depending on ingredients available.
When our server brought our entrees two at a time, she apologized for the wait and mentioned they were busy at full capacity. We were happily satisfied once we got down to business.
The French Cut Pork Chop ($22) was a delight with a large thick pork chop enhanced with a maple glaze that gave it a wonderful twist. The smashed potatoes as a side were a hit with everyone. The large scoops of creamy, red-skinned potatoes were seasoned perfectly.
Natural Boneless Chicken Picatta ($16) featured a large lightly battered chicken breast with a mild lemon sauce and a sprinkling of capers. It's easy to see why this is the restaurant's signature dish. The side dish of asparagus was excellent. A half dozen firm bright green stalks were tied up neatly with a ribbon of thick-cut bacon that flavored the vegetable perfectly.
Our resident carnivore opted for the New York Strip Steak ($24) medium rare. The huge steak that arrived included all the fat that adds the flavor when grilling. Once we cut out all the fat, we enjoyed the steak, but we felt we had to work at it to get to the good stuff. The sides of asparagus and potatoes completed our meal.
The Scampi ($12 plus $4 for shrimp) comes plain or with a choice of chicken, shrimp or scallops add-ons. The dish was heavy on olive oil and garlic in the linguine and would have been boring without the succulent grilled shrimp. We selected the homemade sweet Italian dressing for our side salad.
Additional Information:Zottola's Pub and Eatery
Cuisine : American Style Mediterranean
Hours : 4-8 p.m. Tues.-Sat.; 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Sun.
Entree price range : $11-$30
Notes : Major credit cards accepted. Reservations suggested
Address : 5068 Bakerstown Culmerville Road, West Deer
Details: 724-265-2095
