La Vite charms with delicious fare amid quaint surroundings

What a gem the Lunch Bunch discovered inside La Casa Narcisi Winery. The West Deer establishment features a wonderful restaurant called La Vite.

Our crew was delighted to learn that the restaurant was open for lunch from Wednesdays through Sundays. The winery is visible from the road, featuring a red-tile roof and sculpted Italian arches.

Once patrons step inside the large, solid-wood arched doors they find a quaint gift and wine store. A dining room, in a loft above the gift store, offers an inviting upscale atmosphere amid antique grape presses and artwork and even grape-themed wrought-iron railings. Outside dining is available in warm weather next to a pergola and a small amphitheater for summer entertainment.

Diners start out with a warm slab of Tuscan flatbread served with a dipping oil. We had to hold back from devouring the whole slab since we had our meals -- and an appetizer -- ahead of us.

We shared an order of the Spinach and Artichoke Dip ($9.99) . A large bowl of finely diced artichokes and spinach came in a thick, cheesy sauce. We spread it over puffy flatbread triangles that had been dusted with Parmesan. Those triangles would have been good on their own, too.

The C&S Signature Salad ($13.95) was superb. A beauty of a salad arrived on a platter of field greens sprinkled with dried cranberries and feta cheese (we skipped the red onions). That was flanked by four of the best shrimp we have ever had, while the other side featured sliced grilled chicken. It was exquisite and we really wish we could make that kind of shrimp at home. Whatever the secret to making the shrimp, it was wonderful.

The Capellini Pomodoro ($9.99) was a serving of grilled chicken in an Italian tomato sauce mixed with capellini pasta. The pasta -- which is very much like angel hair pasta -- was done to perfection without being over cooked. The light sauce was made with diced tomatoes and fresh basil. This is an excellent lunch dish that isn't heavy, but is filling.

The Margherita Pizza ($10.99) featured a thin puffy crust that had a white sauce, fresh tomato slices and shreds of fresh basil. Not weighed down with a heavy tomato sauce and extra toppings, this pizza is light and tasty.

The service here was exceptional, and we are excited about dining here again when the weather is warm and we can dine al fresco.

Compiled by Rebecca Killian, Sis Reola and guests. Meals are paid for by the Valley News Dispatch and are unrelated to advertising.