Out and About with Linda
A few weeks ago, a friend and I checked out a true neighborhood restaurant; Bistro Albertino on North York Road in Willow Grove. Located in a very non-descript corner of York Road, there is nothing non-descript about its service and food! You’ll feel like you’ve landed in a South Philly landmark upon entering, but realize quickly, you’re on the main drag of the York Road corridor.
Albertino’s is warm and congenial, its tables are covered with linen tablecloths. And while it’s not open on Sunday, this BYOB is in full action Monday through Saturday. We went on a Monday and saw the dining room fill up as the evening progressed. It was clear that many of the diners, bottle in hand, were from the “neighborhood.”
We were promptly escorted to a table by our lovely server, Cindy. Our bottle of wine was opened and we started to dig into our menu. A basket of warm bread and a pesto dipping sauce arrived to help with our selections. Both were welcomed and yummy. They helped to set the stage for what was coming!!
I reminded my friend we were there to check out a broad range of offerings. After all, we take these restaurant reviews/columns very seriously. Funny, as the food was being brought out, our server commented how wonderful it was to see two women eating so heartily! Yes! It was a lot of food… delicious food.
Their Mediterranean Meatballs were delectable. We didn’t quite understand why they called them “Mediterranean,” but ventured forward to see what they were like. This side dish could definitely serve as an entrée. We shared them. I loved the Risotto and Crabmeat dish. Filled with sun-dried tomatoes, onion, garlic and of course, crabmeat. The arborio rice was cooked to perfection. There was nothing pasty about this dish… as sometimes happens with risotto. This was a dish for two or more people. Quite substantial.
I said to my partner, we needed to order a pasta dish and perhaps something that might be more mundane in any Italian restaurant. We ordered the Penne Vodka and were not disappointed. Again, the portion was huge. Their Chicken Parmigiana was delicious. The portion was appropriate for one person, although we shared it for tasting purposes. Most unusual is that the chicken is grilled, not fried, and is then finished in the oven with fresh tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese. Imagine, chicken parm that is not fried. Apparently, there is no frying at Albertino’s. The owner-chef Goni, saute’s, bakes, etc., but NO frying. This Parmigiana was outstanding. We completed our “dinner dishes” with Sauteed Spinach. One of my favorites, the spinach had just enough garlic to make me finish this side. I just HAD to finish it!!! (I guess you can understand how the entire waitstaff marveled at how two women could eat the way we did!!!!LOL!)
As an aside, we were never rushed and felt attended to appropriately. We looked around as the tables started to fill up on this weekday night, curious to see what dishes people were ordering. Heaping plates of Mussels, Stuffed Mushrooms, Baked Goat Cheese, Veal, Gnocchi… the fragrance of delicious food enveloped the scene. And everyone was enjoying dining graciously on a weekday evening. It was a treat.
We couldn’t finish our meal without a “finish.” Dessert was a must. (P.S. No doggy bags required for dessert!!!) We ordered a just-perfect Cannoli and Cheesecake. Both were light and creamy, and can be recommended. We were also hosted with some of Goni’s homemade Orangello…. like Limoncello, but made with oranges. I loved this. My body was warm, my stomach and appetite satiated, this liqueur was the icing on the cake. (And everything else!!)
We really enjoyed our visit to Albertino’s and definitely recommend it. Many dishes can be shared, so you should consider that when ordering. Just ask your server for their recommendation and they’ll be glad to help. Remember, they’re closed on Sunday, but are open Monday through Saturday. And you might call for reservations on Friday or Saturday. This is definitely a neighborhood favorite that fills up. And please remember to tell them you heard about them here, between our covers. They just might recall the two women who came in with the hearty appetites. Enjoy!
Bistro Albertino
634 N. York Road
Willow Grove, PA
267.781.7229
