Italian eatery in Everett gets two big thumbs up
Published 9:00 pm Thursday, August 10, 2006
EVERETT – Less than a month ago, Ciao! Ragazzi Ristorante Italiano opened in a historic building on Hewitt Avenue. Previously, the restaurant served Indian cuisine and that restaurant’s signs are still in place. We were a bit confused but we eventually spotted the new signs and menu posted on the storefront windows.
Ciao! Ragazzi owners left the brick walls exposed, giving the dining area an old-world feel. The tables, chairs and booths are utilitarian, but white linen tablecloths and tiny table lights add a touch of elegance.
The utilitarian theme continues with the wine list and dessert menus. They’re simple lists printed with black ink on standard copy paper. The wine list offers two white and seven red wines, ranging from $22 to $30 with one at $65. Some would say there aren’t enough choices. But the nine choices are excellent and are from Italy – where wine is made to go with food.
The dinner menu is also brief. A few appetizers, salads, pizzas, pasta dishes and couple of veal or chicken choices compose the entree list. Our favorites are there, such as ravioli and linguini topped with a combination of seafood. The sauces are the traditional tomato- and cream-based ones.
For our dinner, my dining companion ordered the chicken cacciatore ($14.95), and I selected the ravioli crema ($13.50), and we added a glass of wine ($6.50 each).
The pasta is house-made at Ciao! Ragazzi, and if you haven’t had fresh pasta, it’s time for this taste treat. The lasagna is made with fresh egg pasta sheets; then baked with Bolognese, fresh basil, mozzarella cheese and topped with bechamel. My ravioli was a combination of fresh pasta and a house-made stuffing of ricotta, parmesan and assiago cheeses. The ravioli were served in a cream sauce with fresh spinach and mushrooms. Every bite was a fresh and delicious treat.
My friend’s chicken cacciatore was a surprise. We expected the usual meatballs-and-spaghetti house chicken breast coated and deep-fried, then served under marinara sauce. Nope. This chicken cacciatore was a tender breast of chicken simmered in wine with herbs, onion and mushrooms plus red and green bell peppers. The distinct flavors complimented each other and combined to create a new treat for the taste buds. The chicken was served with roasted potatoes, which were perfect, and spinach sauted in garlic and olive oil.
Both of us commented on how good our dinners were and after a bite or two of the other’s, agreed that both dishes were extremely good.
For dessert, we wanted cannolli ($3.75), as did the foursome in the booth behind us. But our server explained that the kitchen was out of the dried cranberries used in the filling. My friend ordered spumoni ice cream ($5.50) and I ordered the tartufo, which is a chocolate ball with hazelnut filling that’s rolled in powered chocolate. They were both excellent choices.
A few times during our dinner, people walking to their cars peeked into the dining room. Our server, who’s great at promotion, handed out menus. When he was in the kitchen picking up our dessert, a passerby asked from the doorway, “How’s the food?” My friend and I, without consulting each other, gave it two thumbs up.
Herald restaurant reviewers accept no invitations to review, but readers’ suggestions are always welcome. Reviewers arrive unannounced, and The Herald pays their tabs.
Contact Anna Poole at features@heraldnet.com.
