NONNO’S SERVES UP simple, old-school Italiam comfort food, Lauren Delgado writes.
Tucked into a strip mall along busy State Road 436, Nonno’s Italian Restaurant can be easy to miss as you travel through Altamonte Springs. Once you get a little closer, however, you can’t miss the small dining room packed with diners.
Italian food is hard to pass up — especially when it embraces old-school, simple comfort food, like at Nonno’s.
What I would try a second time
Nonno’s bruschetta ($8) was piled high on spongy chunks of crostini, the ideal light appetizer. The diced tomato was wellseasoned with garlic, basil and a sprinkling of Romano cheese.
What I didn’t like
All of the lemon flavoring seemed concentrated in the chicken piccata — but not the limoncello cake ($5). The dessert landed more on the sweet side instead of the acidic.
What I would put on Instagram
A plate full of pasta and a full glass of red wine is an appealing photo — and meal.
Other eats
Dinner entrees come with bread and a soup or salad — quite the deal. My guest and I both opted for the house salad, a heaping bowl of lettuce, tomato and red onion.
We did our best with our entrees following our appetizer feast.
The piccata featured thin chicken fillets that were sauteed to a light crisp. Fresh lemon juice, capers and white wine merged into a deliciously bright, pungent sauce.
The Gnocchi del Nonno ($15) featured the pillowy pasta baked under layers of tangy tomato sauce along with Romano and mozzarella cheeses. Add two well-packed meatballs ($4) nearly the size of tennis balls and the comfortfood coma was imminent.
How I was treated
In the middle of the dinner rush, our server handled herself well. She kept our meal moving but didn’t lose her friendliness.
My next visit
A lunch of spaghetti carbonara (think a cream sauce with plenty of prosciutto) and tiramisu sounds like a delicious meal for the weekend.
For bar-hoppers
A small menu of Italian and Californian wines along with domestic and imported beers are offered at Nonno’s to pair with your Italian repast.
For those with special diets
Nonno’s offers several meat-free appetizers or entrees, but not many vegetarian or vegan proteins.