AMano's Osteria and Wine Bar in Mattituck, NY

In Italian, the word "osteria" literally means "a place where the owner hosts people." Osterie dot the countryside in Tuscany and are traditionally less formal than restaurants or trattorias. In fact, they're more like a tavern or a pub, where the drink is the main attraction and the food is just an added feature. Created by restaurateur Adam Lovett and Chef Tom Schaudel, aMano Osteria and Wine Bar in Mattituck brings a little taste of an authentic Tuscan osteria to the North Fork of Long Island.

Located on Main Road in Mattituck, about ¼ mile east of Love Lane, aMano has become a favorite dining destination and gathering place for residents and visitors to Long Island's North Fork. Making good use of the region's local production of fine wines, cheeses, and produce, aMano's effectively delivers a fantastic dining experience.

The restaurant is housed in the building that used to be home to the Red Door restaurant. The osteria has a casual and comfortable atmosphere, with a cozy bar area and an open, airy dining room. A stone terrace sits out front overlooking a garden, for al fresco dining on a cool summer evening.

The food at aMano is simply amazing. I've dined there several times and have never been disappointed. Seemingly every item on the menu, from the appetizers all the way to the desserts is appealing. Here are some choice selections from aMano's menu to tempt your taste buds:

Antipasti:

- Slowly simmered meatballs with ricotta, tomato and basil

- Steamed mussels served in a tomato and Vermouth broth, spiced with tarragon

Primi:

- Orrechiette pasta tossed in a tomato sauce with spicy veal sausage and pecorino cheese

- aMano's homemade lasagna

Secondi:

- Pork tenderloin topped with figs and a chick pea puree, served with tomatoes, mushrooms and broccolini

- Pan seared salmon prepared in a spicy honey glaze, panzanella salad with arugula in a balsamic vinaigrette

All of the dishes above appear on the dinner menu at aMano. Each one is bursting with unique and delicious flavors and each dish is pleasingly presented. Rounding out the menu is a great choice of innovative fresh salads, daily risotto dishes, and of course, the deliciously sweet desserts (I once had a butterscotch pudding that was amazingly sweet!)

And don't forget the pizza...

One my most favorite things about aMano is its pizza. Having been to Italy a couple of times, I remember how different the pizza was there: thinner crust, simple and fresh ingredients, and small enough for one person to eat. Amano's selection of pizzas is virtually identical to the pizzas I ate in Italy, with several scrumptious variations pizzas to choose from, including the classic tomato/basil pizza, a white pizza with spinach, broccoli rabe and roasted garlic, another with goat cheese, olives, roasted garlic, marinated tomatoes, mushrooms and rosemary, and more.

Aside from authentic fine foods on the menu, aMano also prides itself upon it great selection of wines. The list here is an eclectic mixture of fine Long Island wines and Italian standards, perfectly paired with the dishes on the menu.

The atmosphere at aMano is decidedly casual, and consisting of mostly adults. The service was impeccable, the waiters and waitresses are always pleasant and helpful, and the bus people are very attentive to the table, keeping it clear in between courses.

All in all, aMano is definitely a winner, as many locals can already attest. Weekend and day trippers to the North Fork will find aMano a nice place to cap off a wonderful day of wine tasting in Long Island's Wine Country or sightseeing at points further east.

To read about Long Island's Wine Country, click here.

*This article was previously published at Examiner.

Sources:

aMano on the Web

http://www.amanorestaurant.com/