Cucina Orecchio, Pompano Beach, Fl

A new Italian restaurant opened up in our neighborhood and its wonderful. It replaced a favorite of ours located there. Although the location isn't the prettiest the food and service are perfect and it's charming inside.

Cucina Orecchio is a very small restaurant seating about 60. I recommend reservations although we were there early and seated immediately, it does fill up.

There is banquette seating as well as regular tables, the seating is tight or intimate you might say. The bar is small and the decor is quite pleasant. Lovely music sung by Josh Brogan played in the background, the noise level in general is low.It's a nice, pleasant atmosphere. There are two televisions playing over th bar, one in Italian.

When you are seated a warm, crusty bread and olive oil is placed on your table along with a little dish of freshly ground parmesan cheese. We did not get appetizers but they offer many between $8.00 and $10.00. An eggplant stack is only $8.00. We recently had one at Macaluso's at the Hard Rock Cafe and it was twice the price.

Salads are $9.00 except for a Seafood Salad at $14.00. Soup, was Pasta E Fagioli at $3.00/cup or $5.50/bowl. Most of the main courses run around $14.00 with seafood around $19.00, Pastas are between $12.00 and $16.00. A 9" gourmet pizza is $9.00, sides of vegetables are $5.00. The most expensive main course is the Filet Mignon with Portobello Mushroom at $21.00. All of the prices are very reasonable we felt especially considering how good the food was and howlarge theportions were.

My husband had one of the specials read to us by our attentive waiter. The bus girl was quick to keep our water glasses filled and our table clean. Husband ordered Chicken Rollatini with Gorgonzola Cheese in a Mushroom sauce ($18.00).

I had Orecchiette with Sausages and Broccoli Rape at ($13.00). Each comes with either a salad or soup. My salad was quite large and very fresh. Both meals were large portions, enough that I had to take most of mine home. I tasted hubbies and it was fantastic, rich, delicious and the chicken was tender. He just about licked the plate clean. My sausage had a nice hint of fennel, the rabe was done perfectly and the orecchio was al dente. Two glasses of wine came to $10.00.

We took our dessert, Cannoli, home ($5.00),it was large enough for two. It had is a creamy filling with a lemon undertone and chocolate chips, not the Ricotta filled wiht citron that I'm used to. It was still quite good.

Parking is limited and at the side of the building. Thelocation is not very attractive. It's on a busy road, Sample Road near a large shopping center. It is wheelchair accessible.

We will definately be going back to enjoy their other offerings.