La Parma is the Place to Go for Quality, Authentic Italian Food in Oceanside

La Parma III in Oceanside, New York is the place to go for quality, authentic Italian food. La Parma III is located at 410 Merrick Road in Oceanside, New York, right on the main drag. It's very easy to find. The hardest part about going to this restaurant is finding parking. Many times, it is very busy so there are cars all over the place. While there is a parking lot, it is too small to accommodate the amount of seating that the owners designed the restaurant to accommodate. So, if you have plans for a set time for dinner, make sure that you arrive early, especially on weekends, to ensure that you and other members in your party have enough time to find parking.

As you enter the restaurant, the smells of good, Italian food waft past your nose. Even if you are not hungry, waiting for a table will make you hungry as you smell the scents and see the plates of food be rushed past you. There is also a fully stocked bar on the left as you enter, which will cater to everyone's desires. Another thing that immediately struck me as I entered was the noise; the noise level was very, very high. It may have been the acoustics of the room, but having conversations with the people that I went with and giving my order were very problematic. I had to shout my order to the server and had to shout conversations to the person sitting across from me.

When we went, there was not a wait for a table; we were seated right away. However, this was unusual. There is usually a significant wait because the restaurant is popular for locals and visitors alike.

The food is served family style and the portions are tremendous. For five people, we ordered three dishes and we had leftovers to bring home. We began with a chopped salad that was comprised of lettuce, olives, tomatoes, cucumbers and onions. Oil and vinegar smothered the salad. It was absolutely divine.

This was followed by Penne a la Vodka. The vodka sauce was absolutely divine - the texture was perfect. La Parma chefs use prosciutto instead of bacon to accent their sauce and I actually enjoyed the smokiness that the prosciutto added to the sauce. It was different.

Our meal concluded with an order of Balsamic Chicken, again served family style. The chicken was in small, medallion sized pieces and was baked. It was covered in a sauce was was comprised of balsamic vinegar, oil and some garlic and other herbs. Again, it was divine and we had leftovers to spare.

The service was tremendous. The waitstaff was attentive and helpful. We didn't have to wait long to order or have our food and drinks brought to us. Furthermore, for the amount of food we ordered, the prices were very reasonable.

Two thumbs up!