La Taverna Italian Restaurant in Norwalk

Written by Fran Sikorski
Wednesday, 31 December 2008 10:49

You leave your stress at the door of the family-owned La Taverna Italian Restaurant in Norwalk, recognized by Zagat as one of America’s 1,000 top Italian restaurants in 2008.

About now, we’re all ready for a haven of relaxation, and owner Maya Gui Herman and her family make every effort to provide one at the restaurant where her son, Greg Herman and Elio Gonzales are the chefs. Another son, Brian Herman is  bookkeeper, and Brian’s wife, Randi, is restaurant manager. Their daughter Alexandra, also helps out at the restaurant.

A single mother, Maya Gui Herman said she immigrated to the United States from Japan in 1969, married an American, and was a waitress at Maria’s Trattoria before “getting lucky” and buying La Taverna  where she has developed a very loyal clientele.

Italian sausage bread and foccacia are baked in-house daily at La Taverna, and if you don’t have it on the table, ask for it, because it might just be coming out of the oven.  

Three favorite soups, tortellini in brodo, pasta e fagioli and minestra with escarole, bean and sausage, are always available, and hit the spot on a cold winter night.

Favorites on the antipasti menu are baked shrimp, mussels and clams, fried or grilled calamari, peppers stuffed with prosciutto and mozzarella, and grilled Portobello mushroom. Traditional Cesare and tricolore are the signature salads. Each of the 12 pasta dishes is tempting: they include lobster ravioli garnished with clams and mussels in a marinara sauce; cavatelli with chicken, sundried tomatoes and broccoli in garlic and oil; orecchiette baked with tiny meatballs, mozzarella and tomato sauce; straw and hay pasta with peas and prosciutto in a cream sauce; cannelloni filled with spinach, ground veal and mushrooms; penne with baby eggplant and fresh plum tomatoes sautéed with garlic, oil and basil, topped with fresh mozzarella and a spicy marinara sauce.

The two chefs keep the seasonally changing menu filled with regional Italian dishes, also offering nightly specials. Popular entrees include breast of chicken with artichokes and sundried tomatoes in a wine sauce; Cornish game hen roasted with garlic, oil and rosemary; grilled pork chops with sautéed spinach; veal scaloppini topped with prosciutto, eggplant and mozzarella in a white wine sauce; osso buco; filet of sole sautéed with capers in a lemon-wine sauce; and broiled salmon topped with oregannato seasoning and garlic served with sautéed broccoli.

Desserts, not made in house, but true Italian, are tiramisu, tartufo, Italian cheesecake, gelato and sorbets.

La Taverna’s traditional and original menu, cozy environment and personal service satisfies.

La Taverna Italian Restaurant

Serving lunch Tuesday through Friday 12 to 3; dinner Tuesday to Thursday 5 to 9, Friday and Saturday 5 to 10, Sunday 5 to 9; closed Monday.

Reservations accepted; handicap accessible; major credit cards; child friendly; wine and beer; Northern Italian menu; vegetarian selections; take-out; casual dress, private functions; occasional entertainment; parking adjacent to restaurant.

Soup: $6.95 to $7.95

Antipasti: $7.95 to $10.95

Salad: $4.95 to $10.95

Pasta: $12.95 to $17.95

Entrees: $13.95 to $21.95

Wine, glass: $7

Wine, bottle: Starting at $28

Desserts: $6 to $8

Side dishes

The former long-standing restaurant, Nino’s in Bedford, N.Y., is now known as Bedford Post with the development of two restaurants on site, The Barn, a casual café and bakery and yoga loft for area residents, and The Farmhouse, a 60-seat restaurant showcasing the culinary talents of executive chef Brian Lewis. Owners are long-time Bedford residents Richard Gere, his wife, Carey Lowell, and business partner Russell Hernandez. Now in development is an eight-room sanctuary with fireplaces in every room and beautiful views of nature. For more information, call 914-234-7800...Master chef Reza Khorshidi and his wife, pastry chef Rebecca Kirhoffer, are celebrating the 12th anniversary of their restaurant, Rebecca’s, at 265 Glenville Road in Greenwich. Reservations, 203-532-9271.

 

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