Subscribe to this paper
Email this article
Printer friendly page
Home
Oct 12, 2007
Da  Pietro’s Restaurant in Westport

Da  Pietro’s Restaurant
36 Riverside Avenue
Westport,  203-454-1213
Serving lunch 11:30 to 2:30 Monday to Friday; dinner 5 to 10:30 Monday to Saturday; closed Sunday.

Reservations recommended, especially weekends; handicapped entrance; major credit cards; full bar, global wines; Northern Italy-Southern France cuisine; vegetarian selections; four- or five-course chef’s prix fixe dinner Monday through Thursday; dietary restrictions accommodated; take-out, off-premises catering; nice, casual dress; private functions; wine and game dinners; street parking.

  • Soup du jour: $9.95
  • Antipasti: $13.95 to $15.95
  • Salad: $10.95
  • Lunch: $9 to $15
  • Primi Piatti: $23.95 to $29.95
  • Secondi Piatti: $25.95 to $35.95
  • Prix fixe dinners: $65 to $75
  • Wine by the glass: $8 to $12
  • By the bottle: Starting at $35
  • Desserts: $11
  • After-dinner drinks: $11 to $25
  • Single-malt Scotch: $12 to $41

In Westport
Da Pietro’s Restaurant
by FRAN SIKORSKI
Originally from Ischia, Italy, Pietro Scotti, chef/owner of the award-winning Da Pietro’s Restaurant in Westport, has been cooking since he was 11 years old. Before immigrating to the United States in 1974, Chef Pietro worked in various jobs, apprenticing in the kitchens of hotels in France and Spain and on cruise ships.
Arriving in New York, he went to his uncle’s house in Brooklyn, stayed there five days, and decided he wanted to go back to Italy.
Wisely, Pietro’s uncle advised him to wait six months. During that time, he was hired as a sous chef at Cobb’s Mill Inn working with Chef Julie Johns, and remained there for 10 years establishing his culinary reputation.
Pietro Scotti bought the Winfield deli in Norwalk, owning it for 11 years before opening Da Pietro’s Restaurant. Last year, Chef Pietro opened Zest in Westport Center, offering breakfast, lunch, high tea and dinner, in the process creating a 93-hour work week for himself. He says he “tunnels” between his two restaurants daily to keep the energy level high in both places.
Sous chef at Da Pietro’s Restaurant is Jose Delgado who was formerly with Maison Galicia. Manager is Mohammed J’Der. Assisting her husband at both restaurants is Janine Scotti.
We started with a bottle of Simi Alexander Valley cabernet, and shared braised scallops in balsamic vinegar and mint sauce topped with mixed greens. My companion enjoyed grilled loin of veal with wild mushrooms drizzled with white truffle oil. Truffles are available in dishes through January. I was very pleased with my Chilean sea bass with spinach, julienne of vegetables with roasted pepper coulis.
Signature antipasti are poached jumbo lump crabmeat in an open-faced lasagna with saffron sauce; escargot in puff pastry with garlic, butter and Pernod sauce; and skewered grilled jumbo shrimp over creamed asparagus risotto.
Pastas, some made in-house, are available as an appetizer portion. Favorites are housemade fettuccini served with fresh black truffles;  tortellini stuffed with pumpkin, brown butter and sage; short lengths of tubular pasta with diced lamb and red wine sauce; and rigatoni with light tomato, white wine and rabbit sauce.
Dinner entrees are braised sweet breads over sautéed peas; Italian pancetta, morel mushrooms and port wine reduction; roasted half duck with wild cherry and calvados sauce; braised Norwegian salmon topped with parmesan cheese crust over fettuccini with pesto sauce; and rack of venison served with cranberries and Calvados sauce.
Desserts include: profiteroles au chocolat; warm chocolate lava cake; Gateau St. Nizier, a rich and intense flourless chocolate cake; and tiramisu. Sorbets are made by Chef Delgado.
In this intimate traditional restaurant, Pietro Scotti believes in talking with the people he cooks for, and he regularly visits tables to make sure everyone is pleased.

Side dishes
Pierre Henry Cagey of France, president of Louis Jadot, will present the 2005 Ler Cru Portfolio at an Oct. 30 wine dinner at Cava Bar & Restaurant, 2 Forest Avenue in New Canaan. Franco Wine Merchants of New Canaan are hosting the event...Oktoberfest 2007 is being celebrated at La Saliere Restaurant, 3 Big Shop Lane in Ridgefield with Alsatian and German cuisine, and the Oktoberfest German beers...Formerly Gringo Café, a new tapas restaurant, Costa Azul, featuring Spanish cuisine and wines, is now open at 23 1/2 Catoonah Street in Ridgefield. Lunch is served Thursday to Sunday starting at 11:30; dinner Sunday to Saturday from 4:30 to 10. Tapas is available until 11 week nights, and ‘til midnight Friday and Saturday. Reservations, 203-438-7400.  

© Copyright 2008 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers
Top of Page