Nonni’s Italian Bistro was one of those instances when you put on an overcoat for the first time in a fall and find a $50 bill in your pocket – a pleasant surprise.
Seaside is among the most popular towns on the Oregon Pacific coast and is just 90 minutes away from Portland.
Why Nonni’s Italian Bistro?
While there are many restaurants in this little town, most are unremarkable and forgettable despite the superb fresh seafood supply from local fisheries.
Nonni’s sets itself apart from the rest of the restaurants in town. Most of the others have an almost identical menu consisting of Fish & Chips, clam chowder, fish, steak, and such. Nonni’s is different.
It attracted us with an Italian menu consisting of classics like stuffed meatballs, Chicken Picatta, Spaghetti Carbonara, House Lasagna, Cannelloni, Tiramisu, and Panna Cotta.
Wine List
Once again, Nonni’s is the only restaurant with an exciting wine list and the only one exclusively Italian.
It’s reasonably priced and filled with not just entry-level wines from notable Italian regions but also a noble Italian trio – Brunello, Barolo, and Barbaresco.
We were in the mood for something light and fruity and picked Dolcetto d’Alba Pio Cesare 2020 from the Piedmonte region to go along with our meal. We expected more from Dolcetto d’Alba. Moreover, having tried Pio Cesare Il Bricco Barbaresco, we hoped for a memorable wine, if not for perfection.
While this Dolcetto had the anticipated plum, prune, and somewhat smokey flavors that we appreciated, overall, we felt the wine was a bit watery and pretty unremarkable compared to other similarly priced Dolcetto we had before.
Dinner Dishes
We started with BVP Fontina Stuffed Meatballs with Marinara Sauce. The meatball was tender and perfectly cooked, with just enough cheese to add flavor and not overwhelm the meat.
Cannelloni had thin pasta layers that served only as the vessel for the stuffing, and it didn’t feel like pasta with meat.
By far, our favorite was Chicken Piccata. Moist chicken breast cooked to perfection and, as promised, only lightly dusted with flour on the menu.
The sauce was lightly sour and quite delicious.
Aftertaste
True to the Bistro concept, they don’t take reservations, and you’ll have to stay in line to get in. It’s annoying for the American “I want it now” culture we got accustomed to because the wait can be over an hour. So you have to plan ahead if you’d like to eat here. They will take your number and text you when the table is ready.
In conclusion, we liked the homey flavors of Nonni’s food, and the other items on the menu looked very enticing. Still, we wish the marinara sauce that came with meatballs and Cannelloni and accompanying other entries had a bit more personality.
As many restaurants as there are in Seaside, your choices are limited by the food selection. Yes, some cook better than others. But if you’re in town for a few days and tired of the Fish & Chips routine, Nonni’s is a retreat.
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