Osteria La Civetta
133 Main St.
Falmouth, Mass. 02540
How does one judge "good" Italian food? For me, the answer is: Rich flavors that still taste light, rather than over-indulgent and heavy. If you agree with my definition, you should check out Osteria La Civetta, a Northern-Italian restaurant that touts an impressive 27 out of 30 Zagat rating and countless Yelp and Urbanspoon accolades.
"Perfect," one reviewer online commented. It's hard to live up to perfection, but Osteria did a good job.
First impressions are key, and this little Italian restaurant's ambiance and charm won me over instantly. The front door is framed with soft, twinkling white lights and the restaurant is a converted house with hard-wood floors, dim, romantic lighting and quirky, rustic decor.
The wine list was impressive, as were the cocktails and the lemon cello. I ordered a glass of Chianti Classico, one of my favorite wines I had while traveling Italy a few months ago. Affordably priced at $30 a bottle, this is a solid choice to accompany any meal.
We got the meat and cheese tray, a decadent variety including smoked asiago, sharp parmesan, prosciutto and speck, which was served with honey and a delicious fruit compote. Other appetizers include poached eggs, savory pies and mussels.
As my main dish, I ordered the tortelloni stuffed with butternut squash in the butter and sage sauce. All handmade on-site with organic eggs, the pasta is so light and fresh that the decadent dish did not feel at all heavy. The creamy butternut squash was the perfect mix of sweet and savory.
Other entrees include ravioli stuffed with duck meat, prawns on a bed of vegetables, spinach and ricotta-stuffed crepes, veal liver, pork cutlets and pasta ribbons served with bolognese sauce.
The dessert menu includes an amaretto custard, a butternut squash and white chocolate tart, panna cotta and tiramisu, among others. Unlike other heavy, cream-laden tiramisus I've had, this one was a very light homemade whipped cream with small lady fingers and espresso sauce.
Although Osteria La Civetta is a little on the pricey side, this is a wonderful place for a special occasion, romantic night out or even just a whim. The atmosphere is casual and rustic enough that anyone feels welcome, whether dressed up for a night out or just dropping in after shopping on Main Street.
The meats and cheese, good wine, service and ambiance made me feel like I was living in Europe again. Osteria La Civetta is the perfect blend of rustic, homey comfortability and the finer things at life.
Recommended dishes: Butternut squash tortelloni with butter and sage sauce, spinach and ricotta-stuffed crepes and the chicken cutlets.
Price range: Wine is about $8 to $12 a glass; cocktails are about $12. Appetizers can be up to $20. Entrees range from $20 to around $30 for the more expensive meat dishes. Desserts are $5 to $12.
Hours: Lunch: Wednesday through Saturday, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Dinner: Tuesday through Sunday, 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Closed Monday.
Phone number: 508-540-1616
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