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Business & Tech

Out to Eat: La Capannina

Movie date night just got a whole lot more delicious.

The two owners of La Capannina Italian restaurant had a dual purpose in opening the beautiful little place, next to the Island 16 Theaters in Holtsville.  First, they wanted to create a new spacious setting to offer their fine food, beyond their original restaurant in Wainscot.  Secondly, Lorenzo Renna and Diego Belfiore wanted to offer their patrons a wonderful evening out.  Their establishment definitely scores on both those levels.

La Capannina (the little cottage) is a very clean, well-designed and airy restaurant, just off the Long Island Expressway Service Road, just west of Nicolls Road.  From both shorelines and from most towns in Suffolk, this makes it very easy to get to via some major thoroughfares. In terms of an evening out, it does not get too much better with the multiplex right there, dinner and a movie is a no-brainer. 

What does take some intelligence is deciding which delicious meal to order.  Besides the traditional favorites, their extensive menu offers some specialty items that seem appealing. Whatever is ordered, the food follows some wonderful general rules.  Good, solid meals are served in a sparkling, welcoming atmosphere.  The prices are reasonable and no matter what is ordered, the entrees and appetizers will be special in some fashion; superior taste, crisp fresh ingredients, generous to bountiful portions all served by a friendly, smiling staff.

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 The ownership and staff has years of experience and general dining wisdom, derived from their years of successful service at their original La Capannina, out on the East End of Long Island.  Six months ago, when they first opened their Holtsville location, they brought that experience with them; along with the love they poured into their new establishment.  This was a labor of love, where every chair, place setting, dish, counter, window, skylight or chandelier was selected with care and an eye to making their new restaurant as delicious to the eye as their meals were to the palate.

There are a bit over 25 tables spaced very generously through the dining area, which is broken into two sections.  The larger area, with about 15 tables, can be cordoned off for small parties and get-togethers. There is a small, finely crafted bar area, with about half a dozen stools.  Atop the bar area is a very inviting, huge carafe of Sangria with seemingly bushels of fruit floating in it.  Our waitress told us it was delicious and then gave us a smile and a wink, indicating that sips from Sangria were probably a perk offered to the staff. 

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The center of La Capannina holds their pizza ovens, behind a counter and display case, overflowing with Italian delicacies, rice balls and specialty pizzas.  Their take out business must be very popular, for the entire time we were there, a constant flow of patrons entered, picked up their pizza and dinner orders and left, all with huge smiles.

 The two meals we ordered were served promptly and piping hot, after a wonderful salad and a few too many garlic knots from the bread basket.  (Be sure to order the salad the Raspberry dressing. It was unique, powerful and enhanced the crisp, fresh mountain of lettuce.) 

 The Pollo alla Francese was delicious, with a lemon, butter and Trebbiano white wine sauce. The chicken was tender, moist and its coating was fried gently to perfection. The ziti also had the white wine sauce which made every mouthful a treat. The Primavera with grilled chicken was a mountain of fresh vegetables and ziti, covered with a Plum tomato sauce. The portion size was gigantic and made for a hefty take-home lunch the next day. 

A trip to either of their locations will leave you very happy.

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