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Stino Da Napoli
Rating Details »
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good for:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
7 reviews for Stino Da Napoli
THE FOOD; This is a small restaurant done right. The menu is simple and elegant. The small menu includes several different pastas and a few salads and appetizers as well as veal, chicken breast and tillapia dishes. There are a few, very well executed preparations. This insures that the ingredients are very fresh and that the chef has given the requisite attention to the preparation.
I had one of the three veal medallion preparations-- the classic veal marsala. The fresh mushrooms were sllced paper thin atop tender, succulent veal. The marsala sauce was appropriately thin, subtley sweet and savory. I must admit to tossing small slices of bread in my sauce to sop it up. Purrrrrr.
My companion's tillapia was surprisingly delish. I don't like tillapia. It is generally mushy and bland. Whatever discernable flavors it has are wholly unimpressive. This fish was again, exceedingly fresh, perfectly cooked and flavorful. The entree was topped with a fresh (not stewed) tomato and basil sauce. Num.
Our appetizer--an artfully arrainged version of ensalata Caprezzi (buffalo moz, tomatoes, basil and olive oil) was very fresh, The basil was unusually fantastic. Really-- it stood out. The salads were simple and fresh-- the vegetables looked as if they had been picked and chopped seconds before.
The tiramisu was the best I've ever had. And I've had a lot of tiramisu in my day-- which may explain some things. It was creamy and not at all gritty. The coffee flavors were bright, but subtle.
ATMOSPHERE: Cozy. It defines an intimate Italian restaurant, although it was a bit bright.
SERVICE: The wait staff is absolutely charming-- friendly withut being overly so. Our server was pleasant, genuine and candid.
WINE: Good selection.
NB: They accept only cash and personal check. This is bizzare considering that gumball machines in Rocky River take plastic. It is tiny and popular, so make reservations.
I lived outside Cleveland for about a year, and this place was my absolute favorite. Even now, 7 or 8 years later, I still dream of being able to go back to Stino. I was pretty sure at that time it was a "family" business, since they only accepted cash, were closed on some of the busiest restaurant weeks of the year, and certain tables were reserved with plaques, but the food was so good I just had to set that aside. There's a pasta dish with proscuitto that is incredible (maybe it has "Columbus" in the name?), and you have to order a slice of the ricotta cheesecake. It's not like NY cheesecake-- better, lighter, not as sweet. I'm still hunting for a recipe to make my own like that.
Bottom line: go, GO! And send me your leftovers!
Yum, yum, eat 'em up...
THE UP-SIDE: I've always liked Stino Da Napoli. The place is tiny, but maintains a cozy, pleasant, and high-end sorta vibe. The food is excellent, they offer a nice wine selection, and the service is pleasant and efficient.
I recently returned to Stino for the first time in years for a date. I ordered the Tilapia Alla Carrettiera and found it to be a tasty and wonderful selection. The excellent food we shared, the cozy atmosphere, and the good wine really made for an excellent first date.
THE DOWN-SIDE: The place is small (part of the charm) so you must make a reservation. And remember, they do NOT accept credit cards. However, they do accept personal checks.
THE SUM-IT-UP: Go here for a romantic date and to sample some excellent Italian food. You won't be disappointed.
This is the perfect example of a local restaurant. They don't advertise much. They don't take credit cards, or checks - cash on the barrelhead only. And they're still packed to the gills with locals any night you choose to name, because the food here is good, solid fare - top-notch without being flashy.
The Italian food here is excellent, and the service is upscale without turning snobbish. The highlights of the food we've had have been:
* An excellent pasta carbonara, lightly cheesy and bacony without turning into the usual gummy, gut-pasting-together mess that most carbonara becomes;
* A basil-and-tomato sauce pasta dish that featured delicious chunks of fresh mozarrella; the pasta itself wasn't the freshest I've ever had (it wasn't a dry Barilla brand from the supermarket, either), but the sauce was tangy and tasted of fresh tomatoes without being nothing more than chunks of tomatoes in a sauce.
But the real charm here? The desserts. You wouldn't think it from an Italian restaurant, but you can bring the family here just for desserts and be entirely happy.
They have - no kidding - THE best tiramisu I've ever had, where the ladyfingers had a sugary, crisp edge to them (yet were still moist) while the rum-and-cocoa filling made my tastebuds jangle.
Get a rum cake? The bottom is soaked in rum, without being overwhelming, a dense chocolately cake that's moist without being gummy. And by God, if you get a lemon ice, it comes in a lemon, with little chunks of zesty lemon buried in the ice - so tart it makes your whole mouth ring with delight.
Basically, this is the kind of place you discover, then bring your friends to because you feel like it's your place. But really, when you look around the wealth of people clogging the tables on a Tuesday night, you realize... it's everyone's place.
Meet Augustino from Naples. He is very friendly. He is one helluva chef.
Try the Spaghetti Al Fumo Del Vesuvio. Delicioso! Tomato based sauce with cream, smoked bacon, onions. We have pined for this sauce since moving away from the west side of Cleveland.
Try the Petto Di Pollo Alla Milanese. Outstanding! Very lightly breaded, nice lemony flavor.
Even the house salad here is great-fresh lettuce and greens with the house dressing-just EVOO, sea salt, fresh pepper, a squeeze of fresh lemon-very basic and true to italian tradition. As a matter of fact, we probably tried just about everything on the menu and loved it all.
I could go on, we lived close enough that we picked up take-out probably once a week for over a year. Once he gets to know you, Stino has been known to ply those waiting for take out orders with italian coffee. Very nice, better drive home before the coffee hits you. Probably shouldn't have had that on an empty stomach.
Everything we tried here is great quality and wonderfully flavorful and we miss Augostino and his food terribly.
It has been awhile since I have been, but both times were excellent. Reservations definitely necessary as this place is extremely popular. the menu is fairly extensive and our only disappointment was with our appetizer.
We specifically asked for our calamari to be crisp and when it came out the waiter told us "they don't do it that way". Had I known I wouldn't have ordered - skipped it the next time.
All in all, a good experience and well worth a try.
In my mind, small as it is (I mean my mind, although 'Stino is small as well), there are few places better than 'Stino Da Napoli. The atmosphere is charming and welcoming. The place is small and neighborly. It's your local place. I can't even tell you how many "regulars" go to 'Stino. The number is "very many". They play opera or other appropriate music at a low key level....it's Italian through and through, but sophisticated without being "fancy" or uppity. As soon as you walk in, there is a sincere and friendly greeting. It could be Nate, Sean, or Helen. Professional, on the ball, friendly, sincere. They've all been there for years. It could even be 'Stino himself! Yes, he is real. And he is a great chef. 'Stino's food is legendary. His smile is sparkling and welcoming. Such a happy guy! But back to the food. There are thirteen pastas on the menu. Except for the cloud-like gnocchi, it's dry Italian pasta. Something for everyone. Penne, linguine, spaghetti, fettucine; every sauce is paired with the pasta shape that is just right to hold that sauce properly. Pasta Bolognese. Pasta Pomodoro....plain tomato sauce; how good could that be, you may ask yourself? Unbelievable. Pasta Vesuvio (an incredibly delicious sauce made with pancetta, cream, and tomato sauce...heavenly!) Pasta with tomato/ prosciutto sauce. Pasta Puttanesca. Linguini with clams, red or white. Spaghetti Carbonara, the ideal: creamy yet still light, somehow. I can't even name all the pasta dishes, there are so many. They all sound like something you may have had before, but if you haven't had 'Stino's version, you haven't had the ultimate version of that pasta dish. Pure. Natural. Simple. Perfect. Pasta is cooked al dente and is consistent every time. There is an Insalata Di Mare with sparkling fresh shrimp, mussels, calamari, romaine, olives, carrots, peperoncini and a fresh lemon/olive oil dressing. The sea on a plate. The lasagna is yummy. The eggplant parmesan is a revelation. It's a Friday special. If you are lucky, they may have some left over for Saturday lunch (but don't take mine!). It's more like an eggplant Napoleon, since the paper-thin slices of eggplant are slowly cooked in high quality olive oil, then layered with that simply beautiful plain tomato sauce and sprinklings of quality Parmagiano-Reggiano. No heavy layers of ricotta or gooey mozzarella. No impenetrable breading, no deep frying. Just melting lusciousness. You must try this dish. Even if you don't care for eggplant, you'll go wild. You will never be able to go back to any other version of this dish without yearning for this. With each pasta dish you get a very reasonably-sized mixed salad (which means it's not too big to ruin your appetite); romaine, peperoncini, dark olive, green olive, cherry tomato (high quality all the way--no brown lettuce, no extraneous romaine ribs) and your choice of raspberry vinaigrette or lemon/olive oil. All house-made. A basket of crunchy, hot Ciabatta bread and unsalted butter is served alongside, and there is freshly grated real Parmagiano-Reggiano cheese. Some appetizers are: mussels in wine sauce. Sublime. Mozzarella (fresh) with tomato and fresh basil. Good even in winter. Calamari; sauteed, not fried in the usual way. Delightfully refreshing. We must discuss some of the entrees. My favorites are the Petto di Pollo Milanese ( #21?), a thinly pounded chicken breast (double) with the lightest, crispest, most delicate breading on earth. And lemon. SUCCULENT. Trouble is, once you try that, you won't be able to order anything else. Try the veal dishes. Veal Marsala. YUMMY. Simple and pure. Meaty, chewy mushrooms, veal that is paper-thin, tender, delicately breaded and sauteed to a golden cloud. High quality Marsala wine and butter sauce. When you order a chicken or veal dish, about two minutes later you'll hear pounding from the kitchen. That's your order. 'Stino doesn't pound that veal or chicken until he sees an order come in. The fish dishes are good; you are required to enjoy Tilapia. The roasted peppers and fresh house-made Italian sausage are incredible. Savory, moist, crumbly handmade sausage, slowly roasted red and green peppers and onion, tomato sauce. This is the ONLY place on earth I have ever tasted a green pepper that I like. This place is not trendy, it's not a "scene", it's just the best restaurant on the West side of Cleveland, PERIOD. Good, short, well edited wine list. No hard liquor. They are expanding capacity soon. Go, but don't tell anybody else because we still want to get a seat! We absolutely adore Stino Da Napoli, and we cherish every meal we have there. CASH or checks ONLY. Reservations are recommended for dinner. Remember, it's a small, popular place. There is no place to wit for a table. Closed Sunday and Monday; open for lunch AND dinner only on Saturday.
