Terrazza: fantastic Mediterranean fusion dining

Don Fowler
Posted 7/16/15

Restaurant Review

By DON FOWLER

We now have a reason to drive to Smithfield!

Marios, former chef at Federal Hill’s Nara, has joined with two partners to open Terrazza, a first class …

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Terrazza: fantastic Mediterranean fusion dining

Posted

Restaurant Review

By DON FOWLER

We now have a reason to drive to Smithfield!

Marios, former chef at Federal Hill’s Nara, has joined with two partners to open Terrazza, a first class restaurant on Douglas Pike in Smithfield that combines the best of Mediterranean, Lebanese, Greek and Italian cuisine in one of the most pristine dining settings in Rhode Island.

Located in rural Smithfield, just off Route 295 North at Exit 8A, at 645 Douglas Pike, the restaurant is only a short 15-20 minute ride from the Warwick Mall area.

It is only fitting that Terrazza should have a large terrace dining area that looks over woods and fields. A little imagination puts you in the Italian countryside.

We enjoyed Marios’ fusion cooking at Nara, as did many of his customers who have followed him north to Smithfield. Our waitress, Chelsea, said that even though they have been opened less than a month they are recognizing many repeat customers, including locals who don’t have to drive into the city for fine dining.

There were so many items on the menu that we wanted to try that we overdid it a bit, bringing home food to enjoy the next day.

We are usually not wine drinkers, but Marios urged us to try the Zaccagnim Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2013 Italy, a fine red wine that complemented our meal nicely.

Pita bread with a butter/herb spread was immediately brought to the table and immediately devoured.

We remembered Marios’ award-winning hummus, served with warm chickpeas, olive oil and pita bread ($8). Add lamb and pine nuts for $3 and you’ll be in heaven.

Appetizers include a falafel basket, kafta harra, vine leaves, feta and olives and, keeping with Rhode Island tradition, calamari, all priced reasonably between $7 to $11.

We shared a huge salad of fresh baby spinach, walnuts, gorgonzola cheese, raisins and blue cheese dressing ($7) that was as good as it gets and would make a wonderful luncheon.

Dinner entrees range from $16 for Ourjouwan Risotto (Joyce’s choice) to Fire Grilled New Zealand Lamb Chops ($29).

Joyce loved the risotto, aborio rice mixed with baked purple-red beets, goat cheese and scallions, pleased that she had tried a dish she had never had before. I chose Lamb Orso ($24), a special lamb shank, shredded and mixed with a variety of spices and heirloom tomatoes, topped with a decadent cheese blend that was beyond description for its presentation and taste. I apologize to my vegan friends, but there is nothing better that a creatively prepared lamb dish, and Marios is an expert when it comes to lamb.

We’ll be back for lunch to try sandwiches like falafel with tomatoes, pickled turnips, fresh mint leaves, parsley and tahini sauce ($8); Soujouk-grilled spicy sausage with grilled tomatoes, onions drizzled with chipotle mayo ($10); and a salmon burger made with Scandinavian salmon, topped with arugula and tarragon tartar sauce ($12).

Take advantage of the summer weather and dine on the terrazza or, if you prefer, the comfortable air-conditioned dining room.

Terrazza is open Monday through Saturday for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and dinner from 4-11 p.m. Sunday brunch is 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and dinner 2:30-11 p.m. For reservations call 233-3223 or go online at www.terrazzari.com.

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