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lunch dinner catering news reviews ambiance links home Reviews Democrat & Chronicle Thursday February 24, 2000 By: Diana Louise Carter Rated 9 Dinning Out Italian comfort food and perfect breading It was a bitterly cold night, and the soup was perfect for the weather and my cold symptoms. A rich chicken broth held orzo macaroni, chunks of chicken and little meatballs. Here and there, a slice of carrot or piece of tomato added color and antioxidants. The stracchiatella ($2.95) and much of what we tried at Michelina’s was good Italian comfort food. Everything we had was prepared with care, and sometimes with flair. It’s not the place to go for culinary adventure – it’s a place that reminds you of home, if you grew up with a Sicilian grandmother at the stove. Let’s be honest about breading. It can be delicious, but in the wrong hands – and so many of them are wrong – it can be a soggy, fatty mess. At Michelina’s, a light hand in the kitchen reminded me of what breading ought to be: crunchy and tasty, yet fine and never overbearing. There it was on the Carciofini E Funghi E Prosciutto ($7.95), a version of artichokes French souped up with mushrooms and prosciutto. The breading kept the artichoke flavor separate from the other ingredients, but soaked up just enough of garlic and oil to infuse them nicely. It also kept the chicken cutlet in a lunchtime version of Chicken Fiorino ($7.50) perfectly moist and tender. Mushrooms and escarole complemented the lemon, butter and wine sauce perfectly. Finally, Michelina’s delicate breading made Vitello Michelina ($14.95), a dish somewhat like veal parmigiana, with the addition of eggplant cutlets and slices of cappicola buried under sauce and melted mozzarella cheese. This was one of those dishes that could have been leaden; instead, it was light and satisfying. Lasagna ($7.95), served only at lunch, was typical of all the dishes we tried in that it was large enough for two. Flat noodles were layered with creamy cheeses and meat sauce, making a delicious – if slightly luke-warm – dish. Each entrée also came with a house salad, served generously in a family-style bowl. The greens were a mix of iceberg and romaine with bits of radicchio for color, along with onions, sliced tomatoes and black olives. A tasty house vinaigrette and crunchy homemade croutons made my companion and me dig in for seconds on salad. With Michelina’s portions, we might have undone our belts and left without dessert, but we persevered and were rewarded. Three small crunchy Cannoli ($3.50) were freshly filled with sweet cheese custard moments after I ordered them. The perfect contrast between the dry, crisp shell and the creamy filling made me wonder why anyone fills them in advance and allows them to get soggy. Also good: plain and chocolate cheesecake (both $3.50). Our servers were mostly efficient at lunch and dinner – quite friendly. University of Rochester Thursday October 28, 1999 By: Katie Conrad Campus Times Staff Campus Times On a cold blustery evening, what could possibly be better than steaming hot pasta? That’s what I was thinking as I arrived at Michelina’s Italian Eatery at 2700 W. Henrietta Rd. this past Saturday night. Oozing Charm Michelina’s is inviting from the moment you pull into the parking lot. Once inside, it feels a little cramped as you squeeze down the narrow hallway and hover in the doorway while waiting for a table. The charming atmosphere, however, dispels an annoyance caused by the close quarters. Candles provide dim lighting that accent the dinging experience. The air is filled with faint music, the soft chatter of those happily stuffing their faces and the aroma of real Italian cooking. The seating is a little cramped, with only about 12 tables in the main dining area. Extra seating has also been added by the owners in a bar type room. However, the tight seating doesn’t distract from the mood, it just adds to the pre-dinner conversation. On a Saturday night around 7 p.m. the wait was about one hour. Fortunately, we were lucky enough to have a reservation. That didn’t seem to turn many away, however. They simply took a seat at the bar and took advantage of the full wine list or the average assortment of beers and mixed drinks. Those parties who opted to leave instead of wait the hour were even given a coupon for their next visit. Extensive Menu Delving into the menu, we felt completely inadequate to order. The standard Olive Garden-type dishes were no where to be found. Instead, they were replaced by authentic dishes ranging from chicken and veal to seafood and beef. The average dinner price ranged from $11 to $13. Every listing on the menu also suggested a recommended wine to accompany it. I settled on one of that night’s specials: portabello mushrooms stuffed with crabmeat and breadcrumbs, topped with mozzarella cheese, over a bed of cappellini pasta drowned in a butter-wine sauce. All dishes were accompanied by bread and salad. When our waitress asked what type of salad dressing I wanted, out of habit I replied, “Do you have fat-free Italian?” She looked horrified at the thought. She said, “Oh no, you don’t want anything like that, Papa makes the dressing – you’ll love it!” So I thought, “Well if Papa makes it, what the hell, who cares about the fat.” That was the theme of the meal. What’s low fat? The salad, complete with Papa’s dressing, was indeed delicious. It was the traditional Italian salad topped with black olives, chunky, toasted breadcrumbs. The dressing was an oil-and-vinegar Italian with a tart kick. When our meals came, we could hardly believe the size. My dining partner ordered chicken picatta – breaded chicken breasts sautéed in a wine-butter sauce, topped with mushrooms and mozzarella cheese, accompanied with a huge plate of linguine and sauce. As we dug in, the butter drizzled down our faces, but we didn’t care. The food was so rich we only managed to eat about a third of the huge portions. If you are looking to enjoy a hearty, delicious meal with someone special in a quiet setting with great service, this is the place to go. This is the perfect “date” restaurant. Forget about the fat count for the night. Splurge for a nice dinner here. Just remember to call for a reservation. www.judysbook.com Don’t pass this one up! Don't pass this little Italian restaraunt up! Keep your eyes open as you drive along the road or you might miss it. Great for lunch or dinner, this authentic Italian cuisine will leave you extremely full and very happy. Save room for dessert as you'll want some of their great cakes! Another nice thing about this restuarunt is that it takes reservations, and on a Friday or Saturday night you'll want them. The pricing is great, comparable to Olive Garden and if you have an Entertainment Book look for their coupon in there! Anonymous
The refrigerator.net writes: We highly recommend their specials — always top-notch. They take reservations for small parties, even on Fridays, when many other Henrietta-area restaurants do not. editor writes: Democrat & Chronicle
Karen Deyle (March 29, 2007) — THE PLACE THE FOOD Dishes are listed in Italian, with descriptions in English. While we pondered pesci, pasta or vitello, the waiter brought us bread and salad, which is served family style in a large wooden bowl. The vinaigrette dressing is bold and assertive. There was plenty of salad for a serving and then some for each of us. We chose an appetizer of Carciofini e Fughi e Prosciutto ($8.99), a delicious alternative to bruschetta, with rounds of crunchy bread, grilled and lightly seasoned. Artichokes, mushrooms and prosciutto were sautéed with fresh garlic and olive oil and mounded in the center as a warm topping to be spooned extravagantly over the bread. The mushroom chunks had a roasted carmelization that gave the dish depth. This was a highlight of the meal, and we hoped it boded well for the dishes to follow. I chose the Cousteau e Vitello ($18.99). Thin but tender veal cutlets were breaded and sautéed with jumbo shrimp and mushrooms in a light lemon, butter and wine sauce, then served on a bed of garlicky greens. My companion usually avoids lemon sauces, finding many too sweet for his liking. He was delighted when he tasted this sauce; it was anything but sweet, with a wonderful dry tartness. Three rolled cutlets and five large shrimp sat atop the greens. Our only wish was that the mushrooms in this dish were as flavorful as the ones we loved in the appetizer. My companion chose the ravioli ($8.99) and ordered sides of the homemade meatballs ($3) and sausage ($1.75). While not homemade, the ravioli were plenty cheesy and cooked just right, still maintaining their form. It was easy to see why the meatballs are a customer favorite. Michelina's makes between 600 and 1,000 of these little gems each week. They were nicely seasoned and held together with a solid integrity. They were neither too grainy nor too mushy. The sausage was also well-seasoned, although the texture didn't hold up as well as the meatballs. Our meals left little room for dessert, and since few choices were homemade, we decided to pass. There is a full bar and an adequate wine list. THE SERVICE
JEN RYNDA staff photographer Michelina's Sicilian Feast |
