Peperoncino, Sand Lake

I had lunch at this Italian restaurant on Via Dellagio off Sandlake before Thanksgiving. It has been a while, so you'll forgive me if I am a little forgetful about the experience. I had a weekly special that was a soup (Zuppa Maremmana from the Lazio Marenma region) and Pollo alla Crema for $12. You could have chosen from two soups or two salads and four entrees. It was a great bargain. I didn't even talk about the two courses of freshly baked bread that accompanied it (dough from NY). The soup was made up of red wine, pecorino, veggies and egg. Tasty. Seemed to have been made to order (or at least finished to order). The chicken came in a cream sauce that was a little thinner than I was expecting, but, all the better that you didn't have all that fat sticking to every bite. The pasta was expertly cooked rigatoni. This also seemed cooked to order. The kitchen was (wo)manned by the owner (in blue) and her Venezuelan assistant (in white). The owner is Italian if that comforts you. The menu changes every day. Somebody is really trying here. It's a pleasure to talk about. The place is narrow and seats only about thirty five. As I remember, the kitchen takes up one half (open) and the seating area is faux marble tables with clear plastic 70's chairs. The walls are decorated with mirrors in gilded frames. It's a little thrown together. I remember some red tones. They have a small bar area with non-distributor suggested mass appeal wines and beer. Prices were a little on the high end if you didn't do the lunch special. I don't think they had pizza. If restaurants have an artisan grouping like food stuffs do, then this would be a special member of that classification. Don't waste a seat on yourself if you like Bucco de Beppo or other phoned in Italian slop houses. Come here if you appreciate effort and artistry. It may not be the highest caliber Italian in Orlando or around the world, but, you can bet they would die trying to be. The only dump in the punch was a $3.45 soda. It's like they (Italians) can't exist without hustling you a little. The name is a little "fast foody" too. And you thought I was turning soft.