THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED The Roasted Garlic

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED The Roasted Garlic Restaurant Review:

Federico Castellucci remembers how his Greek mother and his near-Rome-born father would argue passionately about sundry matters, but settle domestic dust-ups over plates of spanikopita and lasagna. All the recipes come from his family, or from other Mediterranean sources. Mom's spanikopita is here, with flaky pastry enclosing nicely seasoned spinach filling. Oopah! While some dishes will be familiar--such as chicken cacciatore--others will hit new zones. One such is Pernice, a chicken breast dressed with walnut-fig pesto, on house-made pappardelle and with a side of slightly anise-kissed grilled sausage. Fresh organic spinach and crimini mushrooms and figs make a bed for this dish. But he adamantly opposes dried anything, so all herbs are fresh and spices are freshly ground. One of the staffers is of Lebanese descent and makes a rum ball dessert that patrons just adore. Otherwise, most desserts are made off-shore. The wine list is short, but contains some very nice choices. The Nozzole Chianti, for instance, goes with lots of the dishes, and the Pighin Pinot Grigio, from the Friuli, nicely handles the lighter fare. Most are available by the glass. A fifth location is due soon in Duluth.