Yummy Reservations and Delightful Destinations!

The first time we visited this restaurant, I didn’t know that it was located in a shopping center.  One thing I love about trying different places is the atmosphere, whether it’s on the water (love it!) or just that special feel when you walk in the front door.  So my expectations were not very high.  But my first impression was wrong.   I immediately felt the warmth of Fratelli’s Italian & Seafood in Hampstead,  Maryland, (www.fratellis.net) and my thoughts of the shopping center location disappeared.  The décor is very tastefully done and I felt transported to my vision of a quaint Italian bistro.

This past Saturday evening we took a friend that was visiting from New Jersey; and without going into a lot of detail, he was most insistent that we go back to Fratelli’s again, after dining there about this same time last year.  I definitely consider my friend, Tom, an “Italian Foodie.”  So if he wanted to go, I KNOW he liked it!  We were also hoping to see the owner, Roula, who is one of the reasons why we continue to be drawn back to Fratelli’s.

But let’s get to the food.   First, I love their huge Italian salad for sharing with your table guests, with unlimited refills and freshly grated parmesan on the top.  Delivered with that are fresh-out-of-the-oven breadsticks!  Can you smell them?  It was impossible for me to resist indulging in more than one, but you won’t tell, right?

Fratelli’s is known for their jumbo lump crab cakes (one of the best I’ve ever had – trust me).   But tonight I decided on their Lobster Ravioli, which also includes some rather large shrimp, generously adorned on top of my in-house made pasta.  I’m proud to say (or maybe not) that I finished the whole thing, with a little help from my husband.  I loved everything about the Ravioli –  their sauce, the freshness & portions of the seafood –  it was truly delicious.  My husband ordered the Seafood Marinara and also used the last breadstick to clean his plate, if that tells you anything about how much he enjoyed his entrée.  Trust me, they do not skimp on the seafood portions.   Our friend, Tom, had the Shrimp Parmesan and he was extremely happy with his meal.  I know next time he is in town, he will want to go back (and we’ll definitely go back way before that).

With my original promise of keeping this short, I think you get the idea of why our overall experience at Fratelli’s earns them the privilege of being our first “Yummy Reservations” review.  I hope that you’ll look Roula and her wonderful staff up the next time you are craving a great Italian meal.  I do have to add that Fratelli’s only does “call ahead seating” for smaller parties.  But trust me, it’s worth the wait!