Roses, shrubs and trees, beautifully decorated, Restaurant Villa Erasmo rests along a century old railway rampart. Built as a route for steam engines around 1916, the New York Connecting Railroad splices together all places north, via the Bronx, across the Hells Gate Bridge, to Long Island and the rest of New York City.
Hidden from view, an occasional resonant, droning whistle of a diesel train can still be heard as freight cars rumble and clank through a 30′ deep channel that cuts through Middle Village on the Juniper Valley branch. And situated next to the 69th Place overpass, expert/owner restaurateur Maurizio Troia reinterprets a masterpiece, an Italian restaurant that combines exquisite food, ambiance and decor.
Since 1951, the triangular building housed various businesses and notably the Post Scientific Instrument Company. Besides inventing Countercurrent Distribution apparatus (compound separators), for medical research, Otto Post shared war stories, gave friendly advice and showed simple experiments to locals.
Where once stood rows upon rows of test tubes, motors and machines, restaurant patrons now fine-dine surrounded by beautiful red mahogany tables, walls and molding. Once a space for rubber hoses and vacuum experiments, transformed by tile and parquet, stone and brick, glass and mirrors, Andrea now serves beverages over a thick Black Granite counter.
Padded like all the seating, mahogany stools line the bar for comfort. And not far from the furnace where Mr. Post blew glass rods into test tubes and flasks for neighborhood children, Paul Zummo will begin to serve children incredibly delicious Wood-Burning Brick Oven Pizza through a massive window that opens onto a lovely patio with tables and umbrellas encircled by Eastern Cedars.
Manager and Host, Sid Veneccio gestures and makes his point, “It’s quality and taste that matter most.” The idea: Top quality everything. Fresh pasta and mozzarella, Portobello mushrooms, roasted peppers, basil, artichokes and sun dried tomatoes, that’s pizza.
The menu, full of delicious appetizers, soups and salads makes choosing a favorite unfair. Perhaps, Chief Mike Di Pietro’s; Baked Clams, then, Spaghetti Mare E Mante served with Calamari, Shrimp, Scallops, Shiitake Mushrooms, Garlic and Olive Oil. Wine: White or Red?
Cappuccino, maybe espresso? Don’t forget Sal’s homemade Gelato.
You don’t need to hop onto a freight train to get to the Villa, there’s parking and live music on a Saturday night. Basta, Mangiamo! (Enough, let’s eat!)
Villa Erasmo Ristorante
69-61 Juniper Blvd. South
Middle Village, NY 11379
(718) 894-8191
Delivery/Take out
www.villaerasmo.com
