One Saturday night earlier this month I had the pleasure of dining at Maretalia Ristorante for the first time. Located upstairs in the Coronado Plaza at 1300 Orange Avenue, Maretalia Ristorante, owned and operated by Blue Bridge Hospitality, offers an array of Italian seafood dishes as well as some traditional Italian dishes such as spaghetti. Admittedly, as someone who’s of Sicilian descent, I’ve got a discerning palate when it comes to Italian food. Having traveled to Italy, where I enjoyed homemade pasta in Rome and dined on fresh squid and octopus in Sicily, I was more than eager to see how Maretalia’s menu items would compare with the “real” thing.
Along with my husband Mike and our ten year old daughter Addie, our neighbors, Ethan, Colleen, and their four year old daughter Aria, joined us. Prior to moving to Coronado this past winter, Ethan, Colleen, and Aria lived in Europe, where they traveled extensively, including several excursions to Italy.
As we walked into Maretalia Ristorante, we instantly felt welcomed. Although the restaurant offers several seating options, which include a Piano Bar (see additional information at conclusion of article for Social Hour details) and an outdoor area with heaters and a fireplace, we were seated in the main dining area. The tables, adorned with white tablecloths, gave the main dining area a sense of occasion, signifying that we weren’t there to just eat, we were there for a genuine dining experience.
One aspect of the restaurant that I found especially charming was how graciously Addie and Aria were accepted there. As we were seated, our hostess handed Aria a magnetic drawing board so she could doodle as she waited for her food. As the adults selected their cocktails (see review below), the girls, wanting to feel equally fancy, each ordered Shirley Temples. I noted how both girls’ drinks were served in actual glasses as opposed to plastic cups with straws. Maybe it’s a subtlety that might not be appreciated by most parents, but I liked how the girls were treated like their adult counterparts.
Review: Drinks Menu
What better way to start off our evening than with a cocktail? From the Bellini Bar section of the drinks menu, which offers chilled Prosecco with choice of white peach, mango, or passion fruit, I opted for the white peach. It did not disappoint. While Colleen ordered a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, Mike ordered a “Wild Thoughts” (Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Passion Fruit, Peperoncino Syrup, Fresh Lemon) and Ethan selected “A Perfect Pear” (Malfy Gin, Pear, Rosemary-Clove, Fresh Lemon). All four adults appreciated how many selections there were on the drinks menu, noting that so many of them were cocktails we had never tried before.
Review: Bruschetta
While bruschetta is frequently seen on most Italian restaurants’ menus, I can’t recall having ever seen six different types of bruschetta on a menu before! It was so hard to choose just one so we instead narrowed down our top three choices and ordered: Beech Mushroom (goat cheese, herbs, extra virgin olive oil), Gorgonzola Dolce (local honey, hazelnut), and Prosciutto & Peach (conserva, mascarpone). All three were absolutely delicious, but the Beech Mushroom was to die for! Ethan commented, “The mushrooms are so tender.” The presentation of each bruschetta was lovely, and the flavors were so unique. I was intrigued that the varieties went well beyond the standard topping of diced tomatoes with Basil and garlic, and commented that I could easily have ordered a bruschetta for myself as an entree and been delightfully satisfied.
Review: Antipasti
Once again, as we perused the extensive offerings on the antipasti section of the menu, it took considerable restraint on our part to not order everything! Of the thirteen antipasti menu items, we opted to order the most unique, which included the Grilled Shrimp & Octopus (marinated ceci bean, cherry tomato) and the Diver Scallop Carpaccio (pan grattato, pistachio, zucchini, Calabrian chili, lemon). The Grilled Shrimp & Octopus instantly took me back to my vacation to Sicily. Mike said, “I love the char on the shrimp,” and noted that the shrimp and octopus were both cooked to perfection, warm, tender, and easy to chew without the faintest hint of the rubbery texture that comes along with being overcooked. The adults all agreed it was the best octopus we’d ever tasted, and as Ethan “forced” himself to dish out the remainder onto his own plate, he commented, “It would be absolutely sinful to waste this!” Addie, who hadn’t tried octopus prior to her experience that evening, said it’s now one of her favorite foods! (If that doesn’t tell you something, then I don’t know what will!)
The Diver Scallop Carpaccio felt completely new in concept to us, as we discussed how usually when we’ve eaten carpaccio it was in the form of thinly sliced raw beef rather than seafood. I didn’t know scallops could be sliced that thinly! The flavors exploded in my mouth with a combination of crunch and spice with a mild heat, and the cucumber paired so nicely with it. I’d never tasted anything like it before, but would definitely order it again.
Review: Main Entrees
For our main entrees, we all agreed to order something different, promising we would share with one another. I was thrilled to see that they served one of my favorite pastas, Bucatini, a thick spaghetti-like pasta with a hole running through the center. And, what made the idea of ordering Bucatini even better was learning that all pasta is made fresh in house.
Nick Lorenz, the Manager at Maretalia Ristorante, explained, “We have a regularly changing, seasonally-driven menu, with a focus on seafood and hand-crafted pasta.” Lorenz shared that the produce used is locally grown, explaining that the chef goes to farmers markets twice a week and has fresh produce delivered each Friday.
Coree, Mike, & Addie:
- Bucatini & Clams (‘nduja sausage, white wine, spicy bread crumbs), Cioppino (diver scallop, wild shrimp, fresh fish, clams, calamari, tomato broth), and Rigatoni Bolognese (beef, veal and pork ragu)
The Bucatini & Clams were even better than I anticipated! I could definitely tell that the pasta was fresh, and loved the flavor combination of the spicy bread crumbs, sausage, and white wine.
Addie, who’s ten going on forty, opted to order off the regular menu as opposed to the kid’s menu, picking a dish she had never tried before, Cioppino. She made me laugh at one point as she noted that the “circular pasta” was good, but had a chewier texture than she anticipated. After I explained that it was calamari rather than pasta, she said, “Oh, wow! I didn’t know that’s what it looks like without breading.” Once she understood exactly what she was eating, she went to town, surprising us by barely saving room for dessert. The adults, all eager to follow her lead, sopped up bits of the flavorful broth with bread. I would bathe in that broth; it was that good!
Mike’s Rigatoni Bolognese was hearty. “Hands down I would order this again! It’s amazing how good the fresh pasta tastes. What a difference it makes when it’s fresh,” he remarked.
Ethan and Colleen:
- Crab Gnocchi Gratinato (Pacific sweet crab, bechamella) and Diver Scallops (Brussel’s sprouts, pancetta, pistachio, saffron cauliflower puree)
Ethan described his Crab Gnocchi Gratinato as “so soft”, and I was pleased that he allowed me to try a bite. The bechamella had the perfect consistency, and the gnocci was flavorful, melting in my mouth.
As Colleen ate her Diver Scallops, noting how she wished she knew how to cook scallops like that herself, she lamented as she placed both hands across her stomach in defeat, “I want to be able to eat more.” (We definitely all over indulged with all the bruschetta and antipasti!) Fortunately Colleen’s fullness equated to all of us getting to sample what remained on her plate, and we all agreed with her assessment of how the scallops were prepared.
Aria:
Spaghetti Polpette (Homemade beef meatball braised in marinara sauce)
When Aria was presented with her Spaghetti Polpette, her face lit up as she clapped her little hands together and exclaimed, “Wow! Look at my meatball!” It was huge, especially for a kid’s portion, and Aria generously allowed us each to sample the meatball. Even though it was big, it was light rather than being heavy and dense. In the words of Adam Sandler in the movie The Wedding Singer, “That’s a good meatball!”
As Aria joyfully shoveled bites of spaghetti and meatball into her mouth, Colleen and I discussed how impressed we were with the children’s menu. Often it seems that restaurants phone it in when it comes to the kid’s menu, offering the tired, old chicken nuggets/tenders, macaroni and cheese, and hamburgers/hot dogs. This definitely was not the case with Maretalia. Personally, in regards to taking children out to eat at a restaurant, I feel that is the time for children to experience new flavors. How are kids ever going to develop sophisticated palates if they eat the same food all the time? Maretalia succeeded in offering children’s portions that could be enjoyed by adults as well.
Review: Dessert and Limoncello
Although we were all stuffed beyond our comfort levels, we took one for the team, and ordered dessert. How could we give a thorough review if we didn’t include dessert?
Addie and Aria ordered Gelati e Sorbetti (lemon for Addie and vanilla for Aria). Even though they both claimed to be full, somehow the girls found room to eat every sweet bite. (Go figure!) Colleen stole a bite of Aria’s gelati, and said she could tell it was made with real vanilla.
The adults decided to share the Olive Oil Cake (caramelized pear, basil cream, saba). While I was a little skeptical of the pairing of fresh basil with fresh whipped cream, guess what? It worked! It totally worked! Olive Oil Cake, warm, with a sweet and savory marriage, is my new favorite dessert! I loved how seasonally appropriate it was with the caramelized pear. Maybe it sounds odd to say, but it tasted like autumn!
As we enjoyed our desserts and conversation, our waiter Brian, who dazzled us all night with his attention and warm smile, brought out a complimentary house made Limoncello Creme. Thicker than your average Limoncello, the Limoncello Creme was smoother and less tart, and Ethan, Colleen, Mike, and I commented that we liked Maretalia’s better than previous samples we’ve sipped before, both in Italy as well as in the United States. It was the perfect after dinner treat for sure!
Overall Impressions
Colleen said, “I was really excited to try this restaurant. I looked at the menu ahead of time and was excited to try the dishes, but I have to say that it really exceeded all expectations. Everything was sooooo delicious, so fresh, and cooked perfectly. I loved all the fresh pasta and the fact that my daughter was actually able to have a child’s size portion of delicious, homemade spaghetti along with a huge meatball. I was surprised that it was such a generous portion for it being a child’s entree. She loved it. We all loved it.”
Ethan reflected, “From top to bottom, Maretalia exceeded all expectations that I had this evening. Having been very fortunate to dine quite a few times in Italy, every dish that I experienced, from the appetizers to the beverages to the entrees, mimicked the experiences I had in Italy. The dining atmosphere is very intimate while elegant, but the fact that the staff is so welcoming is what especially brought our evening even more joy. The plating was wonderful, and the overall taste was amazing. I highly recommend it!”
Addie summarized her experience briefly, saying, “I really enjoyed it. I liked how everyone is so kind and friendly. The food was delicious. Can we come back again?”
Mike noted, “It felt fancy without being pretentious. Next time I return, I’m dying to try the Langoustine Risotto (shaved artichoke, basil, tarragon, parsley).”
As for me, even “bad” Italian food usually still tastes pretty good, but exceptional Italian food is the stuff that makes life so delicious. I was impressed with Maretalia Ristorante, and while its prices might not match every budget, the array of flavors they offer make it worth every penny. Whether on a date or dining with the family, Maretalia’s commitment to offer authentic Italian seafood makes it the perfect choice. You owe it to yourself to give it a try!
I’m looking forward to returning to Maretalia Ristorante during daylight hours to not only enjoy their water views and cool ocean breezes, but also to try out their Brunch Menu, Lunch Menu, and Social Hour specials. In the words of my Italian ancestors, “Mangia!”
Additional Information:
Social Hour in the Piano Bar:
- Daily 3:00 pm – 6:30 pm
- Live Music
- $5 Bruschetta Bites
- $10 Pastas
- Drink Specials
Hours:
- Lunch: Monday-Friday 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
- Dinner: Daily 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm
- Brunch: Sunday 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
- Social Hour: Daily 3:00 pm – 6:30 pm
For information regarding private functions, email [email protected]
