Last week, I dined Osteria Morini in Bernardsville to try some of its dishes, post grand opening.

The restaurant, formerly occupied by Chef Michael White’s Due Terre, has been redesigned to offer a more casual atmosphere than its predecessor.

Polpettines

The food is simply outstanding.  Chef White, the 2011 James Beard Award for Best Chef in New York, along with Chef de Cuisine, Kevin Knevals, use ingredients from Emilia-Romagna and some locally-grown foods to prepare dishes that are both refined and rustic.

For starters, the cured meats board is a must and can be ordered in a choice of one ($7), three ($17) or five ($25) meats.  The calamari ($12) with herbed bread crumbs, tomato and kale is fork-tender and deliciously crunchy and my favorite starter. The Polpettines ($10) – prosciutto and mortadella meatballs baked in tomato sauce are moist and flavorful and should be ordered.

The individual pizzas baked in the kitchen’s brick oven, are great options ($11-$14).  The classic Margherita with tomato, bufalo mozzarella and basil and the Salsiccia with fennel sausage, pomodoro and mozzarella are tops.

Pastas are hand-made, cooked-to-order and should be what you order if a fan of perfectly al dente pastas dressed modestly with the very best of ingredients.  Each pasta can be ordered as a half or full dish.  Some favorites are the Lumache Verde ($19) – spinach pasta, lamb ragu, artichoke, fava and ricotta salata and the Garganelli ($20) – pasta quills, cream, radicchio, truffle butter, prosciutto and peas.

Entrées to try are the Branzino ($28) – grilled sea bass, salsa verde, wild arugula and lemon and the Anatra ($29) – crispy duck breast, lentils, braised red cabbage and saba.

The wine list is extensive and features Italian but also New World wines.  There are many wines served by the glass also.

Desserts ($10) are all solid and some good bets are the Panna Cotta with citrus cream and the Torta Barozzi, a rich chocolate almond torte.

This place puts forth one great meal and I look forward to my next visit,

Veronique

Osteria Morini

107 Morristown Road Bernardsville, NJ 07924

Telephone: 908-221-0040    

Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (brunch) and 3 to 9 p.m. (dinner) Sundays.