Mezza Luna, located just north of Baum Stadium in Fayetteville, is a locally owned and operated cafe with a hearty menu of housemade Italian classics and a variety of high-quality entrees. The sophistication of the dishes is subdued by the atmosphere at Mezza Luna, as well as the modest pricing. The restaurant is relaxed, casual and family friendly.
The foundation of the restaurant is authentic Italian cooking -- simple, fresh and comforting dishes. Owner and chef Juan Barcenas has worked to create a restaurant that entertains the diverse desires of patrons, from take-out pizza to a romantic date to a business lunch.
As a special treat, several times a year Barcenas will present multi-course dinners with wine pairings. The next wine dinner is scheduled for Feb. 9.
The appetizer course will have roasted sea scallops wrapped in prosciutto, with fresh fennel drizzled with a key lime and oregano citronella. This course will be paired with Kris Pinot Grigio.
The next course will offer a dish of risotto with mascarpone cheese, sweet Italian sausage, fresh artichokes and peeled pear tomatoes topped with shaved Grana Padano Parmesan cheese. This course will be paired with Artesia Pinot Noir.
The second entree is an European-style roasted and boneless quail served with a leek potato cake and fried carrot julienne, finished with a dried-cherry-Shiraz demi-glaze. This course will be served with Campo alle Rose Cesanese del Lazio.
The dessert course will be Marsala Zabaglione, an Italian custard, served with fresh berries and a raspberry marmalade. The beverage offering with this course is Godiva coffee.
Cost is $75 per couple, plus 20 percent gratuity. The dinner will begin at 6 p.m., and reservations can be made by calling (479) 521-5939.
Set on the Sunday before Valentine's Day, this wine dinner is a prelude to the day dedicated to romance and a clever way to surprise one's sweetheart.
"It's a special package where the wine is matched with the food, at a great price, and we do food that we don't have on the menu," Barcenas said.
Since Valentine's Day lands on a Friday, Barcenas anticipates the restaurant will be busy throughout the weekend. The regular menu will be served and reservations are being accepted.
Pasta dishes and made-from-scratch pizzas and calzones are a staple at this casual Italian restaurant. However, a substantial array of fine dining fare is also served.
To start off the meal, a sampling of appetizers include mussels sauteed in butter, garlic, white wine and a spicy marinara sauce; blue crab and baby artichoke dip; smoked gouda and Italian sausage dip; or beer-battered calamari.
Fresh salads are made from crisp romaine lettuce, mixed spring greens or hearty spinach. Varieties include Caesar, Greek and Caprese. There is also a mesclun salad with dried figs, pecans, goat cheese and housemade raspberry vinaigrette; and a spinach salad with shredded carrots, goat cheese and housemade balsamic vinaigrette.
Recent modifications to the dinner menu have expanded selections. New offerings include an herb-marinated, grilled eggplant with melted mozzarella appetizer; housemade linguini noodles tossed in a spicy, white wine marinara sauce with tiger shrimp and diced asparagus, and a grilled salmon fillet paired with crab meat, roasted garlic-mascarpone risotto and a sherry wine cream sauce.
Entrees include a grilled 14-ounce, black Angus New York strip steak or rib eye, each priced around $20, and served with roasted garlic mashed potatoes and sauteed vegetables. The strip is served with a shiitake mushroom red wine reduction and the ribeye paired with a red wine balsamic glaze.
There is also Chicken Marsala, pork Ossobuco a la Milanesa and grilled salmon.
Pasta selections include portabello lasagna, Siciliana pasta, tri-colored tortellini and house-made spinach fettuccine.
As much as possible is prepared in the kitchen of Mezza Luna. The lasagna noodles, sauces, salad dressings, pizza crust and bread are a few examples of the list of housemade items.
"We don't precook anything. When you order the chicken or salmon, we put it on the grill," Barcenas said.
Gourmet pizzas and calzones are cooked in a stone oven and offered at both lunch and dinner. With a choice of more than 20 toppings, guests can create their own combination of toppings or order a specialty pizza off the menu. Pizza sizes range from 10 to 28 inches.
A special lunch menu is crafted to offer a fast, affordable meal that is made to order. The limited menu includes a 10-inch, one-topping pizza or several pasta dishes for $5; ravioli for $8.95; or classic chicken entrees like Parmigiana or Marsala for $9.95. Lunch specials are served with house-baked bread and a house salad can be added for $1.
A full lunch menu is also offered.
Mezza Luna also has a kids menu that offers grilled cheese, chicken tenders, spaghetti or cheese pizza -- each for $3 or less.
Pizza and all menu items are offered as take-out. Customized catering services are also available.
Mezza Luna is located at 1021 S. Razorback Road, just north of Baum Stadium in Fayetteville. More information is available by calling (479) 521-5939 or online at mezzalunanwa.com.
NAN Dining Guide Cover on 02/02/2014