PhillyBitre.com (Nov 4, 2015) - South Philly's own Pesto Ristorante took first prize on the 'Rachael Ray' "Little Italy Showdown" which aired on Monday, Oct 26. John Varallo and his daughter Maria took the top prize with their cavatelli topped with lobster, crab, and shrimp and served in a rose blush sauce dish.
The father and daughter team competed against the likes of neighborhood-style Italian restaurants E’Tutto Qua from San Francisco and Benito One from New York City. You can try their wining dish at the Varallos main restaurant Pesto's located at 1915 S. Broad St. The dish sells for $26 and trust me you will be leaving with a take home bag, be sure to make reservations early for this popular South Philly restaurant.
About Ristorante Pesto's
Ristorante Pesto | 1915 South Broad St. | Philadelphia, PA 19148 | Phone 215-336-8380
Whether you're craving simple marinara sauce or lusting for the finest pasta, South Philadelphia has one of the largest numbers of top-notch Italian restaurants in the U.S. Ristorante Pesto is one at the top of that list.
This exquisite restaurant is operated and owned by one of South Philly's established restaurant families, the Varallos, who still remember how food tasted in Italy. And they capture those flavors here at Pesto.
Giovanni Varallo owns Pesto with his wife, Concetta. Giovanni and Maria Varallo-Facenda are the chefs. The restaurant just recently opened March 2003 and has been going strong ever since.
The kitchen produces a large menu of unique veal, pasta and seafood dishes. The homemade gnocchi are made of potatoes with a glazed cream pesto sauce. Plus, a house specialty is the Portabella alla Parmigiana. It’s portabella mushrooms prepared in a rose sauce topped with Parmesan and mozzarella cheese along with lump crab-meat. And, if that doesn’t get your mouth watering, the veal chop stuffed with prosciutto and fontina cheese heals all wounds. But for the most part, all of Pesto’s dishes are something to be said for.
"Just savoring the gnocchi at this family place is worth a visit" writes Phyllis Stein-Novack, South Philadelphia Review Restaurant Critic
If family tradition with great food and atmosphere is what you crave, then Ristorante Pesto is definitely the place for you. Stop in and see for yourself.
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