There's no Place Like Home for Luke Palladino- Opens Signature Restaurant Locally

Luke Palladino is back! The chef from Boragta's Ombra & Speccio has just opened his signature restaurant on Rt. 9 in Northfield. The intimate dining room offers an open kitchen and a fresh décor and seats about 30. Reservations are recommended.

Palladino was voted "most likely to succeed" from his class at the Culinary Institute of America and his resume shows an ambitious adventurer who is glad to be back in the Atlantic City area after helping to open restaurants around the country.

After graduating from CIA, he spent 3 years in Italy learning traditional regional cooking. He was successful in Aspen, Las Vegas, Biloxi and Pompano. Now it is his time to showcase is skills, friendly personality and fabulous menu in Northfield.

Recently we had a superb meal that started with Antipasti. We chose a selection of cheese to go with homemade bread, olive oil and BYOB wine. Other options include salami, breadsticks wrapped in prosciutto and more. 

We shared the asparagus appetizer special which was a delicious pureed asparagus mousse topped with spears.  One of a kind creation!

Bean soup with pancetta, Caesar salad and Caprese salad were some choices for the next course, followed by Pasta.

We enjoyed the linguine and clams, fresh with homemade pasta. Incredible!

The Lamb with balsamic honey glaze with asparagus may be the best meal I have ever had! The sweet and tangy sauce with 2 tender lamb chops was exquisite.

The Braciole, a stuffed ribeye with fingerling potatoes & Swiss chard was enjoyable but not like the braciole my husband grew up with.

The Veal Saltimbocca with white wine glaze & polenta was savory and sensational.

Standing rib roast looked amazing!

The heavenly Chocolate Rum Cake was unbelievable. Worth going back just for that.

The Panna Cotta with Strawberries was a refreshing tasty flan. Our friends enjoyed the Ricotta Zeppole, powdered sugar cream puffs.

The atmosphere is friendly and professional and busy. Mid week may not be as busy as the weekend. Worth the high end price - you get what you pay for. Takeout available. No kids menu or highchairs. Reservations suggested.

Luke Palladino 1333 New Rd (Plaza 9 corner of Rt. 9 & Tilton Rd) Northfield 646-8189

View the menu online @ http://www.lukepalladino.com/

I have been to Ombra twice- once for our 35^th Wedding Anniversary where we enjoyed a fabulous family dinner in the Wine Cellar room and the other time in the bar area where Palladino came out to slice the truffles for the people next to us. Priceless! Palladino's friendly smile and charming persona along with excellent food is a great combination for Old World Dining! Don't miss it!