In naming his trattoria after his Granny Rosa, chef Luigi Opello has fulfilled a long-held promise - and there’s no doubt his Nonna Rosa would be very proud of this authentic Italian restaurant.
Having arrived in Ireland in 2005 and opened a restaurant in Lucan with his girlfriend Francesca, the Sorrento-born chef then decided he would prefer smaller premises and found the perfect spot here on Wexford’s South Main Street. And now, after just a few years, Luigi and Francesca have firmly established their Nonna Rosa as one of Wexford’s favourite Italian restaurants.
Originally a coffee bar, the premises has been completely refurbished and is now a little piece of Italy. Walls were plastered and painted, and then hung with evocative photos taken from movies filmed in Italy. The floor is tiled and, in traditional trattoria style, the small tables have white tablecloths with red-and-white patterned overcloths.
And Luigi’s talents are not confined to the kitchen – he constructed all the wine shelves, the rustic stone bar and the wooden counter himself. Add Italian music, and the fact that there are plenty of Italians dropping in so the main language you hear is Italian, and it’s easy to feel that you could be in Italy.
Three menus are offered – an à la carte lunch (offering a wide range of dishes including soups, Panini, bruschetta, rustic Italian loaf sandwiches, pasta dishes and a few mains); an early bird set dinner menu (which, with six starters and nine main courses, offers an exceptional choice for a value menu); and the main evening à la carte.
Printed in Italian with English translations, menus offer all the classic Italian favourites in various combinations, but there are a number of special features – notably the fact that so much is homemade, including all of the breads and fresh pasta - and some interesting dishes, including a number of specialities ‘nonna’ which are house variations on traditional dishes.
Enjoyable pasta dishes include Rotolino della nonna (fresh homemade pasta wrapped with ham and mozzarella cheese baked and served in a creamy sauce), Fusilli neri all pescatora (fresh homemade black pasta with seafood sauce) and Lasagna (the familiar layered pasta dish but made to Nonna Rosa’s recipe, with homemade fresh pasta and a meaty Bolognese sauce).
Luigi’s Nonna Rosa has also influenced the traditional Vitello (thinly sliced veal, baked with parmesan cheese and cream, and served on a very hot plate), while Tagliata di manza is another of the main choices – sliced striploin steak served on a bed of rocket, it is served with cherry tomatoes and shavings of Parmesan cheese drizzled with balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil.
Simple things are done well here – the excellent homemade bread and use of quality ingredients (ripe tomatoes and extra virgin olive oil) makes all the difference to a classical bruschetta, for example – and the value is good, notably for the range of homemade pizza, including calzone (folded pizza), which is very keenly priced.
Service, under Francesca’s knowledgeable direction, is friendly and efficient – and, to accompany your meal in this little corner of Italy, there’s a good selection of Italian wines, 11 reds, 8 whites, with excellent notes on each wine.
The drinks menu also includes San Pellegrino and Panna waters and (of course) a tempting range of coffees.
Tue-Sun 10am-4.30pm & 5.30-11pm. Early D 5.30-7 €21.95. House wine from €16.50; by the glass €4.65. Closed Mon.
