Nestled in the middle of Orange, Piccola Italia is a warm and welcoming
restaurant with some of the finest Old World recipes in a town well-known
for its Italian Restaurants. With salmon covered walls and candlelit tables
in a small room, Piccola Italia offers moderate priced dishes made on the
premises with a careful eye for detail.

We begin with a mozzarella and roasted pepper appetizer, both fresh
and vibrant. A calamari in a ginger batter - not too firm and the ginger
added a light kick to the back of the mouth - was enjoyed by all. We were
then given a generous plate of ravioli in a pink vodka sauce which stood
out long after the meal was over. The ricotta was fresh and the superb sauce
lingered into the tricolor salad we were next presented with. With a light
balsamic and olive oil dressing, the leaves were crisp and the radiquio
rightfully lacked the bitter twang that too often accompanies it.

For main courses, my guest and I enjoyed a chicken arrabiata with a strong
sauce indicative of its name. A veal with asparagus in champagne cream
sauce was not too heavy and was deemed outstanding. The soft shell crabs in
francaise were a delight, yet we will try a lighter batter the next time we
are there. The extensive menu is highlighted by swordfish, almond ripieno
and pollo campagna among others that our server, Susan Bellofatto, said are
often requested and recommended by Piccola Italia's clientele.

Before joining the restaurant, Bellofatto was a longtime customer of Piccola
Italia. When owner/chef Mario Ferra asked her to join his team three years
ago, she did not flinch. "This was my favorite restaurant long before I came
to work here," said Bellofatto, a long time Orange resident. "We try to make
our customers feel comfortable here; like they are at home enjoying a nice
meal made with care," said ferra, who has owned and operated Piccola Italia
in Orange for 10 years.

Located at 143 Lincoln Ave., Piccola Italia has a full bar service area
alongside the dining room. It has a good lunch crowd and on Saturday
evenings, it is recommended to make a reservation. Call 973-673-3600.