SIDEBAR Fall 2021 - 12

MONTGOMERY B AR .O R G
RESTAURANT REVIEW
By Robert R. Watson, Jr., Esq. & Gary J. Friedlander, Esq.
A
previous regular SIDEBAR restaurant
contributor alerted us to check out
IMPERATORE at 36 W. Skippack
Pike in Blue Bell. Not known to ignore
the call to good food or an opportunity to
introduce our readers to a new restaurant, we
were quick to the scene. IMPERATORE was
a trip we're glad we made.
Nestled in the Broad Axe Corner shopping
center, IMPERATORE has joined the
Blue Bell - Ambler restaurant scene with a
splash. Having survived and thrived in the
tumultuous last year and a half, the restaurant
has a growing legion of local fans, and it's time
to share the experience with our readers.
Upon arrival at 6:30 on a weeknight, the restaurant is
already bustling with a large birthday celebration in the front
room. Happy family and friends are toasting each other and
catching up on recent news and happenings. IMPERATORE is
a neighborhood restaurant, welcoming its regulars and inviting
newcomers to become part of its family. Its owners do offer
event planning and welcome large parties; but as their website
says, they cater to everything from awkward first dates to mom's
60th birthday celebration.
We were seated in the back room of the restaurant with
a number of other small parties. IMPERATORE is BYOB,
and our waiter uncorked our bottle of Chianti Classico as we
settled into the menu. The bread on our table was fresh baked
on the premises, with a fine olive oil accompaniment. In
addition to the regular offerings, our evening's dinner specials
included barramundi and a whole roasted branzino. While
IMPERATORE's menu includes many dishes you expect when
dining Italian style, its fish and seafood dishes prove the most
creative and piqued our interest. The hardest part about the meal
was deciding what to order.
We started our journey with the house Burratta salad
($15) which was split. The simple, fresh Burrata was lightly
seasoned and set upon a bed of arugula with roasted peppers
and a balsamic glaze drizzle. The Burrata was light and creamy
and blended well with the other elements of the salad. Figs
complimented the mix, with a sweetness which contrasted
perfectly against the seasoning and dressing.
12 SIDEBAR
HEAD TO IMPERATORE FOR A FRESH TWIST
ON FINE DINING IN BLUE BELL
36 W Skippack Pike, Ambler, PA 19002
PHONE: (215) 646-8500
ristoranteimperatore.com
We also ordered a calamari special appetizer.
It was sautéed, not fried, and served in a garlic
pesto sauce. The calamari was prepared perfectly
with each piece being soft and perfect. The garlic
pesto sauce was a perfect complement. It was
definitely bread-worthy.
For the main course, IMPERATORE's farfale salmone ($20)
was a large portion of bowtie pasta peas and fresh salmon tips. The
dish was hearty but not overwhelming, thanks to the simple house
made pink vodka sauce. It would be as pleasing on a cold winter
evening as it was on the warm late summer night we had during
our visit.
The branzino special ($40) was a whole fish that was deboned
in the kitchen. The fish was cooked with olive oil and a dry
salt rub, and was moist throughout. The branzino came with
a vegetable medley of zucchini, carrots and squash as well as
potatoes. As with the other entrée, the portion was robust.
Our sense when we arrived was that IMPERATORE was
definitely a favorite spot for the local crowd, and as we sat and
enjoyed our meal we watched more than once as couples from one
part of the restaurant mingled and caught up with friends at other
tables, and big congratulations were shared with the large party
having its family celebration. Cool, muted lighting and décor
in the restaurant is both current and tasteful, but doesn't draw
from the real star at IMPERATORE, which is the food. Local
ingredients are used wherever possible, and everything is fresh and
delicious. In addition to the selections discussed above, try the
sacchetti formagi e pere, which is pasta filled with pear, ricotta and
parmesan topped with seared scallops ($27) or the pesce specchio,
filet of orange roughy crusted with mushrooms and jumbo lump
crab ($28). Family style pasta meals are also available ($65-$75),
as are cakes, mousse and gelato for dessert.
Reservations, even on a weeknight, are highly recommended.
http://montgomerybar.org http://www.ristoranteimperatore.com
SIDEBAR Fall 2021

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