Romantic surroundings, outstanding service and high-end cuisine welcome you at La Mona Lisa, Annapolis’ newest Italian restaurant.
La Mona Lisa is tucked in a roadside shopping center along Route 2, so it lacks some of the downtown charm of the many restaurants near City Dock. But inside, it’s reminiscent of a small upscale restaurant in Italy.
A quaint marble service bar faces you as you enter the posh dining room that seats about 60.
Tables are well spaced and dressed with white tablecloths, sparkling crystal and heavy tableware. The rest of the decor is graced with Roman-style chair rails and cornices. Italian artwork also adorns the walls, while mirrors at either end of the room create an illusion of openness.
An attentive wait staff is dressed in formal attire.
The two-page menu contains 10 starters, eight pastas and 20 main courses. A printed page slipped inside details a four-course Tasting Menu ($40). With several different options available for each course, this is a popular offering of the restaurant. There is a two-person minimum, however.
The day’s specials are recited by the maitre d’, but prices aren’t mentioned unless requested.
Petite portions are available for pasta or risotto offerings but not available for the meat or seafood plates. There is an impressive wine list to choose from either by the glass or bottle.
Bread delivered to the table is warm slices of focaccia. A rosemary-infused extra-virgin olive oil is then poured onto your bread plate for dipping.
Appetizers included beef carpaccio topped with arugula and shaved Parmesan cheese, drizzled with lemon juice and truffle-infused olive oil; a combination of fresh baby calamari, sea scallops and shrimp, marinated and grilled, served on a bed of mixed greens and drizzled with olive oil; sliced smoked salmon stuffed with seasoned goat cheese, served over a bed of arugula with pine nuts and finished in a lemon vinaigrette.
There is a nice variety of main plates. The halibut ($29) was a handsome cut of flaky white fish sauteed with chopped fennel leaves in a white-wine and lemon-garlic sauce. The fish arrived piping hot along with the sides of small, crisp rosemary potato wedges and fresh sugar snap peas.
The jumbo ravioli filled with lobster, asparagus and mascarpone cheese ($25) was served in a rose sauce, topped with lump crab meat. The flavors were all very delicate, so the lobster was not overpowered, but still intense and distinct. The rose sauce had a wonderful, pronounced fresh tomato flavor.
Other entrees included the choice of a fresh whole fish lightly marinated and cooked on the grill, filleted tableside and finished with olive oil and and lemon juice; a 16-ounce T-bone of veal lightly seasoned and grilled, served with mushrooms and finished in a Marsala wine sauce; and a 14-ounce pork chop stuffed with pears and Gorgonzola cheese, wrapped with pancetta, broiled and served with a brandy sauce.
One of the evening’s specials, mixed grill ($39), was two favorites combined in one entree. Two butter-tender lamb chops, medium rare, were accented by a flavorful rosemary and wine sauce. Perfectly cooked duck breast was paired with its own lighter sauce. Mashed potatoes and sugar snap peas were a solid accompaniment.
Desserts, all $8, are made in-house. Profiteroles are fanciful little cream puffs served with a chocolate sauce. The pastry was rich and flavorful, and the chocolate sauce had more depth than most. It was a nice change from the typical chocolate desserts on many menus these days.
Tiramisu was bursting with flavor, yet still very light and refreshing. Thin layers of tender cake replaced the lady fingers.
Annapolis resident Domenica Tripodi and three partners from a little village north of Naples oversee La Mona Lisa.
Respected maitre d’ Mario Gargano can tell you anything you want to know about the wine and food, and pretty much takes care of your whole evening.
The restaurant is the perfect place for a romantic dinner for two, or with close friends. Just don’t expect it to be a cheap night out.
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