From Cafe Venezia and Venezia Bar & Grill came Gamba Restorante. Perhaps one of the most unique resturants in the area. The restaurant is housed in an architectural masterpiece with a circular design and center courtyard. You will NOT feel like you are in Merrillville, Indiana. It was the perfect spot to surprise Jodi with a small dinner party for her birthday!
Benito and Hilda Gamba are the owners of Gamba and sat us inside the exclusive "wine room" (with storage of 1,000 bottles), for dinner making the night even that much more special. Gamba's, now also managed by their daughter Michelle and Krystal make this family owned establishment really work. They all have great personalities and when you dine there, it is truely like being inside their home for dinner.
The food Italian cuisine with many favorites as well as some daily surprises offered by the chef. All six of our dinners were outstanding as well as the great service offered by Mary. She introduced herself which as you know is always a nice start for us. Bob then introduced each of us by first name! Yes, we have fun with our servers and Mary stood up to us and made the evening that much more enjoyable.
I ordered my favorite dish, the Filettino Di Maiale - a delicious grilled Berkshire Pork Tenderloin with Soy White Clover Honey Reduction, Finished with Toasted Sesame Seeds ($25). The dish was perfectly prepared with wonderful flavor profiles. Side dish was garlic mashed potatoes as I ordered the tasty side of red cabbage. The tastes blended together to explode with each bite. A fresh and crispy baby romain wedge started my night with ample Caesar salad dressing and great flavor ($7).
Naturally a bread and cracker basket with Extra Virgin Olive Oil was provided on the table as well as the house diced tomatoes with oil, balsamic vinegar & spices to top your bread and crackers.
Jodi had the Tagliatelle All'aragost, a ribbon shaped pasta with Lobster, Spinach, Nutmeg in a Lobster Cream reduction ($18). She ordered it on the spicy side and said it was wonderful. She started her dinner with the Insalata Di Barba - sliced beets with gorgonzola cheese and roasted walnuts. I didn't get a chance to try it myself since it was gone so quickly! Bob had the same salad while Patty opted for the bowl of Zuppa Di Fagioli Con Sedano ($5), a bean soup with celery, vegetable broth and olive oil. Now I did notice that Bob got some of that when Patty was finished!
From Bob: Have you ever heard of a laughing wine room? Saturday night at Gamba's, the wine room was full of laughter and cheer as we celebrated Jodi's XX birthday. The silence of the resting wine bottles was broken for about 2 hours as we wine'd and dine'd on the best Italian food in the region! Calling Patty's simple bean & celery soup, simple, doesn't do it justice. Gamba's takes a simple soup and elevates it to the masterpiece level. My marinated beets, gorgonzola cheese and roasted walnut salad was magnificent and plentiful. So as not to be rude or appear gluttonous, I did not order a second helping of the salad. I easily could have!
After my spaghetti Carbonara arrived, I sat speechless for at least several minutes as I gleefully devoured this dish of pasta eggs, & Italian becon. I won the clean plate award for the evening. Patty's order of pasta, lobster and spinach in a cream sauce was tall, dark and handsome... I mean full and appetizing. I knew from the size of the plate that I'd be having some Tagliatelle All'aragost tomorrow. Patty really enjoyed her dish and my meal the next day was a scant appetizer, not the hefty left-overs I usually get.
From Bob: Have you ever heard of a laughing wine room? Saturday night at Gamba's, the wine room was full of laughter and cheer as we celebrated Jodi's XX birthday. The silence of the resting wine bottles was broken for about 2 hours as we wine'd and dine'd on the best Italian food in the region! Calling Patty's simple bean & celery soup, simple, doesn't do it justice. Gamba's takes a simple soup and elevates it to the masterpiece level. My marinated beets, gorgonzola cheese and roasted walnut salad was magnificent and plentiful. So as not to be rude or appear gluttonous, I did not order a second helping of the salad. I easily could have!
After my spaghetti Carbonara arrived, I sat speechless for at least several minutes as I gleefully devoured this dish of pasta eggs, & Italian becon. I won the clean plate award for the evening. Patty's order of pasta, lobster and spinach in a cream sauce was tall, dark and handsome... I mean full and appetizing. I knew from the size of the plate that I'd be having some Tagliatelle All'aragost tomorrow. Patty really enjoyed her dish and my meal the next day was a scant appetizer, not the hefty left-overs I usually get.
Carol and Joe joined us for dinner and Carol is a chef who owns Gourmet Express Services in Valparaiso. She was very impressed with the evening and also had the Romaine salad wedge and same entree as Jodi. Joe ordered the Porterhouse steak, a great choice called on the menu: Bistecca All Fiorentina, a 20 oz. Signature Porterhouse ($33). We asked Joe how it was since when we looked up there was a clean bone sitting on his plate!! He said it was great and it certainly looked great when it was brought to the table.
Mary decanted a nice bottle of red wine for all to share during dinner and we all enjoyed a wonderful dining experience with great food to go with the great company. Jodi's desert even had a candle placed on it so we could sing a verse of Happy Birthday!
So, when you crave some great Italian food or have a need for a special celebration, head to Gamba Ristorante in Merrillville. They are located at 455 East 84th Drive. Reservations are recommended and are easy by calling 219-736-5000. You may also visit them online at http://www.gambaristorante.com/ where you can view the lunch and dinner menus.
