If you’re familiar with Cape Saint Claire Plaza, you might have noticed a new restaurant in town. Della Notte Restaurant & Wine Bar opened in September in the former location of RiverBay Roadhouse, and is a welcome addition to the neighborhood. The new ownership includes three partners affiliated with Carpaccio Tuscan Kitchen and Wine Bar in Annapolis. Lou Fischer is the owner/operator and General Manager. He’s a community sponsor of Annapolis Moms, a dad of three, and thrilled to bring Della Notte’s unique dining experience to the Cape.
The exterior of Della Notte looks largely the same as Riverbay Roadhouse, but the interior couldn’t be more different. The dining room is cozy and warm, anchored by a large fireplace, rustic decor, beautiful large-scale photos of Italy, and many candles. The bar is romantic and elegant but also quite comfortable, with barstools and tables for two or four.
Della Notte is founded on principles of accessibility, reflected in three key areas:
- A menu that’s easily recognized, unfussy, and enjoyable.
- A wine list that’s neither too broad nor too deep, with several wines available by the glass.
- A bar area that’s comfortable while also elegant.
During our visit, an elderly couple celebrated an anniversary, two old friends chatted in a corner, and a family of eight enjoyed robust conversation over dinner. At the bar, two couples enjoyed a double date, a man chatted over a couple of beers with a friend, and what must have been a blind date unfolded somewhat awkwardly at one of the tall tables.
Our server, Matthew, helped us navigate the menu of classic pastas, risotti, gnocchi, seafood, and meat dishes. Adventurous diners might enjoy the truffle gnocchi, while grilled skirt steak or pork chops may appeal to meat lovers, and there are even offerings like burgers and the Philly Cheesesteak for the more casual diner.
We started our meal with the Frito Misto and Arancini appetizers. The frito was a combination of seafood perfectly fried with a light batter and served with two sauces. The arancini was our favorite: tomato and basil rice balls filled with fire-roasted red peppers, mixed with a blend of Italian cheeses, and fried. It’s the perfect combination of just a slight crunch on the first bite, then soft, savory richness on the inside.
For dinner, we started with Pappardelle Bolognese, a suggestion from Matthew, and Wild Mushroom Risotto, an Italian arborio rice slowly cooked in a mushroom broth with imported porcini mushrooms, drizzled with white truffle oil, and topped with shaved Parmigiano Reggiano. We chose a light chianti available by the glass to accompany these rich dishes. We also sampled the Penne Vodka Della Notte which consists of smoked Italian prosciutto, peas, mushrooms, and caramelized onions served with a creamy vodka sauce over a perfectly toothsome pasta.
All Della Notte sauces are homemade, many with a personal twist courtesy of the chef. Dessert was an easy choice: a light and airy limoncello cake with Lavazza brand Italian espresso. Other desserts include a Crème Brûlée (made in-house), a surprising addition to the otherwise Italian menu, but one that reminded me that the best way to describe Della Notte is as a neighborhood bistro. It’s a comfortable, cozy, casual restaurant with a relatively inexpensive menu and a kitchen that serves quality cuisine that happens to be delicious.
1374 Cape Saint Claire Rd., Cape Saint Claire, Maryland 21401
https://dellanotterestaurant.com/
Open Tuesday – Friday at 11am and at Noon on Saturdays and Sundays for Dine In and Carry Out. Happy Hour is from 3-6:30pm Tuesday – Friday and from 1-4pm on Saturday.
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