For a well-prepared homecooked meal, visit the Ferrara family at any of their three Ferrara Pizza and Italian restaurants in Broward County. The restaurant in the Plantation Promenade has been open about 3 1/2 years; the one in Plantation Pavilion, about 2 years; the one in Lauderhill, about three months. At each of these eateries, you can count on at least one Ferrara overseeing the operation. This attention by family members is evident both in the food and service.
Recently, I visited the Lauderhill location. This is an attractive restaurant with Italian tile floors and well-spaced booths and tables. The kitchen is visible at the front of the restaurant. The hostess immediately took charge of setting up a highchair for the 1 1/2-year-old in our party. And our waitress and other servers repeatedly and cheerfully checked on the toddler as well as the adults. The kitchen was equally attentive to the food. Chicken Stemperata ($8.95) was a large serving of extremely tender, boneless, skinless chicken breast sauteed with garlic, onion slices, artichoke quarters, sliced black olives and bits of green pepper – a great combination of flavors.
A side of al dente spaghetti was topped with chunky, flavorful homemade tomato sauce. Ferrara makes its own pastas, too. And the Pasta Platter ($6.95), with large servings of stuffed shells, manicotti and lasagna, is a good way to sample a variety of them. All were prepared al dente. The manicotti and stuffed shells had creamy, rich fillings of ricotta cheese; the thick lasagna was savory and meaty – no wonder this dish never goes out of style.
Each of the entrees was accompanied by a large salad and garlic rolls. The salad featured fresh lettuce, bits of onion and tomato wedges. The restaurant’s own creamy Italian dressing was an excellent topping. The garlic rolls had good flavor and weren’t too oily.
Other items on the Ferrara menu include Fine Herb Chicken, half a chicken roasted with herbs, ($7.95); Chicken Scaperello ($9.95); Chicken Parmigiana ($7.95); Chicken Cacciatore ($8.25); Chicken Piccata ($8.50); Mussels Over Linguini ($8.75); Shrimp Scampi ($10.75); Spaghetti Marinara ($5); Spaghetti With Mushroom Sauce ($5.95); angel hair pasta with vegetables ($7.95), marinara sauce ($5.95) or seafood ($12.95); Rigatoni Alla Vodka ($8.75); Ziti Broccoli ($6.95); Chicken Ziti Broccoli ($8.95); Cheese Tortellini ($5.95); gnocchi with meat sauce ($6.50); Eggplant Parmigiana ($7.25); and Eggplant Rollatini ($7.95).
Specialty pizzas include Hawaiian with ham and pineapple ($4.95 for individual size, $10.75 for regular); Mexican with seasoned ground beef, onions, peppers and jalapeno peppers ($5.95 and $11.95); Vegetarian ($5.95 and $12.95); Treasures of the Sea with shrimp, clams and crab meat ($5.95 and $12.95).
We were too full for dessert, though we were tempted by the cheesecake, spumoni, tortoni and tartufo and the homemade cannoli (each $2.50).
— Do you have a favorite budget restaurant in Broward or Palm Beach County? Please send the name of the restaurant, its address and your name and telephone number to Oline H. Cogdill, Budget Dining, Sun-Sentinel, 200 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 33301. Enclose a menu, if you have one. Please, no telephone calls.
