At the very end of Delray Beach, sits Caffe Luna Rosa, a great Italian restaurant on prime property boasting views of the beach. It started off in 1993 as a gelateria and paninoteca (sandwich shop) and became a full-service restaurant in 1997.
Luna Rosa has won numerous awards, such as OpenTable Diner’s Choice, the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, and a Certificate of Excellence from Tripadvisor multiple years in a row. Reservations definitely help, as new parties are seated as soon as previous parties’ tables are cleaned off.
The crowd is lively and there is plenty of people watching to be had, since you can see many beachgoers heading into their cars across the street after a day of soaking up the sun.
The interior of the restaurant is mostly brown, with some cobalt blue light up top. I’m a BIG fan of wooden paneling, too.
With a view of the beach, you can’t help but feel relaxed, no matter where you’re seated, but if you ask me, get a table right under the awning, which is inside and outside. Like Van Halen, you get the “Best of Both Worlds”.
It’s collection of ‘50s-‘80s photos rivals only that of Google and gave off a convivial vibe. Check out the cool one below of Roy Orbison and The Beatles.
The Himalayan pink salt and pepper grinders on the table were a nice, different touch, as opposed to the standard ones usually seen at restaurants.
A Gorgeous Caprese Salad
Now, onto the food. I started off with a classic Caprese salad—buffalo mozzarella, beefsteak tomatoes, roasted red peppers and arugula. Theirs had a touch of basil-infused olive oil. Buffalo mozzarella is made in Campania from Italian Mediterranean buffalo and is thicker, creamier, richer and much tastier than its regular counterpart. And yes, the cheese was thick, creamy and rich, the tomatoes were fresh and thick, and the pesto and arugula were fresh, and the peppers melted in your mouth. Though some people eat everything individually, and some have a little bit of everything in each bite, there’s no wrong way to eat a Reese’s. So, no matter how you choose to enjoy it, it’s an appetizer not to be missed. If you think it looks amazing, wait till you try it.
The menu is a mix of both traditional and modern, such as Orange Bang Bang Shrimp (breaded, with cucumber spaghetti in a martini glass), and Scamponi (shrimp stuffed with crabmeat). It has a HUGE wine selection from the US, Spain and Italy. I found it very interesting and informative how the Italian wines were broken down by region. At Luna Rosa, not only do you wine and dine, you get an education, too.
Fusilli Shrimp Pesto Genovese
My main course—Fusilli Shrimp Pesto Genovese with sundried tomatoes—was suggested to me by one of the restaurant’s partners. All of their pasta is made in house and their bread is baked there daily. Whole wheat options are available, too. The portion was enough for at least two meals and was just perfect. The one shrimp you see was just the tip of the iceberg, as many were hidden beneath the surface, lost in the mix of fusilli, oil, pesto and sundried tomatoes. I’m so glad I listened to part-owner Nikola.
It was my mom’s birthday, so how could I not order dessert? I opted for a large cannoli, filled with ricotta cream and chocolate chips. There were extra blueberries on the plate, as well as fresh strawberries and a sliver of mint. Does anyone else love chewing on mint during dessert? I could’ve had at least five of these crunchy, deep-fried, sweet cream-filled pastry shells, but I wanted to save some for the other customers.
The Wind-Down
The only thing better would have been if this meal had taken place on the night the moon was pink, because one translation of “Luna Rosa” “Pink Moon” in Italian. At restaurants like this, you’re usually paying for a good view and mediocre food, but with this place you get beautiful, generous portions of excellent food and superb service. I highly recommend having a meal here. Book your table today.
Caffe Luna Rosa
34 S. Ocean Blvd.
Delray Beach, FL 33483
(561) 274-9404
www.caffelunarosa.com