The
look and feel of Fina, located in beautiful Historic College
Park, is so New York neighborhood bistro-like, it’s
scary. Think exposed brick walls and sturdy dark woods. The
bar is small but cozy. A family-sized round table in the
back of the restaurant is the kind of table you imagine mob
bosses to be sitting at while planning a hit.
The fare is red sauce New York Italian, featuring classic hearty
dishes like chicken parmesan, tagliatelle carbonara, and sweet
Italian sausage with gnocchi. Lasagna arrives on a piping hot
plate with fresh meat ragu, rich béchamel and ricotta
cheese. Veal Toscano — served as thin cutlets in a mushroom
red wine sauce, actually hits more French notes than Italian.
But the kitchen shows signs of inconsistency with veal — one
visit it’s magnificently tender, the next it’s dry
and stringy.
My favorite of the pasta options is the lamb rigatoni. Small,
tender stew-sized cubes of lamb are tossed in a bowl with noodles,
sweet peas and onions, wearing a thin but flavorsome rosemary
jus.
What surprises me most is how well they do pizza and calzones.
The secret to Fina’s exceptional pizza lies in the impossibly
crispy yet chewy crust. My only lament is that I’d like
to see slightly better quality ingredients used, like fresh basil
on the Margherita pizza.
For dessert, the cannoli is beautiful, but the crème brulee,
made with real vanilla, is flawlessly prepared.
To sum it up, Fina is a solid neighborhood option near the airport.
The atmosphere is cozy and comfortable. And the service is friendly-quick.
Your question: Where should I grab a bite near the airport? My
answer: Fina.
|
Lamb rigatoni from Fina
Address:
3823 Main Street, College Park
Telephone:
404.767.9292.
|
