Gaetano’s Restaurant

The next stop in our never-ending quest for delicious food takes us to one of the most popular Italian restaurants north of Boston: Gaetano’s in Stoneham.

Gaetano’s has been serving classic, no-frills, Italian food for thirty years right on Main Street near the corner of Montvale Ave. They’re known for their pastas, and thin-crust pizza. And just as important, the portions are very generous, and the prices are very reasonable, which is why this is one of the busiest restaurants in the area.

So when you take a look around the restaurant, you’ll always see a lot of happy faces throughout the dining room and bar.  There are about a hundred seats, very tall ceilings, the atmosphere is comfortable and casual, but it’s nice enough to come here for a date night or a business meeting. The menu is absolutely gigantic, so to help you figure out what to order, let’s break it down.

Starting out with appetizers, you definitely need to try the Shrimp Grand Marnier. I love this dish, and Gaetano’s recipe is on point.  It starts with fresh jumbo shrimp, coated in a light egg batter that gets pan-seared. And then it’s flambeed in Grand Marnier.. So the orange liquor brings some citrus and a nice depth of flavor, while the shrimp is crispy on the outside and sweet on the inside.

Another popular starter is the Antipasto for Two.  At least that’s what it’s called… Honestly it looks more like an antipasto for four.  Basically, this is a veritable mountain of meat and cheese and veggies.  The components can and will change seasonally, based on whatever the best stuff is the chef can source… But we’re talking salami, mortadella, prosciutto, all the good stuff, along with marinated mushrooms, artichokes, roasted peppers. That’s how you start an Italian feast.

Now if you went back into the kitchen and you asked Chef Esteben for his signature dish, he’d probably cook you this: the Lobster Ravioli. This is homemade lobster ravioli, the pasta and the filling are made here on sight.  And these are big ravioli, very filling, packed with a combination of fresh-shucked lobster meat and a little ricotta cheese. And to make it even better, they’re tossed with some crab meat in a mouth-watering sherry pink sauce I still think Rino’s in East Boston has the best lobster ravioli in Massachusetts, but these aren’t far behind.

Gaetano’s really excels when it comes to cooking classic Italian-American dishes. And the Pork Chops with Vinegar Peppers is a prime example. You get two thick, center cut pork chops. They’re marinated and grilled, and somehow these end up being the juiciest pork chops you’ll ever taste.  And it comes with those tangy vinegar peppers, some extra crispy peddler potatoes, and the sauce is so good, you might end up licking the plate.

And speaking of dishes you won’t be able to stop eating, check out the Brogliamenta For Two.  This is yet another mammoth plate, really more of a sampler platter of some of Gaetano’s most popular dishes.  So it comes with Chicken Parmesan and Eggplant Parmesan. A big portion of both. And that also comes with Chicken Marsala, their housemade cheese ravioli, grilled sausage, and to keep things nice and healthy, you get some sauteed spinach as well. Everything on this plate is delicious, and for less than forty dollars, it’s one of the best values on the menu.

For something a little bit different, I’d recommend the “steak tip pasta”.  This dish has some Greek influence, you have those juicy, marinated steak tips, and they’re tossed in some sauteed garlic, with black olives, tomatoes, red onions, spinach, penne pasta, and chunks of feta cheese. So it’s salty and cheesy, and yet it’s surprisingly light!

Now I don’t know if I’d call Gaetano’s pizza “light”, but the crust is thin and crispy, so we’re talking very little floppage. They make their own dough daily. They have tons of toppings. But the one you gotta try is the Salsiccia Pizza, that has a combination of sliced Italian sausage and hot cherry peppers. And that’s a combination that just always works.

If you’re a lobster lover, you should go to Gaetano’s on Wednesdays, because they serve a special lobster menu for both lunch and dinner. And especially in the summer, you gotta try their Baked Stuffed Lobster. It’s made with sauteed onions, garlic, breadcrumbs and Ritz Crackers, along with smoked gouda cheese, and a double reduction of lobster sauce. And it comes with a bowl of melted butter on the side!

For dessert, what else would you expect at a place like this than some traditional Italian Tiramisu.  In Italian “tiramisu” means “pick me up” or “cheer me up”... and this will definitely put a smile on your face because it’s light and creamy, you have those great flavors and aromas from the chocolate and espresso. Perfect way to cap off your meal.

And that’s how you put together the perfect meal at Gaetano’s in Stoneham.