CIELO, FAIRFIELD
There was a festive atmosphere when we entered Cielo in Fairfield with families dining and a large party celebrating a life-cycle event. This Italian restaurant with a bar, reasonable wine list, generous servings and a red sauce which put a smile on our faces, hits the mark.
Chef/owner Anthony Pucciarello, a graduate of the CIA, and previously executive chef at Luce in Caldwell and Papillon Restaurant in Nutley, has an extensive menu with specials written out with the prices. What to choose? Should we order the whimsical inside-out meatball, filled with spaghetti and served with a tomato basil sauce; angry clams simmered in a spicy natural broth with cracked cappellini and roasted garlic; arugula, endive and radicchio salad with lemon, olive oil and shaved Parmigiano Reggiano; creamy polenta topped with a fricassee of truffled wild mushrooms; or a side of broccoli rabe with garlic and olive oil? We chose all of the above as starters and devoured everything forgetting that we had a pasta and entrée dishes to savor also.
Polenta topped with a fricassee of truffled wild mushrooms.
For entrees, we moved on to the slow-roasted, peasant-style chicken on the bone with caramelized peas, onions and potatoes with a splash of vinegar; bronzini with lemon, white wine and capers; slow-braised beef short ribs with fresh horseradish-whipped potatoes; and jumbo shrimp oreganato, which were well received by the table. However, it was the pastas that had us swooning.
Gnocchi with pesto sauce.
Photos courtesy of Lowell Saferstein
Chef Pucciarello excels with sauces and especially red sauces; this along with the homemade pastas differentiates this restaurant from others. If you dine here on a Sunday, rigatoni with Sunday gravy, a hearty red sauce with pork, meatball and sausage is available, and easily shared. Homemade orecchiette with caramelized cauliflower, sweet sausage out of the casing, white northern beans, garlic and olive oil sprinkled with toasted breadcrumbs had balanced levels of flavor and texture; do try it. The red-wine stained housemade pappardelle—our favorite shape of pasta—was served with a rich, twelve-hour braised oxtail ragu. A traditional creamy and fragrant pesto enveloped airy, homemade gnocchi. It is a must-try dish.
Two desserts and six forks were ordered and both the raspberry cheesecake and crème brulee were nourishing!
Here are a few deals to be aware of that are offered at Cielo:
A traditional Italian Sunday Supper from 3 to 9 PM is $21.95 and features a glass of house wine, salad, and meatballs, house-made sausage and pasta with "Grandma’s Gravy."
A tavern menu is available from Tuesday through Friday after 5 PM which features chef Pucciarello’s take on casual fare, including blackened Ahi tuna steak sandwich; hide & seek mac–n-cheese which is a four-cheese mac and cheese inside signature meatball topped with a poached egg; blue-cheese stuffed burger; and seven different pizzas.
A three-course prix-fixe lunch is available, Tuesday through Friday, featuring soup, salad and entree for $10.95.
Cielo is open for lunch Tuesday through Friday and dinner Tuesday through Sunday. The Bar/Lounge is open the same hours as the restaurant with last call at 1:15 AM. Happy Hour is Tuesday through Friday from 4 to 7 PM
Cielo
168 Passaic Avenue
Fairfield, NJ
973-808-1414
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DINING DEALS
PIANO ROOM MENU AT HIGHLAWN PAVILION, WEST ORANGE
A new three-course, prix-fixe menu is available from Tuesday through Thursday during regular dinner service in the Piano Room at the Highlawn Pavilion, Eagle Rock Reservation, West Orange for $39 plus tax and gratuity. Some choices include Provencal vegetable parfait, Scottish salmon tartare, brook trout, slowly braised pork shank, vegan fresh garden vegetable plate, and a selection from their dessert menu. Reservations: 973-731-3463.
WINE DEAL AT RESTAURANT SERENADE, CHATHAM
Restaurant Serenade, Six Roosevelt Ave, Chatham (973-701-0303) is offering 50 percent off of 50 wines every Monday from 6 to 9 PM.
PRIX FIXE AT ASSEMBLY STEAK HOUSE, ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS
Dine at Assembly Steak House, 495 Sylvan Ave, Englewood Cliffs (201-568-2616) from 3 to 6:30 PM, Monday through Friday when a three-course, prix-fixe is offered for $24.95. Menu choices are available and a side salad can be ordered for $3.
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