Wednesday, August 11, 2010
La Barca Restaurant and Bar Launches New Expanded Menu
This past January, the Bonaire Insider reported the opening of a new Italian restaurant on Bonaire, La Barca Restaurant and Bar. On a recent visit, I was surprised and pleased to see that the restaurant had launched a new, expanded menu offering even more enticing options.
Choices for antipasti range from salads to carpaccio to soups. For the first course (primi, traditionally pasta), one can choose from the risotto del giorno (risotto of the day), lasagna, gnocchi, linguine, or a variety of penne. For the main course, one now can choose from a variety of fish or seafood dishes, beef, steak, or vegetarian options. New to this expanded menu are pizzas, offering the traditional Margherita, Parma, Cotto e Mozzarella, Napoli, Diavola, Four Cheese, or Vegetarian. Home-made desserts offer the traditional tiramisu or panna cotta, but also chocolate souffle, pastry with custard and fresh fruit, or the dessert of the week.
On my recent visit, I once again decided upon the gnocchi, which on my prior visit had melted in my mouth. This time it was a spinach and potato gnocchi in a Mediterranean sauce with the fresh fish of the day, barracuda (pictured above). The “first-course” pasta dishes are large enough for a complete meal, and I never quite manage to get to the second course!
After dinner, the traditional limoncello appeared for my dining companion and I, straight from the Amalfi coast of Italy. This is an after-dinner digestivo, an Italian lemon liqueur consumed to aid digestion. While enjoying our limoncelli, we began chatting with a family at a nearby table, who’s son, Noah, offered a piece of his pizza for us to try. It was excellent, and some day soon, I will have to pick up a pizza to take home.
The proprietor and wait staff are very attentive. If desired, the proprietor will give an explanation of how each dish is lovingly prepared and what goes into it. His enthusiasm for the dishes he offers is catchy--one wants to sample them all! On this occasion, just prior to leaving, I was asked to sample and critique a new apple pie that the chef was testing................how could I refuse such an offer? The pie was perfect--not too sweet, not too tart, just right! It had a light, flaky pastry and was beautifully presented. With such attention to detail, La Barca will soon become a favored restaurant on Bonaire.
In fact, the evening I was there, the entire restaurant did fill up, so advance reservations are definitely recommended. La Barca is on the oceanfront promenade and enjoys a cooling breeze. For reservations or additional information, contact La Barca by calling 717-4514 or cellular 795-1932. The restaurant is closed on Tuesdays. (Source: Bonaire Insider reporter)
