VERO BEACH — At most of the restaurants we have visited in the past month, the summer specials were pretty similar to those we remembered from 2012.
But not at Pomodoro, which has totally rethought its approach, changing everything from the hours its specials are offered to the pricing of both the food and wine. The result: a much-improved 2013 summer dining package.
A year ago, you had to arrive at this attractively decorated Tuscan trattoria located off Cardinal Drive before 6 p.m. (ugh) to take advantage of its summer deal, which basically consisted of discounts of a couple of dollars or so on many of its regular menu items.
This year, there are no time restrictions on summer dining, so on a recent evening, we arrived shortly after 7 pm to a restaurant that was hearteningly full for a summer weekday. (This restaurant has long been a favorite of beachside diners.)
Our waiter quickly inquired about wine, and we took advantage of the fact that this year’s summer menu offers quite drinkable wines for $3 a glass – a nice savings from summer 2012’s wines priced at $5. (You also can opt to buy full bottles of these special wines for only $15.)
While we waited for a basket of those wonderful, addictive, olive-oil basted garlic knots – surely the best hot garlic rolls in town – we pondered the all-new 2013 Pomodoro Grill summer menu, which offers 11 entrées plus house salad for $16.
I decided to try the Cajun shrimp, my husband picked the eggplant parm, and our companion chose Pomodoro’s pollo saltimbocca.
When the garlic knots arrived, they were accompanied by field greens-and-tomato salads. I had a tangy tomato basil vinaigrette dressing on my salad, while my husband and our companion opted for the creamy Vidalia onion Italian dressing.
My shrimp entrée was pan-tossed with Cajun spices, tri-color bell peppers and Bermuda onions. The shrimp were cooked perfectly, finished in a tasty sherry wine cream sauce, and served over penne.
My husband’s entrée consisted of three slices of breaded eggplant layered with fresh basil, Romano and mozzarella cheese, topped with Pomodoro’s excellent marinara.
Our companion’s chicken breast saltimbocca was pan-seared, layered with sautéed spinach, crispy prosciutto, and melted mozzarella, and finished in a fresh sage demi glaze.
As one might expect at Pomodoro, all three of the entrées were very good.
Other special menu dishes that we did not try – but which certainly sounded tempting – were the oceano, a seafood medley of clams, shrimp, and mussels over pasta; the mahi piccata, grilled dolphin served in a chardonnay beurre blanc; and the grilled bistro cut top sirloin.
Dinner for the three of us, accompanied by four of those $3 glasses of chardonnay, came to $60 before taxes and tip. A fine evening with a very reasonable check.
The bottom line here is that the Pomodoro Grill is offering its many fans a much better summer deal than they were a year ago.
I welcome your comments, and encourage you to send feedback to me at tina@verobeach32963.com.
The reviewer is a beachside resident who dines anonymously at restaurants at the expense of Vero Beach 32963.