For the second summer in a row, Johnny D’s is offering a prix fixe menu featuring a choice of 16 entrées for the great price of $16.
The basic deal at this attractive bistro on South A1A is very similar to that offered by the family’s other beachside restaurant, Pomodoro, but the entrée choices are different.
With the prix fixe, you get a house salad as well as your entrée selection. A glass of wine to accompany your meal starts at $5 – or $20 for a bottle.
On our most recent visit last week, we had barely been seated when the server brought a plate of those addictive garlic knots.
We quickly ordered a bottle of the house red – which claims on its label that it is the “No. 1 wine in Italy.” Quite a pretentious boast, but for a table blend, not bad.
For starters, I opted for the sun-dried tomato balsamic dressing on my house salad. My husband and our companion decided to upgrade to the Caesar for an additional $1.95. A further upgrade brought anchovies for the Caesars for an extra $1.25.
Then for main courses, I chose the gamberoni scampi, my husband decided to try the rigatoni Bolognese, and our companion opted for eggplant rollatini.
The gamberoni scampi consisted of jumbo white shrimp, sautéed in extra virgin olive oil with garlic and fresh herbs, and tossed with linguini.
The eggplant slices were stuffed with ricotta, mozzarella and pecorino romano cheese, topped with a house made marinara and served with a side of capellini.
My husband’s rigatoni was tossed with slow braised beef, and served with caramelized Vidalia onions and house smoked mozzarella in a marinara sauce that had a splash of sherry and a hint of cream. All very good.
On a previous visit, I had the piccolo pescatore – a yummy variation of zuppa di pesce with Prince Edward Island mussels, calamari, little neck clams and shrimp in a tomato seafood herb broth over linguini – and my husband had the ying yang tuna.
That dish may well be the best on the menu – 8 ounces of beautiful yellowfin tuna seared rare, then slices and fanned out on the plate with a cucumber wasabi sauce on one side and a mandarin orange, ginger and sesame sauce on the other.
One of the better features of these specials is that you don’t have to arrive at an indecently early hour to take advantage of this. The prix fixe is offered from the time the dinner hour begins at 5 right up to close.
While the summer is fast becoming a memory, there’s still time to try Johnny D’s prix fixe. And dinner for two with a glass of wine a piece for $40 (if you stay away from those anchovies) will leave you feeling so good you may wish to splurge on a slice of limoncello cake, which is a definite ‘don’t miss.’
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.