Trattoria Toscana is a top Italian restaurant

I had Mussels in a Tomato Broth ($11) as my appetizer and could not have made a better choice. It was as good as I have ever had. Sopping up the broth with their Italian bread was just as good as finishing the Mussels themselves. Mitch started off with their Seasonal Vegetables with Balsamic Vinagrette salad ($10) which he raved about.

For our main courses I had their Pollo All Aceto ($24), bone in chicken with rosemary, garlic, parmigiana and red vinegar. It was cooked to perfection and more than enough to eat. Mitch enjoyed one of his favorite dishes at the Trattoria, their Scallopine saltimbocca ($23), veal stuffed with prosciutto, sage and cheese and served over spinach.

Because we were stretched for time we passed on their dessert choices all of which sounded terrific. And because it was a working day lunch meeting we also passed on choosing from their extensive wine list.

Daily specials change frequently with the season and freshness and always showcase Tuscan specialties with the focus always on fresh, simple and homemade.

The Trattoria Toscana was started in 1997 by Rodolfo Monti and his son Giacomo (chef).The cooking reflects the region in Italy where Rodolfo grew up. For a late lunch the restaurant was about two-thirds full with many of us showing up at about the same time. To simplify letting everyone know about the extensive list of daily specialties Rodolfo stood in the middle of the one room restaurant and, in his booming voice, went through the list. It was obvious that Rodolfo and his son are very hands-on.

The atmosphere is comfortable and sophisticated in an understated way, without being pretentious. 

Mitch emphasized that getting a table on the weekend without a reservation can be problematic. He suggested booking one at least four or five days in advance.

When you try this one out you will enjoy the experience. Check out their web site at trattoriatoscananj.com.

Trattoria Toscana

554 Route 10 West, Whippany, NJ

973-386-0303