Il Continori

courtesy of Il Continori website

Last night we had our monthly girls night out. I have been to Il Continori before, and they have wonderful, authentic Italian food. But a little birdie told me that they have a Wednesday night special. You get 3 courses for $18.95. Which is an insanely good value, considering most of the entrees on the menu are around $17. Needless to say, we couldn’t resist.

I really love the inside. The atmosphere reminds me of rustic Italy. Brick and stucco walls, dark wood tables, candles, white tablecloths and pictures of Italy. A mix of Andrea Bocelli and classical music accompanies your meal, though a bit too loud for our liking. I also must say that Pachelbel’s Canon is one of my favorite classical pieces, but not every version known to man, playing for half an hour straight. It was a bit much. We did have a good laugh about it though.

photos courtesy of Il Continori website

First, they brought out delicious fresh bread and olive oil with loads of sliced fresh garlic and sun dried tomatoes. It was so good, but I had to remind myself not to fill up.

The first course was a choice of antipasti or salad. The antipasti, which could feed two, consisted of chunks of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, olives, prosciutto, roasted red peppers, marinated artichokes, portabello mushrooms and eggplant. It was more than delicious. The green salad was tossed with a balsamic vinaigrette and mixed with red onion and pear tomatoes.

For the main course, you could choose from any pasta or meat dish on the menu under $17 or any of the 4 specials of the evening. I chose a special, pork in a port wine au jus, severed with garlic mashed potatoes with a squash and onion side dish. Another friend chose the fresh papparadelle with duck in a red sauce and the remaining 2 ladies chose the fresh fettuccine with peas and pancetta in a tomato cream sauce. Not only were they all delicious…but we each had enough for leftovers. As you can see, the portions are more than generous!

Dessert was a choice of about 5 homemade sweets. We chose tiramisu, orange creme brulee and chocolate gelato. Again, all equally good, though the chocolate gelato was reeeeeeally chocolaty!!!

Their wine list had many reasonably priced reds and whites by the bottle. It is so hard for all of us to agree on a wine, but this time we agreed on a bottle of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, a nice fruity red, with a little bit of spice. It was a steal at $25! Just $6 a person..and we all got more than a glass out of it. They even had an $18 Chianti on the list. I can’t remember the last time I saw a bottle of red wine on a wine list for less than $20.

The vote at the end of dinner….thumbs up! We all agreed to come back again. We would certainly go anytime, but with all that delicious homemade Italian food setting us back a mere $19, I think Wednesday will now be our favorite night to return!

Il Continori
2648 East Main Street
Wappingers Falls, NY 12590
845.297.9222

TACE
February 21st, 2008
Sheesh that looks tasty……We haven’t tried a lot of Italian restaurants ourselves as the ones we have were always disappointing…but that looks sooooo good. Not sure if it’s worth a trip to NY just for a steal of a deal for a Wednesday Italian feast but it does look yummsy!
Thanks for sharing the photos, it’s neat to see how the food really looks when it comes to the table…I’m equally impressed that there are no fingers creeping into the frame to snitch a bite while the photo-er snapped away….y’all have more patience then me…haha

Maryann
February 21st, 2008
Girls night out. What fun!
I’m curious who came up with this bread and olive oil dip thing before the antipasti. I just don’t understand this, although my bloke loves it.
What do you think of it? Is this a new invention?

Angie
February 22nd, 2008
Your pictures made my mouth water, but also made me very sad because I don’t live anywhere near there!!! I am so jealous. We have some decent Italian places around here but nothing that ever looks that great…at those prices!!

anne
February 22nd, 2008
Wow, what a fantastic meal!! All looks so yummy and delicious…I just love that sort of food, Italian is my favourite ..so jealous..Yes we have Italian restuarants here but just not the right feeling to the restaurant,might have to search Oxford. So pleased you had a great meal and night with your friends…The Hungry Heifers!!!!!

Vienna for Beginners
February 23rd, 2008
Looks and sounds (I almost wrote “smells” *smile*) like a real treat!
Have you ever understood why wine by the glass costs so much in the USA?

My Melange
February 23rd, 2008
TACE~ My friends are so used to me taking pictures, they offer help by moving silverware and candles etc…so the pictures come out good
Maryann~ No new invention. I have seen it before. Personally I love it! Maybe it is an Amercianzied-Italian thing?
Angie~ Yeah, I think I am lucky that I live in this area. We have an abundance of great Italian places…it becomes hard to choose
Anne~ Silly name, we know. But we loved it!! Italian is my fav too..plus it makes it easy for my Chris (the vegetarian) to find lots of choices on the menu!
Merisi~ Speaking of wine by the glass….we went to dinner for Valentines Day…my glass was $9 and it was only about 1/16th of the glass, full. Really a turn off!

rochambeau
February 23rd, 2008
My mouth is watering!!
I’M NOT KIDDING!
Plus, you got to be with the girls!

Chouzy
February 24th, 2008
What a delicious bargain! You should go there every Wednesday.

melissa @ the inspired room
February 24th, 2008
Yummy! I’m going to NY next month, but I won’t be there on a Wednesday night. Darn! Looks so delish, and what a deal!
Fun girls night out!
Happy Week!
Melissa

My Melange
February 25th, 2008
Constance~ Next time I’ll save you some leftovers
Chouzy~ If I could…beleive me..I would!!!
Melissa~ Darn, double darn. What part of NY are you going to???? Details….details

May
February 27th, 2008
Wappinger falls , italian restaurant …new york state ..so many good souvenirs.
When I lived in Rhinebeck , I was friend with an au pair who was taking care of an italian girl whose parents had a trattoria and I have wonderful souvenirs with them , remembering my european food