A Flavor-Packed Taste of Italy at Maurizio’s

Just watching the customers walk in and out of Maurizio’s, it is
evident that they are doing something right. Couples, families and
friends alike walk in happy and leave even happier. If you enjoy
Italian Cuisine with bold flavor, Maurizio’s will not disappoint
you.
My last visit for dinner with my husband was no different.
Just watching the customers walk in and out of Maurizio’s, it is evident that they are doing something right. Couples, families and friends alike walk in happy and leave even happier. If you enjoy Italian Cuisine with bold flavor, Maurizio’s will not disappoint you.

My last visit for dinner with my husband was no different.

Maurizio’s is tucked away in downtown Morgan Hill at 25 East First Street. Upon entering, we were greeted by Maurizio’s delightful wife Sarah and seated immediately with ice water, bread, and a dish of roasted garlic. Larger parties had to endure a short wait outside but a few outdoor tables are available to enjoy a glass of wine.

While my husband reviewed an extensive list of Italian and American wines, I couldn’t help but observe the door. I noticed everyone who entered the restaurant was welcomed like old friends who had been there dozens of times before. My husband commented that the feeling of hospitality and the decor reminded him of his own Italian grandparents. The walls are decorated with posters and maps of Italy along with photos of friends and customers. Our table was next to a few carefully hand-printed thank you notes to Maurizio from local children.

The tables are close together but as the wine continued to flow and the laughs in the room got louder, we felt like we could still have a conversation without our neighbors overhearing. It would be the perfect atmosphere to catch up with old friends over a bottle of red wine and delicious food. 

Our knowledgeable server recommended a light and inexpensive red wine, a bottle of 2004 Mark West Pinot Noir for $24. It tasted just fine. We ordered two appetizers to share, Cozze Vongole in Quazzetto (clams and mussels in a wine lemon sauce) for$9 and decided to be adventurous and try the Melanzane Rollatini (eggplant, cream cheese, and ricotta in a marinara sauce) for $7.50.

When the clams and mussels arrived, their shells were bursting open with herbs and diced tomatoes. The special treat was in the sauce that screamed of fresh lemon followed by a strong bite of red pepper. I highly recommend guarding your remaining sauce and reserving as much as you can for delightful bread dipping.

Our second appetizer, the melanzane was much more delectable than I expected it to be. It arrived in two small portions and looked a bit like crêpes. The eggplant was sliced thin and rolled around a layer of warm cream cheese and ricotta. It was then topped with a mild marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese. The cream cheese adds such a soothing element to this inventive dish, I could have gobbled the whole thing.

Our Insalata Primavera,$4, was delivered by “Papa” (who I can only assume is Maurizio’s father) with his charming Italian accent. It was a mixed baby green salad mingled with carrot shavings and crumbled blue cheese. It was deliciously tossed in a sweet balsamic vinaigrette dressing.

We giggled as he demanded us to “Mangia! Mangia!” and our server twisted fresh ground pepper from an enormous wooden mill that was the size of a small child. A word of advice to the classic Caesar salad lover – I have ordered their Caesar before and their version of the dressing is much more like a creamy Italian vinaigrette and may catch you off-guard.

The menu warns customers that all entrees are made to order so a little patience might be necessary. I found the pace of the meal to be relaxing. With the upbeat atmosphere combined with our bottle of wine and conversation, I felt like the time flew by while our main course was prepared. Our wine and water glasses never sat empty. They will accommodate any special requests.

From a previous visit, I can highly recommend the Frutti di Mare alla Pescatora, $19. It is a fettuccini dish featuring “fruit of the sea”. In this case it is mussels, shrimp, calamari, clams and garlic in a spicy marinara sauce that will knock you out.

Unfortunately, it was just too darn hot out for me to enjoy a pasta dish so I ordered one of the evening’s specials, the Halibut with Shrimp and Cherry Tomatoes for $24. My husband, who doesn’t care for thyme, took a bite and said it wasn’t for him. I however, loved the burst of flavor the blend of fresh herbs added. It reminded me of the shaker of Italian seasonings I keep in my pantry if the herbs could be magically transformed into their original fresh flavor.

The halibut was perfectly cooked, remaining flaky yet juicy with a light wine sauce and topped with wonderfully large and flavorful shrimp and warm cherry tomatoes. There were a few quartered, roasted potatoes and slices of zucchini served on the side.

I sampled my husband’s entree, Sagottino di Pollo, $19, a savory and tasty chicken stuffed with sausage, sun dried tomatoes, and mushrooms in a roasted red bell pepper brandy sauce. The portions are not enormous like Americanized starch-filled chains. This left room for a scrumptious chocolate souffle and petite scoop of ice cream and my husband’s “Bamba,” vanilla and bitter chocolate ice cream with fruit and nuts in a hard chocolate shell. Both desserts were exquisite and the perfect sweet ending to our evening out. From the large window in the kitchen where he makes his magic, Maurizio shouted “Bella Grazi!” and gave us a friendly wave on our way out.

‘Jane Dough’ was raised in Gilroy and returned after graduating from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. She enjoys cooking, caring for her husband and three small children, and dining out every chance she gets. Reach her at sl*******@***oo.com. All reviews for The Dish are anonymous, and all reviewer’s meals are paid for by South Valley Newspapers.