There really is a piece of Italy in Philadelphia.
Tucked a block away from the trendy shops and restaurants that line Rittenhouse Square is a restaurant that is every bit as classy and elegant but too often overlooked. When you enter Le Castagne, it's hard to believe that you're still on Chestnut Street and you're not -- really.
Everything inside, from the silverware to the pale pink marble-tiled floor to the bar itself was imported from Italy. With its high ceiling and terrace-styled setup, the restaurant blends an open air atmosphere with a North Italian influenced decor that is both rich and inviting.
For starters, Le Castagne offers a varied selection of antipasti, salads and pasta dishes. My guest and I decided on the gnocchi di patate alla sorrentina ($13) and the ravioli alla robiola ($14). The gnocchi, cooked with tomato sauce, basil and mozzarella cheese, was incredibly light and melted in our mouths, while the delicious ravioli was stuffed with robiola cheese and served in a velvety saffron cream sauce.
Just as we were both wondering why we had not taken up our waiter's offer to make our pasta plates into main course dishes, our entrees arrived. I had chosen the filetto ai funghi ($24), which was a filet mignon decorated with a cluster of vegetables, topped with Gorgonzola cheese and served with a wild mushroom sauce. It was very tasty, grilled to perfection and one of the best steaks I have had in a while, and I highly recommend it.
My guest had the petto di pollo alle castagne ($18), an oven roasted chicken breast covered in a chestnut cream sauce. The chicken tasted as delicious as it looked, blending the subtle sweetness of chestnut with a savory flavor of chicken.
As a perfect ending to an evening of great food, Le Castagne has a mouth-watering array of desserts, as well as coffee and a variety of dessert wines. My souffle freddo alle pesche ($7.25) was a sweet combination of peach ice cream and drizzled strawberry sauce while my guest indulged in a creamy slice of tiramisu della casa ($7.25). Both of our desserts were accompanied by a uniquely-flavored chestnut mousse, a signature touch to complement the restaurant's namesake.
Le Castagne takes the chestnut and runs with it, creatively incorporating its possibilities into a number of fine dishes. The restaurant's non-traditional approach to Italian cuisine doesn't need the flashiness of fusion to pull off a creative and refreshing ambiance that is light, classy and relaxed at the same time. But don't just take my word for it -- you'd be much better off taking a night out to experience this phenomenon for yourself.
