Vesuvio I

Description:

• Along the Malecón, the most famous Italian restaurant in the Dominican Republic draws crowds of visitors and local businesspeople in spite of its fading decor. What to order? That's always a problem, as the Neapolitan owners, the Bonarelli family, have worked since 1954 to perfect and enlarge the menu. They claim they catch it themselves, cook it from scratch, or even grow it if that's possible. Their homemade soups are excellent. Fresh red snapper, sea bass, and oysters are prepared in enticing ways. Specialties include Dominican crayfish a la Vesuvio (topped with garlic and bacon). Recent menu additions feature pappardelle al Bosque (noodles with porcini mushrooms, rosemary, and garlic), and black tallarini with shrimp a la crema.

  The owner claims to be the pioneer of pizza in the Dominican Republic. At Trattoria Vesuvio next door (tel. 809/221-3000), he makes a unique .9m-long (3-ft.) pizza! There's also Vesuvio II at Av. Tiradentes 17 (tel. 809/562-6060).

• © Frommer's 2013

Awards:

Frommer's

•  Recommended 2010