Americans love Italian food,
especially pasta and pizza. We seem
never to tire of the delectable variety
of meals that can be made in these
two food categories. Whether we
enjoy the food traditions specific
to northern or southern Italy—or
both—we apparently cannot get
enough of pasta and pizza, eaten at
home or in restaurants.
Here on the Crystal Coast, we can find Italian-inspired dishes in many
restaurants, even those that do not identify themselves specifically as Italian. Of
course, the best places for pasta and pizza are the restaurants that specialize in '
Italian cuisine. One such place is Trattoria in Swansboro.
Trattoria rightly features itself as a small place with big taste, which is reflected
in what is surely the most expansive menu of Italian dishes in the area. Served in
an informal atmosphere, these dishes are found in virtually every menu category.
Among appetizers and salads are many selections with clear Italian ancestry.
Appetizers, for example, include bruschetta, calamari, mussels marinara, Sicilian-
style eggplant parmesan, and involtin di melenzane, an eggplant rollatine stuffed
with ricotta and parmigiano cheeses. Salads include a cold antipasto and a fresh
mozzarella cheese and tomato salad. Appetizers range in price from less than $5
to $14, with salads costing between about $6 and $11.
Whether for lunch or dinner, Trattoria offers extensive sandwich possibilities.
Those with Italian roots range from hot heroes filled with a choice of chicken,
eggplant, meatball or sausage parmigiano; to cold subs stuffed with various
combinations of capicola, ham, salami and cheese; to hot cheese steak sandwiches
labeled “pizza steak” (with fresh mozzarella and tomato sauce) and “Italian
steak” (with onions, peppers, potatoes, mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce).
Sandwiches are generally priced between $8 and $11.
Simple pasta favorites on the menu give patrons many choices. Basic angel hair,
linguine, penne, rigatoni and spaghetti may be dressed with alfredo, carbonara,
garlic and oil, marinara, vodka or traditional tomato sauce. More substantial
meals are on offer, such as pasta primavera with sauteed fresh vegetables; pasta
carbonara with bacon and tomato in a pink cream sauce; pasta with calamari
marinara; pasta with mussels marinara; and pasta with broccoli, garlic and olive
oil. These dishes range in price from just less than $11 to about $16.
Trattorias menu also offers other pasta entrees and combination platters. The
entrees include lasagna, manicotti, ravioli, stuffed shells and ziti. The platters
bring together chicken, eggplant, meatballs, mushrooms, sausage and veal in
several different arrangements. They are served with the patron’s choice of pasta
for a small upcharge. The entrees and platters typically cost between about $12
and $20.
Although pizza is now almost ubiquitous on the menus of American
restaurants, few, if any, along the Crystal Coast offer the variety presented at
Trattoria. Of course, the restaurant offers the traditional cheese and tomato
pizza—red pizza—with a wide selection of toppings, but it also offers white
pizzas. Some examples are the Tuscan (pizza with roasted peppers, “fired”
£ggplant, and ricotta and Romano cheeses); the primavera (pizza with artichoke
hearts, broccoli, green peppers, mushrooms, roasted red peppers, ricotta cheese,
olive oil and basil); and a number of white pizzas topped with various shellfish
combinations, including clams, crabmeat, scallops, and shrimp. In fact, there
are more than 25 pizza options, both red and white, on the menu. They may be
requested in 12-, 14- and 16-inch sizes. Prices for pizzas range from about $8 to
$25, depending on their size and toppings.
Wine and beer are readily available to accompany meals. The wine list is a good
one, and the prices for bottles of wine are very reasonable.
Trattoria is located at 108 West Corbett Avenue (Highway 24) in Swansboro.
It is open every day, serving lunch and dinner from 11 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. The
restaurant’s phone number is 910-326-5001.
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TOWN OF
100 Municipal Circle • Main - 247-4353 • Fax - 247-4355 • Mon-Fri 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
ELECTED OFFICIALS
MAYOR
Ken Jones - 247-4353, ext. 17 - Two-year term - elected in 2013
mayorjones@townofpks.com
COMMISSIONERS
John Brodman - 726-7643 - elected in 2013 - admin@townofpks.com
Larry Corsello - 247-0262 - elected in 2013 - admin@townofpks.com
Robert Danehy - 240-2945 - (Mayor pro tempore) elected in 2011 - admin@townofpks.com
Clark Edwards - 726-7429 - elected in 2011 - admin@townofpks.com
Fred Fulcher - 808-2569 - elected in 2013 - admin@townofpks.com
TOWN OFFICIALS
TOWN MANAGER: Brian Kramer - 247-4353, ext. 16 - manager@townofpks.com
TOWN CLERK: Scott Sherrill - 247-4353, ext. 11 - admin@townofpks.com
FIN & ADMIN; Julie Anderson - 247-4353, ext. 14 - janderson@townofpks.com
PLANNING & INSPECTIONS: Chris Jones - 247-4353, exl 18 - biceo@townofpks.com
PUBLIC SERVICES: Ernie Rudolph - 247-4353, ext. 27 - psd@townofpks.com
PUBLIC-SAFETY BUILDING - 314 Salter Path Road - 247-2268; Fax - 247-2897
POLICE: Chief Lorrie Lepore - 247-2474 - llepore@townofpks.com
FIRE & EMS: Fire Chief Jason Baker - 247-2268 - jbaker@townofpks.com
Emergency: Call 911
Emergency Communications Center (ECC) - 726-1911; Public Safety - 247-2474
April 2014 I Thd SltoreliiM 11