Spaghetti Vongole in Naples

My PIZZA at Da MARINO RESTORANTE PIZZERIA

NAPOLI

Summer 2015

I was walking around Naples and getting hungry, I was looking for a good place to eat. I knew I wanted to get a nice plate of Spaghetti Vongole . As I walked along Via Santa Lucia I came across a trattoria that looked like it might be good. I went inside to take a look. The girl at the cash register greeted me and seemed very nice, and as I looked around the place looked good to me and had a nice feel to it. When I spotted a large Italian Family of about 12 people at one large table, I figured it must be good, so I asked the girl for a table and she told me to take a seat anywhere I liked.

I picked out a nice strategic spot to be comfortable at and watch all the action. Most of that action happened to be that Italian Family having quite a massive feast, as dish after dish of antipasti, pasta, and seafood came out of the kitchen one by one.

I sat down and studied the menu. When the waiter came back over, I ordered a small carafe of Falanghina local white wine. I looked at the menu and it all looked good. As I said, I already knew that I was Jonesing for a Plate of Vongole, and so I ordered a plate, along with a Insalta Frutta di Mare to start. The waiter brought my wine and I took a sip. The wine was nice and refreshing.

I sat back and watched that family eat and the waiters as they brought Pizza, Pasta, and Fish to the tables outside where most of the people were eating. A few minutes went by, and my waiter brought out my antipasto, the Insalata Frutta di Mare. My seafood salad was filled with Calamari, Mussels, Octopus, and Shrimp and it was absolutely divine. One of the best I ever had.

I sipped my wine and totally enjoyed my antipasto. I looked at the many pictures and Jerseys of the Napoli Futbol (Soccer) Team, including Giuseppe Brusccolotti, and the legendary Diego Maradona. There were a number of Soccer Balls on display as well. These guys were really into futbol, especially Team Napoli.

I finished my tasty Insalata Frutta di Mare and waited for the Spaghetti. When the waiter brought me my Vongole, it looked absolutely awesome. I took a picture to remember it and dug in. I removed all the Veraci Clams from the tiny shells and then I really dug in. My God, this pasta was incredible and may very well have been the single most Perfect Plate of Spaghetti Vongole I have ever eaten. I kid you not. I’ve had many a plates all over the Amalfi Coast, in Capri, and other places in Napoli, and for sure, nothing could beat this one. I slowly savored it.

Well, I finished my pasta and then went to the bagno. As I did, I passed by the Pizza Oven where the Pizzaiolo was turning out some amazing looking Pizza. Dam they looked Good!

Now, I wasn’t planning on it, but as they looked so good, I just could not resist getting one. So I ordered a PIZZA with Salame. My Pizza came a few minutes later, and it looked amazing. It was quite big and I never thought I would finish it all, but guess what? I did. It was that good, I just couldn’t stop eating it, and I’ll say it again. As with my plate of Spaghetti Vongole being just absolutely perfect as perfect could be, so was my Pizza, it just could not have been any better. Yes that good.

So, Da Marino was a most wonderful surprise, and I had one of the best and most enjoyable meals in my life there, as I remember it well to this very day.

Basta!