La Bussola

La Bussola Review

Blend a genuinely simpatico welcome with lapping waves, the murmur of jazz, and expert Italian fare and you have Omar Tagliaventi and family's recipe for the perfect beachfront bistro. Bleached-wood ceilings, billowing white curtains, old island photos of Antigua, boating paraphernalia, and brightly painted plates enhance the relaxed, romantic mood. The presentation is invariably pretty and Omar has a particularly facile touch with seafood; try the artichoke-shrimp pie in satiny garlic sauce, lobster-asparagus risotto, shark tartare with grapefruit nestling on a bed of arugula, mahimahi with olive "pâté" in filo, or the "fishermen's" spaghetti. The carefully considered wine list showcases lesser-known Italian regions. Your evening ends with a complimentary grappa, Frangelico, or limoncello (lemon liqueur), representing northern, central, and southern Italy. La Bussola means "the compass" in Italian, and it certainly takes the right gastronomic direction.