What's Good: Spuntino

It’s no secret that I love the Italian lifestyle and pretty much everything that comes with it that doesn’t involve the terms “Jersey” or “shore.” Fresh veggies, cheese, cured meats, wine, pasta dishes, limoncelo, primo dishes followed by secondi dishes, more wine, espresso, three hour lunches followed by a nap, more cheese, Paninis, balsamic, seafood…I have one or more of those items daily – often 3-4 of those items daily (the nap, not so much). What I really appreciate is the simplicity of where traditional Italian foods come fromand how they are prepared. Most of the time we’re talking about centuries-old methods ofcuring meat, making cheese or cutting up homemade noodles. If its not broke, don’t fix it – which is what I appreciate about Spuntino in the LoHi neighborhood.

The little café doesn’t have a huge menu (it changes on the chalk board often), and virtually no pasta (that I’m aware of), but what it does, it does well. Spuntino literally means “snack” in Italian, after all. Paninis, bruschetta, soups, salads, flat breads, and deserts…lots and lots of deserts. Not only to they make their own tarts, tiramisu and gelato (go with the salted chocolate carmel), but they have somehow perfected an idea that I always had but never knew it – make anything and everythinginto popsicle form. From your normal strawberry and chocolate flavors, to some interesting combinations (French toast, toasted coconut) to the exotic flavors that I’m somewhat scared to try (avocado vanilla, blueberry cinnamon). If you dream up the flavor, I’m sure Spuntino could put it in popsicle form. The great part is that most everything on the desert menu is made daily, so the next time you visit, they’ll have some type of new goodness for you to sample or take home with you.

I like Spuntino for a variety of reasons: fresh food, interesting combinations, gelato (in the restaurant and pints to take home!), cool space in an old LoHi building, virtually unlimited desert options, wine on tap, and a friendly staff who just generally seems like they enjoy being there. And really, who wouldn’t enjoy earning a paycheck by serving snacks, deserts and wine? It’s like handing out smiles and hugs for a living. Grazie, Spuntino!