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| - "Old World Italy in Chandler, AZ" sounds like the set up for a joke. You wouldn't expect to find one of the best Italian restaurants in metro Phoenix located in downtown Chandler, but that's the case with La Stalla Cucina Rustica.
The decor clearly conveys the Old World focus of the restaurant. From the wood tables and chairs to the faux finished walls and the hand painted murals, this place is evocative of rural Italy. If you've traveled throughout Italy, the atmosphere at La Stalla won't magically transport you back, but you will appreciate the elements that have been gathered together to bring a bit of the old school Italian vibe to downtown Chandler. After all, that's no small feat.
The food is traditional and consistently good. Don't come here for cutting-edge Italian, but for the classics.
For appetizers, the Calamari Fritti ($12) features crispy calamari and a spicy marinara sauce. I do not order calamari because it's usually not fresh in Arizona, but it's a favorite of my dear friend who lives in Chandler and the La Stalla version is pretty good. The Pasta e Fagioli soup ($6) is true to the classic and features tender cannellini beans and pasta. They sometimes feature an appetizer special of stuffed mushrooms that are baked in their brick oven and they are fantastic.
For pasta dishes, the Tortelloni Panna Proscuitto e Piselli ($18) includes tortelloni pasta with ham and peas in a cheese cream sauce. It's unbelievably rich. We're talking heart attack on a plate rich, but it's darn tasty. Spaghetti alla Carbonara ($18) is another true-to-form old school dish. It features spaghetti with smoked pancetta in a parmesan egg cream sauce. The BF enjoys the Risotto Agli Scampi ($19) that combines baby shrimp and arborio rice.
In the entree category, Involtini di Vitello ($23) is the favorite of my Chandler friend. It features mozzarella and prosciutto wrapped in veal and pan seared in a sherry sauce. Personally, I avoid this dish due to the veal. I'm starting to come around to veal and will try it as soon as I find a restaurant that offers true free range veal. Be sure to ask about the specials because they are often excellent and even the vegetables served alongside many of the entrees are perfectly seasoned.
Here's an admonition to La Stalla and other spendy Italian restaurants in Phoenix: Grated parmesan cheese (even Parmigiano Reggiano) is not a controlled substance. It's cheese, not crack. Please do not make a huge deal out of spooning out the tiniest amount for me on top of my soup or pasta. When I ask for grated cheese, just leave me a small bowl at the table to use at my discretion. You can trust me to not bring a Ziploc bag to steal what I don't use during my dinner. If the cost of the cheese is an issue, then tack a dollar or two onto each dish and be done with it because the food cost of the cheese should already be factored into your prices. The cost of the grated cheese at La Stalla should not be an issue because the price point of the menu has risen noticeably in the past year.
For desserts, the standout is the Fruta di bosco con Zabaione ($9). It's a mix of seasonal berries topped with Grand Marnier Zabaione sauce. I always marvel at the perfect, beautiful berries that La Stalla manages to source at all times. The Zabaione sauce is generously flavored with Grand Marnier and sugar and it's whipped up to a delightfully fluffy texture. It's flat out fantastic! The Chocolate "Souffle" ($10) is more of a molten chocolate cake than a true chocolate souffle that you would find at Christopher's. However, it's the favorite of my Chandler friend, so it often gets ordered.
If you're lucky, you will be offered a shot of the housemade Limoncello to finish off your meal. It's popular and they often run out, but it is the perfect end to a meal at La Stalla.
La Stalla is a bit spendy. Dinner for two can easily near $100 with appetizers, soups/salads, pasta dishes or entrees, desserts, drinks, tax and tip. The quality is definitely worth the expense, but this is not your inexpensive neighborhood Italian joint.
As my Italian Grandmothers would say, "Mange! Mange!"
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