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| - Just back from dinner at Paganelli's tonight with a group of colleagues. It was outstanding and authentic, fantastic Italian food at really quite reasonable prices. Some might take off points for timeliness of service, which was perhaps a bit slow but more likely just an intentional allowance for quality time and conversation during our dinner and proper time to prepare the food. Regardless, it was worth the wait. I've been to Italy twice, and this is the only Italian restaurant I've been to in North America that delivers a similar experience to typical dining in Italy. Cured meats platter, cheese and olives were very typical of Italy, and delicious. One of the traditional dishes in Tuscany and north is Rustichelle al Cinghiale - or wild boar ragu over pasta. They had it on the menu at Paganelli's, and I asked the waiter about it - he recommended it and added that they (restaurant owners) raise the boar themselves to supply the restaurant. Now wild boar may sound odd, but having had the dish in Italy and loved it, I was up for trying it here. All I can say is, you have to try it. Homemade pappardelle pasta - excellent texture and taste - with an incredibly flavorful ragu. Small bits of meat, tomatoes. Perfect. Be sure to have it with a nice northern Italian wine. Wish they would open Paganelli's II in Philadelphia. I'd be a regular.
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