Tis Me Michelle

A nice little detour from the original plan. The plan was to have another lovely dinner at Adriatico Trattoria Italiana, but they ended up being closed. With some quick thinking, I ended up trying out Turci Pasta across the street in the College Park/Edgewater area. I’d actually had this spot on my list as well, had seen it on the socials and such. Since I was already prepping for Italian, I was ready.

The Meal: I was prepped for what I was going to get at Adriatico’s, but the limits were endless at the new spot! So many options that I ended up opting for the Prix Fixe menu. My friend and I chose a variety of things so we could sample as much as we could.

For starters, we had a Caesar salad and prosciutto & burrata bruschetta. Both were good and pretty standard. Neither blew me away, but good starter options. The bruschetta had a $1 up charge, which isn’t too much, so I wouldn’t say it’s not worth it, but I would have been happy with just the salad.

After the starter, there was an option between two appetizers, so of course we got one of each, purple sweet potato stuffed gnocchi and black truffle ravioli alio e olio. The ravioli was pretty standard, but if choosing, I would definitely go for the gnocchi. I am actually not the biggest gnocchi fan, but this was so unique and delightful. A sweetness from the sweet potato and a pleasant surprise and contrast with the cheese stuffed inside. There was also a cream on the plate that was delicious, which we soaked the free bread in as well.

There were a decent number of options for the mains, and it was hard to choose. My friend opted for the lasagna, a hefty portion, definitely a good choice if you come hungry. It was yummy, but a bit too heavy for my liking, and for better or worse, very cheese-forward. I ended up choosing the pappardelle verdi ragu. I love a pappardelle pasta, but this was a bit underwhelming. Considering ragu can be rather rich, I was surprised at how light this dish was. I love a simple dish, given that the flavors shine through. The ragu itself was decent, but the overall dish was lacking in flavor. The pasta is clearly made in-house, which I do appreciate.

Now to my favorite part of this meal, desserts, duh! We got a Nutella cheesecake and tiramisu. The Nutella cheesecake was a pleasant surprise. The Nutella was straight up spread on top, a generous amount. The cheesecake itself was light, creamy, and delightful with a great crust. It was a great balance of the sweet Nutella and mildly tangy cheesecake. Always love trying out a tiramisu when I am at an Italian restaurant. And what made it better was that it came with a shot of espresso. I’m not sure if it was meant to be poured on, but I just drank it, and it hit the spot. This was a solid option, simple and had a light airiness I appreciated. I would recommend both of these desserts.

Have to highlight they have a deal: 2 glasses of wine for $15, not too bad. I ended up trying two glasses of red, and both were great. I’m not sure if this deal is an option without the Prix Fixe menu, but worth it either way.

The Vibe: It’s a cute and kind of kitschy vibe. There’s a larger main area right where you walk in, and they have a few small tables arranged for parties of two in a smaller hallway, which is where we were seated. Felt like they were going for a bit of that Italian rustic feel.

The Parking: There is usually enough street parking available on Edgewater. I ended up parking behind Adriatico’s since that was the original plan. That is also an option if you are willing to walk over, as they have a small parking area.

Overall: I had a nice dinner, and I love trying a variety of things. So, of course, I do think the Prix Fixe menu is worth it if you want to try things out. It’s not a bad price for the amount of food, and I was very full by the end of the meal. From the portions we got for the mains within the Prix Fixe, I’d think having a main would be more than satisfying.

My highlights were definitely that gnocchi appetizer and the desserts. I was considering the other pappardelle dish with king mushrooms, so if I went back, I would try that out. I’m not opposed to going back to this spot. I would recommend trying it out, but overall, I enjoyed the main courses at other Italian spots a bit more.

Rating: 8.2/10

Address: 2120 Edgewater Dr, Orlando, FL 32804