This Fall, I had a chance to try a local Dallas Italian place called 400 Gradi. This restaurant serves Neapolitan cuisine and prides itself in authentic Italian food. Founded in 2008 by Johnny Di Francesco, 400 Gradi reflects a limited albeit good mixture of Italian foods ranging from what you would expect like Pizzas, pastas, and salads. In addition to this, however, are interesting offerings of cured meats, soups, salmon, and vegetarian options as well. This business started from the suburbs of Melbourne and later expanded locations to include Dallas, Texas. The ambience is vibrant and feels upscale, with the service excellent and attentive.
During my visit, I tried out the appetizer cured meat platter called the Salumi Board. This was my first time trying an Italian meat assortment such as this, and it was something of a unique experience. Topped with a side of Giardiniera relish and Gnocco Fritto – an Italian square shaped dough puff. The taste of the cured meats mixed with cheeses was mouthwatering and because the plate is served in portions, the appetizer sets you up as a great starter to the main course meals offered at the restaurant. The waitress that had served my group this course was kind enough to describe each of the cured meats and cheese types as well as from what parts of Italy that each sampler had originated from. I felt that this enhanced the experience of eating at an authentic Italian restaurant.
For the main cuisine – the Margherita Verace pizza was the highlight for the evening. This pizza was awarded World’s Best Pizza in 2014 at the Pizza World Championships (Campionato Mondiale della Pizza) in Pama, Italy. Basil, Tomato, and a different kind of mozzarella like topping called Fior di Latte – used in Neapolitan pizzas were the main ingredients placed on thin crust. I found this pizza to be simple and easily serves 1-2 people. The pizza itself did not taste too rich, with just the right amount of flavor that set it apart from your usual American pizzas (not that those are not great)! For carnivore lovers, 400 Gradi also offers a unique pizza called Carnivora – consisting of Mild Salami, Ricotta, Prosciutto Cotto (Ham) and Basil. It was a good contrast to the Margherita Verace pizza, although the meat can be a little on the heavier side – so order this with caution.
Of course, I had to end the meal by trying the restaurant’s Pistacchio Gelato. It was a good end for the meal and left a sweet taste at the end of my time here. Other options for desserts include Tiramisu and Canzone Nutella (Folded pizza with Nutella served with Gelato). You can’t go wrong with any of these options. Overall, if you are looking to try a great place this holiday season, 400 Gradi is a pretty decent option for authentic Italian. Though I certainly recommend trying this place out on an empty stomach!
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