Family Tradition, Old-World 

Recipes and the Best Linguini & Clams

TEXT AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY JADRIAN KLINGER

When asked where to go to get good Italian food, most everyone has a ready answer.  Everyone knows of at least one great Italian restaurant.  Everyone has their favorite, and can explain, at length, the merits of their choice over another’s.  Maybe it’s the atmosphere or the portions that garner loyalty. Maybe it’s the sauce, the wine selection or the way a favorite dish is made.  Or maybe it’s the place you went to for a first date, celebrated a special occasion or even enjoyed countless family get-togethers.  

For me, the initial measure of a great Italian restaurant starts with the quality of the Linguini and Clam Sauce – red or white, but preferably red.  Admittedly, it’s not the most exciting Italian dish available, but getting the simple things right is the mark of a great Italian eatery.  And Piazza Sorrento, in Hershey, gets not only the simple things right, but has also perfected the more adventurous meals with an authenticity that comes from passed-down Italian family recipes and 25 years of patron-pleasing experience.  

From the Pappardelle Bolognese (a house specialty of rich bolognese sauce over pasta) to Pete’s Favorite Soffritto Fettuccini (filletto di pomodoro sautéed with onions and garlic in extra virgin olive oil, served over fettuccini with fresh basil) to the amazing Linguini & Clams (made with fresh clams, chopped clams, garlic and fresh basil), Piazza Sorrento serves some of the best Italian cuisine this side of the prime meridian.  A trip to Italy would only confirm the quality and authenticity of Piazza Sorrento’s culinary expertise.  

Technically, Piazza Sorrento is a relatively new establishment – having been open for about a year and a half.  But the husband-and-wife owners and operators of Piazza Sorrento, Pete and Anna Maria Collura, are veterans of the restaurant business.  As the owners of Mr. Sorrento’s Pizza & Subs, a 25-year staple in the Hershey community that now shares space with Piazza Sorrento as a separate restaurant, Pete and Anna Maria know how to impress customers.  And the authenticity of Piazza Sorrento’s cuisine comes from generations of old-world culinary tradition, passed down through Pete’s and Anna Maria’s family.  

As a native of Sicily, Anna Maria knows exactly what it takes to make great Italian food.  “Everything is fresh here, from the bread made every morning to the in-house made mozzarella,” says Anna Maria.  “Our recipes are very simple and authentic, and have been handed down through my family.  We cook here, the way we cook at home.”  Pete adds, “To eat at Piazza Sorrento, live taste buds are required.  It’s all about enjoying what you eat.”

It’s easy to assume that a meal at Piazza Sorrento must cost a fortune, with hunger-inducing menu items like Lobster Ravioli (shrimp, corn and prosciutto tossed in a creamy marsala sauce over lobster tarragon ravioli), Eggplant Involtini (thinly sliced grilled eggplant rolled in Sicilian recipe seasoned ricotta cheese and marinara sauce), the area's only “real” old-world pizza (a blend of Provolone, Romano and Parmesan cheeses with oregano and tomato sauce on top) and Sara’s Angel Hair Pomodoro (cherry tomatoes sautéed with onions, garlic, white wine and basil); desserts like the award-winning chocolate cake with peanut butter icing, which is quite an honor considering it is served in the chocolate capital of the world; the fact that only fresh ingredients are used– nothing is frozen; and a wine list filled with some the finest Italian wines exported from the boot-shaped nation.  But, surprisingly, there’s not a meal that I could find that breaks the $20 mark.  (FYI, Linguini & Clams is only $16.)

And for all those who never get to enjoy a great meal at an Italian restaurant like Piazza Sorrento because of a gluten intolerance, Pete and Anna Maria have put together an entire gluten-free menu – separate from the regular menu – just for you.  Pete and Anna Maria also offer something special for all the wine enthusiasts out there; Piazza Sorrento hosts a wine dinner led by Dean Koppenhaver of Southern Wine & Spirits, which includes a four-course dinner and eight regional Italian wines.  Be sure to check their website for the next scheduled wine dinner.

Pete and Anna Maria are not your average restaurant owners; they go above and beyond to please their customers – making sure that the next time someone asks you where to go for good Italian food, your ready answer will be Piazza Sorrento. 717

Piazza Sorrento

16 Briarcrest Square

Hershey, PA 17033

(717) 835-1919

www.piazzasorrento.com