Quality Food And Elegance

On The Menu At La Fortuna

La Fortuna on Stony Hill Road (Route 6) in Bethel has been serving fine northern Italian cuisine in elegant surroundings for more than 25 years. Deceptively small-looking from the road, the restaurant is deep, offering partitioned banquet rooms to host public functions and private gatherings. When the dividers are all open, it can accommodate wedding and other celebrations for up to 200 people. In warm weather, there is an outdoor patio a screened gazebo that can be used for cocktail hours as well. With its red umbrellas topping the tables, the patio is also popular for al fresco dining.

Chef Miguel Angelo Valeri said the restaurant serves “old school cooking” — simple, quality food prepared from scratch, tastes balanced with fresh herbs and spices and cooked according to traditional methods. Every meal is cooked to order and meant to be savored. La Fortuna also offers an extensive list of wines that can be chosen to accompany any meal. The full menu with descriptions is available at La Fortuna’s website, LaFortunaRest.com, and many of the food selections are pictured.

Mr Valeri grew up in a wine-making family from the Abruzzo region of Italy who lived in Argentina when he was born. He grew up with the family gathered and cooking in the kitchen, learning about creating delicious food from an early age. In 1969, at age 17, he came to New York and began working in restaurants.

“I was extremely fortunate to be able to work alongside and learn from some of the finest chefs in the world. Many were refugees from World War II, men who had run renown family restaurants in Europe and had immense respect for food. I am honored to be part of carrying on that tradition,” Chef Valeri said.

Over the next decade he worked in several famed eateries and helped open others that made it to New York Times “Ten Best” lists. In 1981 he opened La Fortuna with a partner (today it is owned by Mr Valeri). While northern Italian cuisine dominates the menu, the international business contacts of local corporations have also influenced the food selections.

Upon entering La Fortuna, patrons will be in a room that holds a full bar with seats for ten, as well as tables for waiting or socializing on the opposite wall. The 90-seat dining room is to the left and features intimate settings throughout. There is ample space between tables and the décor is soft, featuring fabric and hand painted murals on the walls. The murals and decorative painting continue throughout the banquet rooms and partitions. The dining room also has an alcove area with fireplace that holds another half-dozen tables.

Appetizers on the dinner menu include clams served three ways, $8.95–$9.95; hot and cold antipasti, $10.95; and fresh mozzarella slices, lightly breaded with mild or hot marina sauce, $8.50. Soups, salads, and vegetables range from $4.95 to $6.95. Homemade pasta dishes, $13.95–$19.95, include gnocchi (potato dumplings) with tomato basil or Bolognese sauce, and ravioli stuffed with ricotta, sun dried tomatoes, pignoli and roasted garlic.

There are half dozen veal ($17.95–$23.95) and chicken (all $16.95) choices, as well as a selection of fish and grilled entrees. And for that special occasion, La Fortuna offers Chateaubriand-Boucatiened for two for $72.95, but this selection requires six hours notice.

Monday–Friday lunch is served from 11:30 to 3, and dinner from 5 to 10:30. Weekend hours are 5 to 11 on Saturday and 2 to 8 or 4 to 8, depending on the season, on Sunday. Private functions can be accommodated at any hours desired.

For reservations, information, and directions, La Fortuna can be reached at 797-0909; fax 794-0873; website, LaFortunaRest.com.