Elite Event: Meet the Chef- a Tasting At Spuntino Wine Bar

Really enjoyed the Unilocal event that brought me to Spuntino. While I did not have an opportunity to have a complete dinner I was able to sample a few of the house specialities…
This is a beautifully designed restaurant (very cozy atmosphere) where you are completely surrounded by their wine selection. I had the house-​made mozzarella and pork belly in red sauce. BOTH are highly recommended.
Truly enjoyed the Margherita pizza, which featured the home made mozzarella. We also sampled their wines and feel very comfortable to tell you that your pairing, whatever you have there will be very good.
The highlight, of course, is to sit and speak with the executive chef, who explained the restaurant’s philosophy of using only the best ingredients to give you a truly authentic rustic Italian dining experience.
Thank you to Spuntino for hosting this event and Drew for giving me the opportunity to tickle my tastebuds with some really good food!

Three cheers for another wonderful Unilocal event! And Spuntino REALLY outdid themselves. What I really loved was that the presentation. It was unique in that the Chef wanted us to see where the food was sourced. By having his vendors come to the restaurant and showcase their wares, like the semolina breads from Cardinali Bakery to the flavor infused olive oils to the fish monger’s table with freshly sliced pieces accented with garnishes as well as the various wine merchants, we were able to see WHERE the food was from and learn a thing or two. And let’s not forget the gelato table with about 6 types. wow! We were in heaven!
Passed plates of Prosciutto and Wild Boar as well as homemade mozzarella were my particular favs. But hands down, the Braised Pork Belly was the shining star in our opinion! And worthy of a revisit very soon to seek that dish out.
The open air vibe of the restaurant with the vintage lights and dark wood gives this place a very chic but homey vibe. Like a beautiful friends home. I’ve already told friends about Spuntino with plans to return very soon. If the tastings are any indication, I simply cannot wait to return for a full meal.
Excellent job Spuntino!

Bravo Spuntino, bravo!
I consider myself very fortunate to have been a part of this amazing evening at Spuntino with Chef Andrea, Chef Ryan, and my fellow Unilocal Elite.
The evening began with a brief speech from Chef Andrea explaining the concept behind Spuntino. Spuntino roughly translates to small plates, an Italian version of tapas. Chef Andrea welcomed us and explained that to truly appreciate the food as it’s prepared at Spuntino, we need to meet the vendors who supply the restaurant. So gathered around the perimeter of the room were the vendors who provide the wine, meat, fish, bread, olive oil, gelato, and even espresso!
The restaurant atmosphere is very inviting. A great place to gather with friends and catch up. The staff at Spuntino went over the top to ensure we were well fed and enjoying ourselves. Chef Andrea and Chef Ryan circulated about the room sharing stories about the development of Spuntino intermingled with stories from the old country.
Now, let’s talk food. Where do we begin? My first stop was the fresh fish vendor, my +1 (a.k.a. Pat H.) and I sampled the Branzino Crudo (thinly sliced Branzino with pickled fennel and parsley oil) and the Tonno Marinato (citrus-​marinated rare tuna with basil oil and lemon aioli). Both delicious, but I’m giving the edge at this station to the Tonno Marinato, I loved the marinade flavoring of the dish.
We followed our visit to the fish station with a nice wine paring of the Pecorino, Saladini Pilastri, highly recommended!
On to our next station, grilled Hanger Steak served over a salsa verde sauce. This was one of my most favorite dishes of the night. The steak was prepared to perfection followed closely by the Pork Belly which was served with Pork Jus and Chive Oil. I will most definitely be coming back to Spuntino for more of these dishes. Loved them!
Throughout the evening we had many (and I do mean many) samples of the FRESH MOZZARELLA! Did I forget to say fresh? I mean they pulled the mozzarella right in front of us. I’ve never had such amazing mozzarella, it was incredible! Right next to the mozzarella was a station serving Gnocchi con Chinghiale di Toscana. Now my Italian may not be perfect, but somehow it translates to the most amazing gnocchi served and wild boar meat sauce! Actually it turned out to be the house-​made gnocchi served tossed with braised wild boar ragu.
After a brief break, we sat at one of the tables where the wait staff continued to ensure we had plenty of food to sample even as we were seated. The ice water flowed freely as well which was very much appreciated.
Now, let’s talk about some of the food we sampled at the table. Up first, the platter with Prosciutto di Parma, Wild Boar Cacciatorini, and Porchetta Toscana. My favorite here goes to the Porchetta, a rosemary herb pork lion wrapped in a roasted pork belly. Sounds good right? It is! Pat and I were both big fans of the Wild Boar too. Recommended.
Next up, the Arancini and Carciofo. Arancini are these delicious risotto balls stuffed with peas and mozzarella and served with the house-​made tomato sauce. Delicately fried, but not overdone, these were a nice break for us from all the meat and fish we’d been consuming. Loved them. I know, I know, he’s loved every dish he ate so far. That’s true, but the accolades are well deserved. We sampled the Carciofo two ways, first with a lemon aioli sauce and second with the house-​made tomato sauce.
Love bruschetta? How do you like it? Tonight we were served two variations of bruschetta, first with the traditional tomato and basil, nicely done, and secondly, covered in gorgonzola, apple, and walnuts. The gorgonzola gives the dish and amazing flavor and it’s even topped off with a drizzle of honey on top. Can you say yum!
We saved just enough room to sample two variations of pizza, first the Margherita-​style served with simple fresh mozzarella and San Marzano tomato sauce with basil. Next we sampled the fig and prosciutto. Imagine a pizza covered in Gorgonzola, caramelized onions, portobello and Crimini mushroom, fig jam, and Prosciutto de Parma. Can you say flavor explosion! Yes, we have a winner, this was my absolute favorite for the night!
We closed the night out with a delicious gelato, vanilla and Gianduja. Both were delish. Thanks to the gentlemen from NJ who served us! To complement the gelato, waiters and waitresses served a flourless chocolate torte. I chose to pair it with the gelato for a perfect finish to the night.
Now, let me finish by sending a BIG THANK YOU to Drew, our loyal Unilocal Community Manager, who works so hard to give us these amazing experiences. Thank you Drew!
Thanks to all my great Unilocal buddies who helped make the night a memorable event too. It was great catching up with Marisa D., Shira F., Leslie O., Katie H., Ruben Q., Asim F., Michael G., and Bill S., all of whom I consider to be the Elite of the Elite.
Millie grazie Chef Andrea Rossi and all the staff of Spuntino!

The word to describe this place is Amazing!!!
This is my second elite event, the first time i was invited as a guest and this time its my official Elite invite! So i was very excited for that day to finally arrive! It is a true privilege that i will cherish and honor.
Back a few months ago i was able to taste this food before Spuntino opened. I went to the Wine Expo at the Cradle of Aviation and there I first met Chef Andrea Rossi! He was very knowledgeable then and not to mention a great cook. the food was delicious and creative!!! He told me when the new place opens you will have to come and visit. Once it opened i was planning on going. Before i was able to make my own appearance here I became Elite and my first invite was to here. I was VERY EXCITED.
I decided to bring my sister who is also Elite to this event plus i knew she wouldn’t turn down Italian food. The restaurant on the inside is much bigger than the outside appeal gives off. I thought it was great City vibe with some outdoor seating areas. it has a great open bar with some high top tables. their is quite an extensive wine collection which is throughout the restaurant. After all it is a Wine bar!
I loved that after Drew welcomed us to Spuntino’s Chef Andrea spoke. He spoke with genuine passion and excitement. it brought the «fat kid loves cake» inside of me to be excited! on the tables he had a great menu set up for us from appetizers to dessert
Chef explained all the areas set up around us our the people who they directly deal with. I thought this is great usually they bring out food and say here is my food try it and like it. But no, he explained we should know where our food comes from, encouraged us to ask questions to him and the stories behind everything from wine, oil olive, chicken, bread, fish and gelato. i thought that was a great way to show he has confidence in who he chooses to do business with and how important these people our to make his food top notch!
The food was delicious. the staff that brought it out with a smile were happy to serve us. I think they enjoyed having us. Some of my favorite items are the hanger steak with was cooked perfect. I had to go back and get seconds. the pork belly delicious and i loved how it was served in little cute upside hats. the fresh mozzarella was AMAZING, my dad makes it at home but for some reason he always makes it while im at work so I never get to eat it right off while its still warm. that’s how you can tell they 1) make their own 2) its fresh!
I was happy to see that amazing Ciabatta bread was local but also very tasty. Great way to keep local places in business. «One hand washes the other…»
The branzino, tuna and scallops were fresh and the pairings for them were delicious!
The gelato that came from Jersey amazing, I loved to know that they use all natural ingredients and no food coloring. that is why pistachio does not have a super big green color. The same goes with the sorbets very refreshing you can taste the fruit!
The prosciutto, wild boar cacciatorini, and porchetta I couldnt get enough of. and when they sliced it it wasn’t little pieces it was a full slice. the artichoke hearts that was fried gave me a new idea. I thought it would have had a more vinegary taste. but these did not taste like that at all.
the arancini were super gooey inside and had that melt in your mouth taste.
Gnocchi my favorite pasta of all time I used to make this with my nonna when i was little and tasting it tasted the way she made it. Brought back memories. The sauce it was marinated in delicious and it had a little kick in it.
I did get a chance to try only one of the pizzas. that one was the piccante and it definitely had some kick to it. but the drizzle of honey was a perfect combination. i was looking forward to trying the fig and prosciutto but i guess those were a hot commodity and it never made an appearance my way. but next time i come to visit i will definitely order that.
when i went on the regular Unilocal page for the place i saw that they also take reservations. i am also very happy to know they take open table reservations and knowing this place has great food and open table i will be back soon!
Grazie Mille Chef Andrea Rossi and staff! Great JOB!
best of luck to making peoples bellys and hearts happy!

I couldn’t be more excited that Unilocal Long Island is back in action!
This was one hell of a kick-​off, I gotta say.
First and foremost I’d like to tip my hat to Drew, Chef Andrea, and the rest of the incredible staff at Spuntino’s. The staff was on point.
Décor in the restaurant is just exquisite. The vendors were friendly, knowledgeable, and really helped make the event a stand out.
During the night I was entirely made up of scallop crudo (I must have gone back 5 times and I have no shame in saying so) and amazing red wine.
Arancini, salumi, artichokes, gnocchi, truffle pizza, olive oil; the list goes on and on. I can’t get over how lucky we were to be able to be a part of it.
My fiancé, Ben, was in love with the hanger steak, as was I. What a perfectly cooked and grilled piece of meat. The outside char was perfection.
I’ll be dreaming of the scallops, fresh mozzarella, and endless incredible wines for the next week, I’m sure.
Thank you again to Drew for really hooking us up!

It’s now approximately 48 hours hours post event and I can’t get over how awesome this event was. Yes I know I’m late… I’m sorry BUT
All I can say is:
Unilocal Long Island Elite is Back!!! Woohoo!
This event was great! All of the food I tried except for Roy’s piece of pepperoni I enjoyed. The pepperoni had too much of a kick for me. Don’t get me wrong I love spicy food (within reason) but this was too much for me. My favorite had to either be the gnocchi, arancini, or the fried artichoke hearts. Oh or the wild boar on the meat board. Kind of reminded me of soppressata.
Also I loved how we got to meet all the purveyors of the restaurant. Chef Andrea was a great host in my opinion to us. You can definitely there’s a lotta love and pride at Spuntino! Which in my book is AWESOME!!!
And of course we must not forget our main man. The man of our beloved Long Island Unilocal!Give it up for Drew!!!
It was nice to see the familiar faces of the usual crowd I know… ya know Lana & Roy, Steph M., Katie, Dan, Laura C., Paula, Drew, Mike & Astrid, and Randy (and his lovely wife Pat)
But I finally got to meet Franco (FINALLY!), Steph C., Lesley, Ruben, and last but certainly not least Bill (my YBFF).
Would I recommend Spuntino based off of this event?! Heck yeah! I can’t wait to go back to see if they are still awesome without knowing a bunch of Elites are in the dining area!
Thanks again Drew for a great event! Can’t wait for the next one!
PS — Happy 110^th Review to Me!

Long Island Unilocal is back! Missed having events in my neck of the woods and this event, was a great homecoming. When I thought of Garden City (pre-​Spuntino Wine Bar,) I pretty much remember crowded malls & shopping centers, traffic and billion dollar homes. I pretty much avoided the area as much as I could… Now my post-​Spuntino Wine Bar opinion totally paved the way for me and Garden City. OK exaggerating a bit but, I will not be exaggerating when I write of my experience at Meet the Chef Night at Spuntino’s.
Spuntino’s is super easy to get to off the Meadowbrook Pkwy. It is hard to miss on the lower level of this new-​ish, double decker strip mall which houses Ulta, Old Navy and other popular spots. Upon walking up to the restaurant, I noticed a bunch of patrons sitting outside, eating, drinking and enjoying each other’s company. It was a gorgeous evening so it was nice to see there was an outdoor seating options.
The place was packed (with non-​Yelp elites) in the first dining room which housed a fully stocked bar. In «our» dining room, Drew was standing up on a chair, giving a speech just like the good old days! We were quickly greeted by Dana the manager, who was pretty amazing and engaging the entire time. She really took time to make sure everyone was having a great time.
It is a pretty big treat to meet a chef of any restaurant but I really felt lucky to meet the chef of Spuntino’s. He spoke with such dedication and pride of his cuisine and culture.
For only being open three months to the day, Spuntino seemed to have quite a great reputation, following and mastery of food and drink.
About those drinks, there was plenty of wine being poured, sampled and enjoyed. Every table I went to everyone was beyond professional and eager for you to try what they had to offer. The bread guy was awesome and his bread was magnifique!
It was pretty impressive because us Unilocalers had our own « Unilocal Elite» menu. Fo’ real! Now if that doesn’t make you feel swagger-​lishous, I don’t know what would!
So lets go on a little food sampling trip…
There was prosciutto, wild boar cacciatorini,
All delicious, mama mi-​ni!
Fresh mozzarella made right in front of your eyes,
Bruschetta and some pizza pies.
Wine was heavenly paired and tasted,
Prosecco and hanger steak, never wasted.
Heh heh!
Anyway, my favorite was the raw scallop and bacon bite… I had a few of those yummy morsels!
And when you thought the night was wrapping up? There was dessert & expresso to round off your palate.
Everything truly was amazing and I had such a great time as always. There was a little canvas wine carrying party favor handed out which I will make sure to carry my wine in wherever I go! (Great excuse to show off my bag, of course!)
To top it all off, Dana handed out free dessert coupons for the next visit. Can’t wait to come back!

This was my first Elite Exclusive Event and it was a doozy! Thanks Drew for your extraordinary efforts in arranging this great event, it was a CLASS ACT! From entry time to exit time we:
met a bevy of wonderful Unilocalers
met chef Andrea and was impressed by his passion for his wonderful food which was served both by the purveyors and the staff of Spuntino
Gnocci with wild boar ragu
fresh mozzarella
pork belly
perfectly charred Hanger steak
Fried artichoke was outstanding
scallop and tuna sashimi
Drank great Lavazza expresso
wonderful wines:
Napa
Tuscany
Italy
The staff of Spuntino treated us like royalty which made this event even more special AND most importantly and impressive was that the food kept on coming. We so enjoyed the beautiful motif and food that we will be returning soon to share with our friends!

Me: «I can eat bread for days!»
Cardinali Bakery dude: «It’s okay. We have bread for days! Take a whole bunch.»
SOLD.
It’s been a long time since I’ve been to an Elite event, and this one was an outstanding way to get back into the scene. Most importantly, so glad to have you back with us, Drew!
Spuntino is located in the Westbury shopping center (where you’ll also find Shake Shack and Noodles & Company), so you might pass it by without even knowing. DON’T PASS BY. This restaurant is excellent and is a serious contender for your grumbling tummy when you’re done shopping in the area.
At the event, we got a little bit of everything. Freshmade bread (I probably had a whole loaf of it by the time I was done), olive oils (for dipping that bread in), fresh gnocchi (I went up there for three servings — no shame), fresh mozzarella (om nom nom), hangar steak and pork belly (mmm, meat), gelato (which paired well with the prosecco), and samples of wine from regions of Italy I hadn’t even heard of. I would also like to note that everyone must like prosciutto, because that was always the first thing gone on the passed plates.
I spent most of my time chatting with the vendors, because they were incredibly personable and had a wealth of knowledge. In fact, I didn’t sit down once during the entire event. There was always something to eat, something to drink, and someone to chat with.
After the event was over, I just didn’t want to leave. Instead, my +1 and I wandered into the bar area and perused their extensive wine menu. He had a glass of wine that he had sampled at the event (Pecorino) and I went ahead and tried the bartender’s white wine suggestion. We left Spuntino just before their closing time of midnight. Let’s say we definitely considered the night a huge success, and a whole lot of fun.
Thanks to Unilocal,Drew, Annie, and Chef Andrea (who should also be a comedian) for letting us have this memory forever. Can’t wait until the next event!

A big thank you to everyone at Spuntino Wine Bar! Last night’s event was another home run.
Everyone at Spuntino’s was extremely friendly and super gracious. They even went so far as to keep re-​filling my water glass. This was a free event, I was happy they brought bottles of water to the table, they didn’t have to keep filling my glass. But that was the way the staff seemed to be — making sure that the guest has a great experience is their goal. As far as I’m concerned, they succeeded!
Now for the food. Another huge hit! The homemade mozzarella was rich and soft and tasty. Sometimes homemade cheese can be bland. Theirs was not. The charcuterie platters that we coming around the room were excellent. On the tray was prosciutto, porchetta and wild boar cacciatorini. All of it was fantastic. Also passed around were fried artichoke hearts with an excellent lemon aioli, risotto balls which were okay (I’m not a rice ball fan to begin with but they went quickly, so people did enjoy them), pepperoni pizzas and fantastic bruschetta. That was just what servers were passing around.
Around the perimeter of the room, the restaurant’s purveyors were serving more amazing items. Spuntino’s chefs were serving their homemade mozzarella and a homemade gnocchi with a meat ragu that melted in your mouth! There were several wines being served. All that I tried were very good. We especially enjoyed the Rosa Regale sparkling red. It was just a touch sweet and very refreshing on a warm summer night. Also of particular note was the amazing hanger steak!
I look forward to visiting Spuntino’s as a regular customer and trying some of their other items. After last night, I’m sure I won’t be disappointed.
A big welcome back Drew! We’re glad to see you again!

Il migliore!
What a great event — hats off to Drew, Unilocal and chef Andrea for putting this event together at the beautiful Spuntino in Carle Place.
I was a bit early so I had the opportunity to spend a few moments chatting with chef /​owner Andrea and you can tell that this is a guy who has a passion for food and wine.
The restaurant proper is cozy /​chic: a mix of modern and country which goes together perfectly. The layout for the event was really well done as well: the various food and drink purveyors were lined up around the large dining room with each showing off their specialties.
The wait staff were amazing — it was crowded and they had to work their way through the crowd. There was a non-​stop bevy of yummy foods passing around the whole evening: fresh mozzarella (outstanding), cured meats, arancini (rice balls) and on and on.
Some of the specialties offered by the vendors: pork belly, hangar steak, gnocchi, tuna, scallops and Bronzino, Italian bread and olive oils (naturally), gelato and of course, wines. Wow– I was a happy camper.
Ok, so great food and wine is awesome on it’s own, but when you toss in all the familiar Unilocal faces (plus the new ones!) you really have a party: Jia Jia, Steph, Roy & Lana, Mike and Astrid, Chris, Ruben and on and on and on… (sorry if I missed most of you!)
Bottom line: a GREAT event and a GREAT place to go for dinner and drinks.
Thanks Unilocal and Drew and a huge shout out and mille grazie to Andrea and Spuntino!

This was an outstanding Unilocal event. Drew and the planning committee did an excellent job. The event room was spacious and perfectly accommodating for all of the attendees. The portions and servings were plentiful. Everything flowed very well. There were no visible hiccups for the event.
Now this was my first Unilocal event. I will admit, there are some quirky folks; however, EVERYONE is outgoing and friendly. It was way more of a social experience than a professional experience. I had a very fun time mingling.
Last, the staff at Spuntino did an awesome job of preparation and serving. Most of the samples were prepared on the spot. All of the preparers and servers were very knowledge on regard to their stations. All the servers were friendly and willing to explain every detail to the guests. Undoubtedly, the staff was well prepared. All of the food and wine was good and abundant.
I applaud everyone involved in the event.

Well hola to all!
Man, I’ve tweeted and wrote a great Unilocal review about Spuntino. It was so nice to see this place packed out with people on a Wednesday night.
Nothing beats good Italian wines, cheeses and did I say wine? Hell yes!
I’m embracing my Long Island Unilocaly side and I like coming to these events. In NYC, we would all get tanked and take the train home with no worries. Nassau County Police aren’t fans of drinking so? I chill.
(Not really, My Unilocal Bud Ruben & I were having a discussion of what Napa wine tasted better)
It was really cool to meet a few Unilocal buds for the first time, face to face like Randy and his lovey wife as well as Marisa and Stef. I don’t know how I missed Franco, I was having too much fun making rounds.
So Spuntino! The restaurant layout is so cozy and welcoming, its just a fun spot for a first date to a large family dinner.
Homemade Mozzarella cheese? You had me at hello, soo good! I could nibble on it all night long. And the Mushroom pizza with fresh cheese? Amazing…
The Pork Belly /​Hanger Steak table was a nice appetizer. I went up at least 3 times.
The Olive Oil table, another amazing item being served at Spuntino.
As well as the breads! I also rave about this place, Spuntino gets their bread from a locally sourced bakery, Cardinalli Bakery. Another one of favs.
The coffee and ice cream, excuse me, Gelato was also a home run hit.
The biggest thing about this place is their wine selection. I was drinking great wines from Italy and California. Simply amazing. I did ask the Chef to carry a micro beer from Italy, Genziana. He gave me his card and told me to email him. Very nice.
It was a great night, thank you Drew and the Unilocal team for a great event.

What a great event. Good food, good booze (always a plus), and a nice environment, can’t go wrong.
Must give compliments out to Spuntino and the other vendors at the event. The bread, must say, phenomenal, gelato, sure, why not, wine, please some more (seriously, it’s okay to be heavy with the pour…). Pork belly yum, and my surpriser for the night, the hanger steak.
Also, everyone who was working at Spuntino that night, I must applaud.
It’s great to have Unilocal Long Island back, can’t wait for more great events.

WHAT AN EVENT!!! Even though I’ve lost my elite status, I was so lucky to accompany my awesome friend and reunite even if for a single day with my fellow Elitists! And this event for sure was one of the best events where the Chef truly opened not only his restaurant to us but pretty much the entire business. We not only got to taste some of the most exquisite food but we actually got to meet the vendors providing the amazing ingredients that make this place truly one of a kind.
Nestled in the new Westbury plaza, this place is a MUST-​VISIT. From the moment you walk in to this place, the atmosphere is friendly, festive and a reminder of a small Italian town feeling. From their homemade mozzarella, which was to die for to one of the most amazing things I’ve had, the Hanger steak which was served with salsa verde sauce… wow, it left me speechless. Besides those, having their homemade bread sampled with various exotic oil samplings was an experience I will not forget very soon. To top it off, ending the night with Pistachio gelato, passion fruit sorbet to and chocolate torte, I swear I felt the night couldn’t have been better. These were merely a few things that I’ve mentioned, yet the chef and his staff offered dozen more samplings along with many wine pairings and offerings.
This place is truly magnificent and I CANNOT WAIT to return very soon!!!

Salute! Cin Cin! (Cheers/​Good Health!)
What a way to represent some of the stellar places that Long Island has to offer — Unilocal Style! This was my first LI event in quite some time, and it most certainly did not disappoint.
Spuntino’s was warm, inviting in a simple yet understated way. The dim hanging lights, rustic décor and spacious area could lure/​entice anybody. Upon arrival I noticed the various stations of small bites and drinks alike, which I thought was a great idea. That way people don’t cluster into one area and they can then spread themselves throughout the restaurant. After many hugs, smiles and catching up… I was ready for some food!
IMO, the foods that truly shined were:
–the risotto balls/​hanger steak/​scallops/​tuna «on a half shell»
And the MVP’s of the night:
–the fresh bread and various olive oils (the truffle was simply outstanding)
–the gelato (the pistachio,. no words can even describe)
They also had stations for wine tasting, which I was really looking forward to. The lighter selection from Napa Valley was my favorite along with the bubbly Rose. The staff was not only knowledgeable, but their attention to detail was truly impressive. I learned a lot about the various types of oils and origins of the wine. Everything was delicious as well as they were generous with their samples. I was so full, I’m surprised Steph didn’t have to carry me out of there! It was great seeing all the familiar faces. A HUGE thanks to Drew, the chef and staff of Spuntino’s. Welcome back to NY!!!
It seriously goes to show — if you bring good food, the people will follow.

In Italian we have a saying that goes, «Chi mangia bene, viva bene.» This translates to ‘who eats well, lives well.’ And yes, Spuntino totally imbibes this proverb.
We arrived a bit early (half-​excitement and half need to use bathroom), and checked out the lovely décor of Spuntino. The servers brought us refreshing peach bellinis, A great summer drink and perfect to launch this wonderful evening.
Then it was time to roll the non-​existent sleeves up and get digging. Drew opened the night introducing the lovely staff and head Chef Andrea. Andrea explained the purveyors and the spirit of Spuntino Wine Bar. Everything he said was confirmed by the end of the night.
From the many wines, the steak, the gnocchi, the fresh mozzarella, pizzas, gelato, pork belly, salmon crude, and so so so many more. I am still salivating over that steak.
We ate, we drank, and we lived very well tonight. Spuntino Wine Bar is a stunning restaurant, very open, clean, and cordial. Chef Andrea is a wonderful man who is so passionate about his restaurant and the products he uses. This restaurant is filled with a lot of love.
Thank you so much Drew, Chef Andrea, the staff of Spuntino, and everyone for making this a great fun-​filled night!

Drew brought out the big guns for this one! Meet the Chef was the perfect title for this event, Andrea Rossi worked the room and he was a pleasure to talk to; his passion for what he does really shines through. The evening started out with some processco and bellinis while Drew and Andrea said a few words to the group.
The room was filled with different stations; someone was making fresh mozzarella throughout the night, Cardinali bakery brought delicious bread, there was Italian olive oil to taste, wine from both California and Italy. Let’s not forget about the food; the fish station guy was making raw preparations of tuna, scallops and bronzino to order; gnocchi was bubbling in a tomato sauce, pork belly braised in a lovely sauce and even grilled hanger steak. Then there were also a bunch of passed items like fried artichoke hearts with a lemon thyme aioli, arancini balls and pizza. Everywhere you turned there was food and drink to be enjoyed.
What would an Italian meal be without some espresso, gelato and then wash it down with some Rosa Regale. Everything was delicious, the room was large with lots of seating and the vibe was great.
Great staff, great food, great event!

Great event!
The service was excellent. The waitstaff worked really hard to serve us food and keep the restaurant clean.
All the food was fresh and delicious. I loved the meats. I’ve never eaten wild boar before and I really liked it. Hanger steak always winds up being one of my favorite eats whenever I come to Unilocal events.
!!!PORK BELLY!!!
I ate two or three samples of the chocolate/​hazelnut gelato and one serving of the passion fruit gelato. It was all delicious.
I loved the artichoke hearts and proseco.
I liked the chocolate torte. It could have used more chocolate flavor but I liked the texture of the cake.
My plus one, Sonya, enjoyed herself. Her favorite food was the pizza, she said it was like the pizza she ate in Italy.
As always, I loved seeing all the familiar Unilocal faces!
Thanks for a great night and the free wine bag, Spuntino.
Also, thank you to Drew and Unilocal.Welcome back to NY, Drew.

This is easily one of the best events I’ve been to simply because you can tell all the preparation, time, and care that went into this event. The ambiance of a rustic, modern Italian wine bar was perfect for socializing and munching on all the tapas. And fantastic tapas they were, from the pepperoni honey pizza to the homemade mozzarella to the hanger steak, oh and the pork belly, the risotto balls, prosciutto, yikes the delectable fried artichoke hearts, the bruschetta, the mushroom fig pricciutto pizza, the gnocchi, olive oils, Italian bread, beautifully presented scallop and tuna sashimi… all accompanied by some great, crowd pleasing Italian wines. The chocolate torte, gelatos, lavazza espresso, rose dessert wine all served by friendly and KNOWLEDGEABLE staff who love and are proud of what they are serving you. Ask them a question about where the wine came from, they will give you all the details. It’s all in the details from the swag wine bag to the printed Unilocal menu. The chef personally chatted with all the guests like old friends in his home.
And of course, a LI Unilocal event wouldn’t be the same without all the old familiar faces, Steph M, Katie H, Franco, Dan M without the hair, Laura B, Asim, and to some new faces Dick G, Annie, and of course a huge thank you to Drew who organized this fantastic event!