I just love finding hidden gems in place I know like the back of my hand. Red Room in Ventnor NJ is one of those gems that’s been hiding in plain site.
Classic Clams Casino at Red Room in Ventnor NJ
I can’t even count how many times I have been on Dorset Avenue in Ventnor NJ and never noticed Red Room. There is nothing about it that really pops out at you to notice it as you drive by. But it has been in the same location for 12 years. And the location is on the way to a spot Steve and I go to each time we are at the shore because it is where we met. If you follow Dorset Avenue all the way to the bay you will come to what was known as Ski Beach. Steve and his friends dubbed it that over 51 years ago because the bay was such a fabulous spot for water skiing. We met on Ski Beach 51 years ago on July 21, 1968. Three weeks later he asked me to marry him. I said YES. We had a beautiful wedding at Park City West in Philadelphia on March 23, 1969 and have been happily married ever since.
Oops! We missed a crumb or two. Yes, they were that good!
But I digress. And I really want to share with you about Red Room in Ventnor NJ because it is so delicious. It is a small restaurant that offers a handful of tables outside. We also loved that you could bring your own wine and we were prepared. What Red Room lacks in the size of their real estate they more than make up for in the size of their portions. And oh my, how those portions pack a punch of flavor. We started off with an old Italian classic Clams Casino. I could have made a meal of the Clams Casino because they were the best I have ever tasted. Every single bite was filled with clammy, bacony, garlicky goodness. And if the crusty bread baked in their wood burning oven and served with great fruity olive oil wasn’t so delicious, we probably would have ordered a second round of Clams. We also decided to skip the salad course even though they offered the Milan Salad because I can make that at home anytime.
Fettuccini Funghi with porcini, shiitake, and crimini mushrooms in a light cream sauce topped with shaved imported black truffle cheese.
House made cheese tortellini with mushrooms, pancetta and peas in a light cream sauce.
Absolutely everything on the menu sounded wonderful but Steve and I both decided to have pasta dishes since they make all of their own pasta in house. Steve had the Fettuccini Funghi with porcini, shiitake, and crimini mushrooms in a light cream sauce topped with shaved imported black truffle cheese. It was rich and loaded with umami from the intensely flavored mushroom assortment. My dish was similar, but not the same. I ordered the Cheese tortellini with mixed mushrooms, peas and pancetta in a light cream sauce. It was similar to carbonara but without the egg. And it was fabulous because the earthy mushrooms played very nicely with the salty pancetta and the sweetness of the peas. But what was most impressive in both dishes was how perfect the pasta was. You could taste the love that went into making the pasta from scratch.
Fabulous Tortufo at Red Room In Ventnor NJ
Of course pasta is very filling. And we swore we didn’t have room for dessert, but owner Maria Gatta assured us that we HAD TO have the Tortufo. So we obliged. It was the perfect finish to an outstanding meal. And just like jello, there’s always room for ice cream!
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