Its been about two years since brothers Tony and Greg Allwein opened this restaurant specializing in Northern Italian food at 502 East Lehman St., Lebanon. The Allweins are no strangers to the restaurant scene in Lenbanon, because they also operate Lebanon's Fenwick Tavern & Restaurant.
Trattoria Fratelli serves dinner only. A lighted patch leads from the restaurant to the outdoor dining area and a garden. During summer, this garden produces fresh herbs, which Chef Larry Nauman uses in making his menu items.
"We have a small menu which is constantly changing to reflect the fresh seasonal ingredients that we use," Allwein said. He indicated that a wood-fired oven is used to bake fresh bread daily and to make pizzas and roast a variety of entrees. "We go to the local produce auctions and buy locally grown produce in season," he said.
One or two items, such as wood-roasted chicken and eggplant parmesan, have remained on the menu since the restaurant's opening. There's also always a special pizza on the menu. Other menu items have included osso bucco ( a veal shank ), filet, homemade gnocchi with sage and butternut squash, a squid ink ferruccini with rock shrimp and bay scallops in an orange fennell broth and traditional spaghetti with Bolgnese sauce. "Our chef is really creative, and he comes up with great daily specials to complement the seasonal menu," Allwein said.
"When you're using the right products, such as fresh food and quality ingredients, half the battle is won," Allwein said. He noted that salads are often quite creative at Trattoria Fratelli. A house salad consists of greens with the house dressing, lemon pecorino vinaigrette, which is served on many of the restaurant's salads. The Fratelli salade consists of a spring mescaline mixed with balsamic vinaigrette. The caprese salad is available in the summer; it features fresh tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, basil and olive oil. Last fall, a grilled fig salad with Gorgonzola cheese and walnut vinaigrette was featured on the menu. But the carpaccio with green peppercorn dressing and summer salad is by far one of the restaurant's most popular salads.
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