Cala Luna Restaurant - Mineola (NY)

5 /5 Luda P: Today I went to Cala Luna for late lunch/early dinner with my son and daughter-in-law, and we had a wonderful experience. My daughter and I ordered from the prix fixe menu, while my son chose the Italian burger from the main menu. For my prix fixe meal, I enjoyed potato pierogi as an appetizer, followed by pork tenderloin with mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables and finished with a Napoleon for dessert. My daughter-in-law selected shrimp tempura, organic chicken braised in marsala wine, mushroom-onion, steamed vegetables and mashed potatoes, and tiramisu. I also had a glass of Prosecco. Everything we ordered was delicious - the meat was very juicy, the flavors were balanced, and the desserts, while not overly sweet, simply melted in the mouth. We also appreciated the fresh tap water served throughout the meal. Our waiter, Luciano, was extremely attentive to our needs. The restaurant wasn’t crowded - only two or three tables were occupied - which meant we received excellent, focused service. We visited on a Sunday and found plenty of free parking, though I’m not sure how parking is on other days. The atmosphere was lovely: quiet music, a modern interior, and an overall pleasant environment. It’s a great place to celebrate special moments or simply enjoy lunch with friends. I would gladly recommend Cala Luna to anyone who enjoys Italian cuisine and a comfortable dining experience. Highly recommended - 5 out of 5 stars!

5 /5 Nancy Gershman: Mussels in champagne sauce (perfect for dunking the freshly baked bread), calamari friti (crispy but not overcooked), and roasted cauliflower (garlic, wow!). Servers attentive, and the restaurant filled up fast on a Saturday night. P.S. this review was written by a 10 year old who ordinarily is a very picky eater!

4 /5 Danny Kim: 4.5 stars! What a great local spot! Came with a group of friends (8 total) by accident (we meant to reserve at a similarly named restaurant). But it was cute inside with a reasonably full crowd and plenty of street parking. A small miss on the crab cake appetizer - it didnt say "lump" and it wasnt - more like the shredded kind but at least it was real crab. I got the pasta special - fettucine with shrimp in pesto sauce. It was excellent. My wife had the strip steak with some variant of chimichurri sauce - a really nice portion, cooked perfectly and served with a side of really tasty crispy thin shoestring fries. All my friends, including the Italians, were oohing and aahing about the food. Then came the dessert - oh my. Strawberry and cream napoleon-kinda thing, tiramisu, and italian cheesecake. Everything was fresh, light, and tasty. Service was pretty good but kinda got the cold shoulder on my decaf latte. Definitely worth a try!

5 /5 R Ho: This was a pleasant find in the midst of Mineola. They have brunch, lunch, and dinner and it seems to be served all day. I love the service. Our server didn’t look friendly at first but he did warm up and recommended the Porto pino flatbread and was having a chat with us towards the end. Our glasses of water were always filled. Never needed to ask to have it refilled. From the appetizers to the pancakes to the steak to the dessert, everything was superb and delicious. The calamari had just the right amount of salt on it. The Porto pino with pear, mascarpone, and pistachio pesto did not disappoint either. I can see why it’s a favorite of customers. The steak - even well done for my kid - was quite tender and I don’t eat steak well done. I was able to cut the steak with a butter knife. The mashed potatoes with steak was a great combination with each bite. Now to the dessert: never had to eat dessert with a steak knife but that’s what the napolean came with because it wasn’t something you can eat with your hands. The flourless chocolate cake was delicious as well. The bread pudding was warm and went well with gelato. I can’t not recommend this little restaurant because I will be revisiting to try their other dishes.

5 /5 Alessandra Tiseo: Absolutely incredible. I was speechless, between the food and the view. I have never experienced anything like it. The creative workshop tasting menu was fantastic. I will literally think about this meal forever.