‘Watts for Dinner’: Estero’s Divieto serves up Italian bliss

Our next dining destination is Divieto Ristorante in Estero, located in the Coconut Point Mall.

Things got off to an appetizing start with two salads. I had the quinoa salad ($14.95), featuring tricolor quinoa mixed with chickpeas, cucumber, peppers, cherry tomatoes, beets, and Italian dressing and topped with two huge triangles of feta cheese.

What I liked: This salad is different. What I loved: The huge amount of tasty feta. This salad is a real winner. Tops!

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My dining companion had the “Divieto Pear” ($14.95) featuring mixed greens tossed in a citrus dressing, and served with carrots, candied walnuts, cherry tomatoes, goat cheese and, yes, fresh pear. This salad earned high marks and was beautiful to behold.

For my main entrée, I selected the “Ruota di Parmigiano” ($19.50). This dish is dinner and a show, as it features a tableside experience. It’s a creamy fettuccine alfredo tossed in a Parmigiano-Reggiano wheel to give it “an extraordinary and rich flavor.”

The wheel is said to be 90 pounds before use. And each one costs the restaurant around $2,000. You can add chicken ($6), shrimp ($7), steak ($8) or salmon ($9). I added the latter.

The salmon was nice. The pasta, extraordinary. The show: fun!

My partner in dine stayed in theme with his salad and selected the “Fiocchi di Pera” ($18.75). It features pasta stuffed with pear and Italian cheeses, in a four cheese cream sauce and topped with fresh arugula, cherry tomatoes and candied walnuts. Beautiful to behold and with an exception and unique flavor.

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We also took home a pizza, the “Bianca” ($16.50). It features a blend of mozzarella and mascarpone cheese, sautéed mushrooms and ham and is drizzled with white truffle oil.

We held the ham. And I must say, this pizza was amazing. A very thin and crispy crust and lots of cheese.

Before we left with our pizza, we had dessert. I had the “Toxedo Bombe” ($12.95), a savory chocolate cake filled with vanilla and chocolate mousse and covered with chocolate ganache. With a raspberry jam base, this tempting dessert was a delight. The mousse made it feel light and decadent at the same time.

My friend had the crème brûlée ($7.50), a traditional vanilla custard topped with caramelized brown sugar and fresh berries. With berries and mint leaves, this was one of the best looking crème brûlées I have ever seen.

This was my first visit to Divieto Ristorante, but it certainly won’t be my last. A friendly staff, nice accommodations and amazing food, it’s a win all the way around. Happy eating!

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If you go

Divieto Ristorante

• 23161 Village Shops Way #101, Estero
• 239-390-8002
• divietoristorante.com