By Sowon Jessica Moon

“Everything. Everything is good. All of our pastas are homemade,” General manager Sam Mussa said.

Mussa wasn’t stretching the truth as he said this with pride when asked about the specialties at local restaurant Pasta Amore, in Piermont, N.Y.

Pasta Amore was established 15 years ago at Piermont Landing, a plaza in Westchester County filled with charming galleries and shops with a vast and breathtaking view of the Hudson River. Though many restaurants are found at Piermont, Pasta Amore has the advantage of being the one restaurant that directly faces the river. Entering the restaurant, I found it to be spacious and simplistic; save for a couple of paintings of the old Piermont, the restaurant was not lavishly garlanded. The minimalism of the pale ivory walls and delicately glazed wooden columns was ideal; it forwarded more attention to the view. The restaurant exuded an ambiance that was both romantic and family oriented; a difficult task to achieve and balance.

The menu consisted of standard Italian pasta dishes as well as some that were not so traditional, giving Pasta Amore an edge of individualistic appeal. I began my meal with fresh Italian bread, crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. Disappointment set in when it was served with butter instead of olive oil and cracked pepper, but the meal itself compensated for the minor upset. I opted to try General Manager Sam Mussa’s favorite, Farfalle Griffino, bowtie pasta with shrimp and sun-dried tomatoes served with their own vodka sauce. Despite the fact that the meals are made to order, I did not have to wait very long until the Farfalle Griffino was ready. The first bite was a symphony of flavor, each ingredient distinct, all the while combining pleasantly with the rest. The shrimp was succulent and cooked to perfection. I found myself utilizing the remaining bread to pick up the excess sauce. From the first bite to the last, I was beyond satisfied. I was so full from the meal I passed on desserts, but I did find they had a wide variety of desserts, ranging from sorbets to napoleon cake to semifreddo torroncino, a cream with crushed nuts and nougat, to homemade desserts such as white chocolate tartfuffo, chocolate mousse, flourless chocolate cake, and of course, tiramisu.

While the meal was supreme, the service was slightly lacking. Saturday and Sunday were their busiest nights, and I found myself there on an early Wednesday evening. The general manager had stepped out and a single waiter and bus boy were in charge of three tables. I knew it was difficult to tend to four guests when he was only one man. So, after patiently waiting for 20 minutes, the waiter apologetically handed me my check. He walked to the table adjacent to mine and began telling them the specials for the day. I was baffled to find he had failed to mention the specials to me, but once again, the Farfalle Griffino compensated for that.

The location is exceptional, the restaurant is spacious, and while the service was not up to par, the meals certainly compensate. Pasta Amore also has outdoor seating in the spring and in the summer. It is a great place to dine with a lover, a friend, or a family member. So if you plan a visit to Piermont and find yourself hungry for a beautiful view and good eats, stop at Pasta Amore. When you dine at a place whose name alone displays a love for pasta, it’s hard not to walk out with a smile. Pasta Amore is located at 200 Ash Street in Piermont, N.Y.

The restaurant’s hours are Sunday to Thursday 12 to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 12 to 11 p.m.

Pasta Amore is well-known for its bowtie pasta with shrimp and sun-dried tomates served with their vodka sauce. (Image courtesy pastaamore.com)