Fratelli’s Linguini with Red Clam Sauce a perfect dish
People were telling me for weeks I have to go out to Hampstead Maryland and check out Fratelli’s. I really didn’t need too much encouragement since I like going to new places (for me) and eating Italian.
So it wasn’t long ago on an ideal spring night I made the 35-minute trip to Fratelli’s Italian & Seafood to see for myself. As it turned out I called the restaurant a few days before my visit to inquire if they were open on Mondays. Indeed they are. My point is when I walked in on that Monday one of the servers actually asked me if I was the one who called with that question. How did he remember that? So my visit was off to a good start.
My server was friendly and knowledgeable and answered all the questions a first-timer might have. I actually didn’t need to hear all the specials since my mind already was made up regarding my entree. I was told to try the linguini with red clam sauce. Again, I didn’t need much encouragement. It is one of my favorite dishes.
This dish, as is most of their dishes, was certainly big enough for two. In addition, it came with all you can eat salad. When the first bowl is empty, just ask for another and another if necessary. And my friends also said it comes with bread. The two of us finished the entree, but barely. And yes it lived up to all the hype.
The atmosphere is what I’d call relaxed casual. It’s open seven days for lunch and dinner with outside seating. Total seating is about 160. The restaurant is owned by the Sakellis family – husband, wife and son. They opened it in October of 2012.
All pastas are home made, eating is OK in the bar, there is space for a private gathering and every day you can watch them make pasta from 11 to 3.
The address in Carroll County is 2315 Hanover Pike in the Hampstead Marketplace. Reach them at 410-374-0909 or go to fratellismd.com.
Go hungry.
Eddie Applefeld is a Baltimore native and a graduate of Towson University. He has been in the broadcasting profession for over 30 years. Currently he is the Promotions Director of WCBM radio. Before that, he was part of the Rouse & Company show on WQSR, host of a cable TV show called Dining Out and adjunct instructor at Towson.
His past accomplishments include being named a finalist in Baltimore Tourism’s Employee of the Year Program and winner of Toastmaster’s Speaker of the Year contest. He was also twice a heartthrob for the American Heart Association’s gala fund raiser.