Round of Applause for Bravo! Cucina Italiania in Lehigh Valley Mall, Pennsylvania

Story, photos by Sharon Kozden

While June 6th is known far and wide as the anniversary of 1944’s “D-Day Invasion,” it’s overshadowed each year in my family by the occasion of my mother’s birthday. She turned 91 this year (her longevity secret’s a secret!), and I was pleased that she could accompany me to Bravo! Cucina Italiana for a celebratory dinner.

The day was a hot one. Consequently, I was concerned the heat would cause appetite suppression, resulting in side-salads-as-entrée orders rather than the anticipated chow-down with gusto. But no worries necessary as, once inside, the cool air hit and the foodie fest was on!

Bravo! Cucina Italiana is a “clean, well-lighted” place with crisp white tablecloths and appetite-encouraging décor, including walls painted in Tuscan-like earthy hues and facsimiles of Roman ruins. There’s an equally appealing patio area. The place really did remind me of movies I’ve seen, where large groups of people celebrate the joy of authentic Italian cuisine in the company of family and friends, while seated at elongated tables piled high with sumptuous, fresh food and with glorious Italian vistas as backdrop. Since all I know of Italy is what I’ve seen in movies, somewhere in the mix is actress Diane Lane with a heaping bowl of pasta, looking pert, perky and pretty. I vicariously live my European adventures via cinema. So there I sat, pondering what Ms. Lane might choose as a starter and imagining Dame Judy Dench in a starring role as my mother.

What else at this simultaneously casual and chi-chi Italian restaurant but bread could kick-started the feast? I tend to judge a dining experience by the oft- requisite imminent arrival of bread. If it’s a sorry excuse for a dinner roll with a cold rectangle of butter, I worry about every item to come. Not the case at this place. Their bread was the furthest thing from a pathetic while dinner roll. Warm, soft and seasoned, it came with a marinara and olive oil dipping sauce, which elevated the bread to, well, Diane Lane-worthy status.

Now that my belly was no longer running on empty, I ordered my standard margarita (they did a good job with it); my mother selected a bottle of fancy water. Since I also had wine with my entrée, we Uber’ed [sic] home, and my BMW was still fully intact in the parking lot the next morning. Suffice to say Lehigh Valley Mall has good security. When I hit up Uber the next morning for a return ride (it was my mom’s first experience with Uber) and, as she watched the miniature car icon on my phone’s screen moving toward us, I just knew this was going to be her “you won’t believe it” chat topic of the day, perhaps the week.

What then for appetizers? I was the only one partaking, as my companion announced that she really hadn’t had a good piece of meat in some time and was saving herself for only an entrée and dessert. What?! No appetizer? Clearly, I’m my Father’s daughter. I went for the Shrimp Bruschetta (sautéed shrimp, roma tomatoes, an herb-cheese spread and lobster cream). When it arrived, I gasped at the portion size. This had to be an entrée in itself. I tried to share it to no avail. It was gorgeous: no skimp on the delectable shrimp and every ingredient was bursting with flavor and freshness.

Time came for the entrée decision. My mom opted for the six-ounce portion of filet (mignon, that is) accompanied by green beans and a carb-laden side. She dove in and proclaimed the filet delicious but a tad salty. To my taste, it wasn’t salty, so I expect her sodium-reduced or mostly free diet (by choice as well as doctor’s suggestion) was shocked by an upset to routine. Otherwise, she waxed complimentary about the rest of the meal. Portions sizes, by the way, aren’t skimped on either.

I lingered over the menu, going back-and-forth as I’m wont to do. Finally, I decided on the Parmesan-Crusted Beef Medallions, which married crispy parmesan crust-encased layers with medium-rare, tender medallions. Grilled asparagus and a ‘tater and sweet-potato mix jointed the meat. All was spot-on … best in show!

Before the sweet-treat reveal, I want to mention that both management and staff were superior in both attentiveness and friendliness. The sous chef was well-versed in many areas and took the time to nip over, sit a spell and genially relate factoids. Factoids are always welcome to this lover of learning.

So let’s talk the perfect ending to equally excellent meals. All stepped up for Til’s birthday by delivering a small container of sublimely smooth and rich crème brulee bearing a lighted candle. For my part, I’ll just say my meal closure included caramel. Since I’m a little stinker and want to keep readers in suspense (a picture is truly worth those thousand words), check out the mouth-watering snap below of the actual goodie. Now that’s good sweetin’.

Of course, we all of us (staff and management included) sang “Happy Birthday” and waited for the wish-making and candle blow-out by the queen for a day. This queen was beyond grateful for her very special dine-out experience. I’m hoping a smidge of her birthday wish involved a return visit to Bravo! Cucina Italiana.

Ciao!