Incontro is one of the newest additions to The Walk in Coral Springs. Pedro and Christina Bitar opened this wonderful Italian Restaurant / Steakhouse in early 2022. On a road that’s filled with chain restaurants, I was truly amazed to find an Italian Restaurant that can boast that all of the pasta, bread, and sauces are made in-house. This makes them one of the few Genuine Italian Restaurants in the Coral Springs Area.
As we pulled into The Walk you get this feeling of hustle and bustle that hasn’t been around in quite a long time. It’s almost as if new life has been breathed into the area. As you walk into the restaurant you are greeted by the host immediately to the right, straight ahead there’s a fully appointed bar surrounded by plenty of high-tops and booth seating. We arrived around 6 p.m. and the place was completely packed not a seat to be had. What a great sight for the restaurateur as well as the community.
In just under 2 minutes Doris and I were able to get a high top next to the windows overlooking the outdoor seating. Susie our server immediately greeted us with fresh warm bread, a big smile, and the menus, making sure we felt at home. Shortly thereafter she returned and took our drink and appetizer orders. I had the usual Old Fashion; Doris had the Diet Coke and Tito’s with lime. Both of the drinks were great pours and perfectly balanced.
We decided to take advantage of the happy hour specials and have our appetizers in the lounge. We ordered the homemade meatball that was served with marinara sauce and ricotta. I dare to say was close to, if not better than, the ones I remember, my grandmother used to make. We also had the Cime di Rapa e Salsiccia which is Italian Sausage served on a bed of Broccoli Rabe that has been tossed with fresh garlic, and olive oil, which by the way, is another one of Doris’ favorite dishes. This dish was cooked and seasoned to perfection almost to the point of making it an entree.
The bar scene was lively and vibrant with all types of people conversing and having a good time. Without a doubt, a go-to spot for locals be it a business dinner or brunch. Like any restaurant lounge on a Friday evening in Lower Manhattan. I must reiterate what a refreshing sight.
Once we were done in the lounge we went to the host who graciously guided us to our table. He gave us a brief tour and an explanation of the layout. They have a huge dining room as well as a smaller area that seats about 30 people and could be used for family and social functions. I could see this area being used for showers, christenings, birthday parties, etc. As we were seated he gave us some recommendations on dinner choices and told us what some of the favorites were.
Shortly after we were seated Javani, our server greeted us, offered to refresh our drinks, and gave us some time to review the menu. When he returned he asked if we would like to see the specials. This was very interesting to me; only because of all the places we’ve been to I’ve never seen the staff present the specials in this fashion. The wait staff have Amazon Fire Tablets and cannot only describe the special to you, but they show you a beautiful full-color picture of the specials. I must say that I liked this touch a lot and that I do hope to see this technology used in more establishments. Remember the adage that one picture is worth a thousand words!
I ordered the Short Ribs Special which was served with a perfect risotto and both were simply out of this world. I’m a sucker for Short Ribs but this takes Short Ribs to another level. To start, the generous size of the portion was incredible, and then the tenderness and flavor of the meat was something that needed to be experienced in person. Doris ordered the Seafood Special which was a perfect mix of shrimp, scallops, mussels, baby clams, and a stuffed squid all topped off with a giant lobster tail and presented over delicious homemade black pasta. A meal fit for a King or a Queen in this case.
We were filled and just wanted to see what was to be offered for desserts. Javani came over with Kindle in hand to show and explain each dessert to us. They had many of the traditional desserts plus a few that were in-house specialties. Remember when earlier I mentioned that a picture’s worth a thousand words….. We immediately went with the Panna Cotta. The Panna Cotta was so amazingly light and airy and the consistency was that of a traditional Panna Cotta. The addition of delicious fresh berries and the fresh homemade whipped cream just totally knocked it out of the park.
All of the staff was incredibly welcoming, friendly, and helpful. Doris mentioned within the first few minutes of being in the lounge that she felt like we were at home. We got a sense of genuine gratitude for the staff and the ownership. Something that is not present in “chain restaurants”.
This is a wonderful Italian Restaurant / Steakhouse in the heart of Coral Springs that is vibrant yet cozy. The many areas of the restaurant will make you feel like you are either at a Sidewalk Cafe or a lounge in San Francisco or any Italian Restaurant in Manhattan depending on your choice of seating, such a wonderful mix all in one place. We are planning a revisit with the family very soon.
A big thank you to Pedro and Christina Bitar, for bringing delicious and authentic Italian Cuisine to University Drive which has been left a little wanting since Nick’s New Haven Restaurant’s exit from The Walk in Coral Springs.
Click below to see the SoFloDining exclusive interview with the owner Pedro Bitar
Who is at the Chef’s Table with Chef Dan: Pedro Bitar of Incontro Italian Cuisine and Steakhouse
