Media's Spasso Italian Grille Review

A Philly favorite moves to the ‘burbs, with Italian favorites and a big-city vibe in tow.

Grilled calamari. (Photo by Jared Castaldi)Fans of Philly’s Spasso Italian Grill on South Front Street now have a good reason to keep dinner quick and convenient with the recent opening of a second location in downtown Media. The new Spasso offers a menu that’s practically identical to its urban counterpart, plus a lovely outdoor patio and an interior that’s quite grand.

Not your quaint Italian eatery by any means, Spasso balances small and large groups quite well—just don’t expect quiet conversation. The main dining room is flat-out noisy. That aside, the service on our visits was friendly and knowledgeable.

The approachable, budget-friendly menu covers all the Italian comfort foods many of us crave—like heaping plates of steaming penne and grilled Italian sausage with broccoli rabe. Our arugula appetizer was large enough to share, the peppery greens lightly dressed in a lemony vinaigrette and topped with ruby-red tomatoes and grated provolone.

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An Italian standby, the grilled calamari was refreshing, its light char allowing the lemon, olive oil and herbs to seep in. The slightly sweet, basil-flecked sauce that accompanied the meatballs and large, tube-shaped paccheri (one of the few pastas not made in-house) warranted a return visit all its own.

1 W. State St., Media; (610) 565-7803, spassoitaliangrill.com.

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