Trattoria da Concetta — Restaurant in Naples

Simple, bright trattoria open for lunch and dinner just two short blocks up the hill from the Naples Metropolitana's architecturally heralded Toledo Station.

They open relatively early for dinner by Italian standards, around 7:00PM or 7:15PM, depending on where you look. I had been sick for three days, not eating much and was suddenly famished. I had seen "Da Concetta" the previous evening on my way to the farmacia to get some drugs, but it was early and they were closed. Returning the next evening, the lights were on and bright, almost too bright, and there were guests sitting in the exterior, clear plastic walled tent. I entered.

When I entered, they knew who I was, possibly from my profile photo, stating in Italian: "You have a reservation ... yes". I showed them the reservation and was seated. The trattoria is very clean, bright, and trendy by Italian trattoria standards with the "cameriere" ("waiters" - it is a direct translation because most "servers" in Italy are traditionally male, so don't get your knickers in a twist) wearing black pants and "Dodger Blue" (HOOAH) uniform shirts with the trattoria's name and logo on them. My "server" brought a rolled-up paper bag and placed it on the table ... odd.

I started by ordering a bottle of aqua minerale frizzante (sparkling mineral water - €1.50) and mezzo litro di vino rosso della casa (1/2 liter of house red wine - €2.50). They were brought post haste and in an uncouth manner taught to me by my grandfather and despised (along with "scarpetta" - more on that later) by my wife, I dipped some of the bread (yes, that was what was in the paper bag, not dog excrement as first entered my mind) in the deep red wine and savored every bite ... YUM!

The paper bag contained bread of course because every restaurant in Italy serves bread with the meal (except for places that are strictly "pizzerias" and, therefore, not "restaurants" by definition). They were out of Spaghetti Carbonara (€6 - out of carbonara at 7:30?), so I went with the server's suggestion, Vermicelli alla Nerano (€7), vermicelli pasta tossed in a sauce of sliced zucchini sauteed in olive oil and topped with Parmigiano Reggiano and basil. Unlike some recent experiences, this pasta was a bit bland, so I asked for some extra grated cheese which helped immensely. I wolfed it down.

I decided on a traditional Neapolitan dish and one of my favorites, Salsiccia di Maiale alla Brace (€6 - grilled pork sausage) and a side order of Friarielli (€3 - broccoli rabe, "rapini" in Italian, sauteed in olive oil and garlic ... BUONO!). The sausage was good, a tad too pink pork-wise for my liking, but I took the chance and somehow survived. Taking a little friarielli, which you will find primarily in the Naples area, along with a bit of sausage, I mopped-up the excess olive oil with my bread from the plate ("fare la scarpetta" - literally "making the little shoe") and shoved it all in my pie-hole. Quando facio la scarpetta (when I make the little shoe), it is always frowned upon by my wife, put particularly in public where any self-respecting Italian would NEVER fare la scarpetta. Being American, the grandson of a shoemaker, and NOT a self-respecting Italian, I make the scarpetta anywhere I damn well please, in public or not, because it is the highlight of almost any meal.

My meal was very good, the environment clean, although a bit too bright for my eyes, and the service excellent. My only concerns and the reasons for my deduction of "Bombs" are as follows:

How could a restaurant be out of carbonara just after opening?

The pasta was a bit bland, needing added parmigiano

The sausage was too pink and we all know what undercooked pork and chicken can do to you ... Gordon Ramsey would have had a "hissy" (curse word replaced due to profanity policy) fit!

CombatCritic Gives Trattoria da Concetta 7 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More...

When we asked for a table for two and we didn't have a reservation we were seated in the outside part of the restaurant. They were attentive from the beginning and increasingly

The lack of English capabilities we're used to but somehow we said yes to receive both the antipasti and the secondi along with side dishes and wine all at once which we haven't experienced before (we skipped the primi)! They were extremely keen to take our plates before they were fully emptied. Towards the end of our stay they turned off the gas heater next to us without asking if it was too hot (they turned up others in the tent at the same time). They asked us if we wanted dessert or coffee which we declined and then we were presented with the bill. Before we had finished our wine we were told that the table was reserved and indicated that we had to leave (which we weren't informed about when seated).

The food was tasty but the overall experience was definitely ruined by the feeling that we were being rushed through the dinner and finally kicked out. The bill of €36.50 was correct and we ended up staying less than an hour.

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Very nice, laid back restaurant. We went with our 2-year old daughter. The food was great and had good size portions, the service was very pleasant, quick, attentive, and with a very simple, non-fake atmosphere. We ordered a bruschetta with tomatoes starter which was delicious! (I already want to eat it again). Then had the ‘catch of the day’ (which my partner who is a serious fish lover said was one of the best fish she has ever had), a seafood pasta (also very good), and a ricotta ravioli for our daughter, which we happily ate half of and was quite tasty. We also had a glass of wine and the lemon sorbet for desert, which was pretty good (though not as spectacular as the main dishes). In total the meal was about 60 euros, plus a tip. We loved it, especially the simple, non-presumptuous atmosphere, the tasty food and very reasonable prices. Just notice that it’s on a small street and quite noisy with all the motorcycles passing by, in case that matters to you. All in all, we loved the place and will probably go back there for dinner tomorrow...