La Strada Italian Restaurant has been serving the residents of Huntingdon Valley and beyond since 2015.
A restauranteur for roughly three decades, owner Michael Rinzo recently treated Glenside Local to La Strada’s origin story (along with a wonderful plate of Salmone Spinacio).
“I used to have six restaurants in this region. One was in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, another was in Northeast Philly. I sold everything,” he said. “Somebody told me about the Huntingdon Valley area. I came and looked at it, and it seemed good.”
The location was previously known as Stefano’s Ristorante Italiano for roughly a decade before it became Tavolo, then Simpatico.
Rinzo, a Bucks County resident, said La Strada’s menu has remain mostly unchanged over the years.
“People like the chicken, the veal, the lambchops, the salmon, crab ravioli, chicken parm,” he said. “I’m a seafood guy, so I recommend our fish.”
La Strada (Italian for “The Street”) is most known for its old-world Italian favorites, though Rinzo noted that staff receives regular compliments about the atmosphere, the friendly service, and the ornamental tree in the main dining room.
“People say they like the servers’ personalities and the decor,” he said. “People love having parties here. We host baby showers, graduations, birthdays, rehearsals, anniversary parties. We’ve even had a few weddings at the tree. We put the tables aside and the priest or the pastor stands in front of it.”
The BYO restaurant also lays claim to a catering arm.
Note: To help quell the rumor mill, the restaurant was not and is not closing, Rinzo said.
For more on La Strada Italian Restaurant, located at 2519 Huntingdon Pike, you can visit their website, Facebook page, and Instagram page.
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Dining and Cooking