At Luca Bella, owner Mickey Maltese brings family-style Italian dining to Aventura. The name is inspired by Maltese’s two children, Marcelo Luca and Isabella, whose portraits smile from the walls. A 20-person bar is set with dimmed lights and an open kitchen gives diners a glimpse at chef Luciana Crosa, who works alongside her mother, sister and brother.
Dishes here are family style, of course, and feature such American-Italian favorites as clams casino, fried zucchini, pasta fagioli and fresh salads with imported salami and provolone. Hearty specialties like meat lasagna are made with mascarpone, and a variety of veal, pork, chicken and seafood entrees ensure no one leaves hungry.
Jessica Turpin, Gilt City Editor
Luca Bella Dinner for Two Menu
Appetizer
choose one
Mickey’s Hot Antipasto Platter
four NY Littleneck baked clams, one large eggplant rolatini, two large stuffed mushrooms
Burratina Pugliese
with prosciutto di Parma and roasted red peppers
Insalata
choose one
Chopped Italian Garden Salad
with imported salami and provolone
Hydroponic Organic Arugula
with crumbled imported Gorgonzola
Insalata Gabriela
mesclun greens with toasted almonds, cherry tomatoes,
dried cranberries and goat cheese in a raspberry vinaigrette
Traditional Caesar
with white anchovies and garlic croutons
Main Courses
choose two
Rigatoni Filleto
with peas and fresh mozzarella
Wild Mushroom Ravioli
porcini mushroom cream sauce
Linguine
white clam sauce
Veal Francese
egg-battered and sautéed with butter, lemon and white wine
Grilled Double Cut Pork Chop
smothered with sautéed cherry peppers, onions and mushrooms
Chicken Luca
sautéed white meat breast with a layer of imported prosciutto, pan fried eggplant
and melted mozzarella in a Marsala sauce with a touch of tomato and sage
Shrimp Scampi
jumbo shrimp sautéed in lemon, olive oil, garlic and shallots
Broiled Sea Scallops
in a brown butter sauce with garlic-roasted asparagus
Mascarpone Meat Lasagna
pasta and ground beef with a fresh tomato sauce,
shredded mozzarella and a sweet mascarpone-ricotta filling
Dessert
choose one
Homemade Napoleon
Homemade Tiramisu
Ghirardelli Chocolate
with Häagen-Dazs vanilla ice cream
Wine
choose one
Napa Cellars Chardonnay
Gavi di Gavi Fontanafredda
Baby Brunello, Rosso di Montalcino, Col d’Orcia
Joel Gott 815, California Cabernet Sauvignon
Luca Bella Menu
Appetizer
NY Baked Clams
NY Zuppa di Clams
NY Clams Casino
Zuppa di Mussels
Fried Calamari
Calamari Arrabiata
Fried Shrimp Arrabiata
Shrimp Cocktail
Stuffed Mushrooms
Fried Zucchini
Eggplant Rollatini
Meatball & Eggplant
Sausage, Peppers & Onions
Stuffed Artichoke
Shrimp Oreganata
Pan Seared Scallops
Mickey’s Meatballs
pan-fried sirloin meatballs topped with a sweet marinara, mascarpone-whipped ricotta and basil
Broccoli Rabe
with roasted sausage and cannellini beans
Salad
Chopped Italian
add imported salami and provolone
Classic Caesar
add anchovies
Hydroponic Arugula
served with shaved Parmesan or gorgonzola
Caprese Salad
Insalata Gabriela
mesclun greens with goat cheese, dried cranberries,
toasted almonds and cherry tomatoes in a raspberry vinaigrette
Italian Sliced Antipasto
Cold Seafood
Pasta & Sauces
Your Choice of Pasta: Linguini, Fettuccini, Penne, Rigatoni, Angel Hair and Spaghetti
Marinara
Filetto di Pomodoro
Alla Vodka
with prosciutto
Amatriciana
with pancetta
Bolognese
Sirloin Meatballs and Italian Sausage
Garlic and Oil
Alfredo
Puttanesca
NY White Clam Sauce
Broccoli Garlic and Oil
Alla Marechiara
Stuffed Rigatoni
cooked in a sausage marinara sauce
Linguini Pescatore
clams, mussels, shrimp and calamari over a bed of linguini
Baked Italian Specialties
Eggplant Parmigiana
Baked Ziti with Ricotta
Baked Fettuccini Alfredo
with mascarpone cheese and toasted bread crumbs
Mascarpone Meat Lasagna
Gnocchi, Ravioli and Tortellini
Cheese Ravioli Marinara
Wild Mushroom Ravioli
in a porcini mushroom cream sauce
Lobster Ravioli
in a brandy tarragon cream sauce with shrimp
Tortellini Alfredo
with peas, prosciutto and mushrooms
Gnocchi Nona
meat sauce, peas, mushrooms and a touch of cream
Seafood
Broiled Sea Scallops
served with asparagus in a garlic lemon sauce
Live Female Maine Lobsters
prepared any style: broiled, steamed, oreganata, marinara, bruschatta, Luca Bella
Filet of Fish
your choice of: salmon, snapper, or sea bass
prepared any style: broiled, grilled, oreganata, luciano, livornese,
francese, marechiara, margherita, or dijonese
Cioppino
mussels, clams, shrimp, scallops and red snapper in a tomato broth with sweet peas
3 Pound Female Maine Lobster
with mussels, clams and shrimp over pasta
Veal
Milanese
Limone
Marsala
Parmigiana
Pizzaiola
Francese
Luca
Palmitano
Veal Chop Milanese
served with chopped tomatoes, basil and onions
Veal Chop Valdostana
milanese style layered with prosciutto, mozzarella
and topped with a marsala mushroom sauce
Chicken
Milanese
Limone
Marsala
Parmigiana
Pizzaiola
Francese
Luca
Palmitano
Chicken Scarpariello
roasted chicken with garlic, lemon and herbs
Grilled Chicken
with escarole and beans
Chicken Cacciatore
cooked with peppers, onions and mushrooms in a red wine tomato sauce
Country-Style Chicken
with sautéed vinegar peppers, sausage, potato, onions and garlic
Chicken Isabella
roasted chicken on the bone, topped with sautéed cherry peppers,
mushrooms, onions, roasted garlic and toasted breadcrumbs
Chicken Luca Bella
roasted chicken on the bone, topped with sautéed peppers, potatoes, onions, broccoli, roasted garlic and sausage
Shrimp
Shrimp Parmigiana
Shrimp Marinara or Fradiavlo
over pasta
Shrimp Scampi
over pasta
Shrimp Francese
over pasta
Shrimp Luciano
over spinach
Shrimp Bella
Lightly-floured and pan-seared, served over burnt string beans
with a dijon-balsamic dipping sauce
From the Grill
Double-Cut Pork Chops
topped with onions, hot cherry peppers and mushrooms
12oz Prime NY Strip
Pizzaiola Siciliano Style
Six Bone Rack Of Lamb
with a dijon crust served with mashed potato
16oz. Veal Chop
served cowboy style or lollipop
Vegetables
All vegetables are sautéed in garlic and olive oil or steamed
Burnt style available for selected items
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cauliflower
String Beans
Spinach
Escarole
Broccoli Rabe
Burnt Vegetable Medley
broccoli, string beans, cauliflower and brussell sprouts
Grilled Vegetable Platter
eggplant, zucchini, squash, carrots and onions
Healthy Menu
Zucchini Linguine Pomodoro
Grilled Chicken
with chopped tomatoes, onions and basil
Grilled Shrimp & Balsamic
Marinated Vegetables
Veal Chop Paillard
pounded and grilled, then served with mixed baby greens
Desserts
Italian Cheescake
Tiramisu
Napoleon
Canoli
Crème brûlée
Tartufo
Biscotti
Spumoni
Tortoni
Homemade Apple Tart
thinly sliced apple baked into a puff pastry crust, flavored with cinnamon,
topped with vanilla ice cream and caramel
Warm Ghirardelli Brownie
a chocolate brownie served hot with Häagen-Dazs vanilla ice cream
Belgian Waffle
a freshly made waffle served with Häagen-Dazs ice cream
Chocolate Tower
Seven layer chocolate cake with chocolate fudge icing