Flavorful, warm, authentic Italian fare has arrived in Murfreesboro with the opening of La Cucina Italiana. Proprietor Darlin Daniel Deras opened the establishment on bustling Thompson Lane to offer his take on Sicilian classics.
Almost anyone should be able to find something suitable to their taste and mood from the extensive but well organized, unintimidating and informative menu, which includes a variety of pastas, chicken dishes, salads, sandwiches, soups, seafood, steaks and even some Cuban selections, a nod to the previous restaurant occupying the 451 N. Thompson Ln. location (which was of a Cuban persuasion).
At the current restaurant, La Cucina Italiana, the linguine scampi is a popular choice for pasta and seafood fans, featuring shrimp along with a garlic white wine scampi sauce and julienne zucchini.
For an absolute symphony of deliciousness try the Cavatappi Al Forno Cremoso, a magnified mac and cheese of sorts. Cavatappi is a spiral noodle, and this fantastically rich, cheesy, greasy bacon pasta creation accompanies them with parmesan, onion, diced bacon, cream, melted mozzarella cheese and just enough green peas in there to say you had some vegetables along with all of the decadent pasta, cheese and butter.
“The Bolognese and Marsala were spot on,” Bill Rawnsley posted following a meal at La Cucina Italiana.
Other house pasta dishes include the Pasta Pescatori—a seafood medley of shrimp, mussels, clams and calamari—the Linguine Bolognese with the classic meat and tomato sauce, Rigatoni Alla Vodka, and Pasta Gorgonzola, another special cavatappi dish, this one with sausage, peas and sweet onion in a gorgonzola cream sauce.
“The gorgonzola pasta was very creamy and delicious, and the spare rib with risotto was really tender and flavorful,” posted one impressed customer, Stratos. “Everything was really authentic and obviously cooked from scratch with a lot of care and talent. Top it off with the best homemade tiramisu we’ve had in 20 years.”
This patron also recommended the ham croquettes.
Deras spent many years honing his craft at an Italian establishment on Long Island, learning the art of creating traditional sauces and preparing pasta, chicken and seafood dishes. Now, he brings these recipes from Palermo, Italy, to Middle Tennessee. His skill has not gone unnoticed—one local Italian family from New York proclaimed La Cucina as the best Italian food they have found in Murfreesboro.
Among the establishment’s chicken dishes, find the Chicken Sorrentino—chicken breasts topped with prosciutto, very thin slices of fried eggplant, mozzarella, a beef-based demi-glace and plum tomatoes, all atop a bed of mashed potatoes—an elegant explosion of flavors with a comforting potatoes-and-gravy feel, and a very filling dish.
The Chicken Involtino, served on risotto and small chunks of vegetables, may not have quite as impressive of a flavor profile but is still a hearty option, particularly for fans of mushrooms.
The Shrimp Oreganata makes for a garlicky, buttery, herby indulgence, with crusted shrimp atop a large portion of sautéed spinach, while “the short ribs are to die for,” another customer posted.
Other families say they appreciate the affordable chicken tenders, grilled cheese and Jr. cheeseburger options for kids.
As mentioned, the La Cucina Italiana chef decided to include on his menu some Cuban standards, including maduros (sweet plantains), fried green plantains served by themselves or loaded up like nachos, empanadas, Cuban sandwiches, croquettes and tamales.
Those looking for burrata—balls of fresh mozzarella cheese filled with a creamy interior—can find them at La Cucina Italiana, the delicacies served with the caprese or accompanied with meatballs.
“The chicken Francese [with white wine and lemon butter sauce] was good and the bread was good,” said one recent diner, Nancy King, though she added that she would like a better quality calamari, and that “The meatballs were delicious but the burrata was so cold it made it less appealing; make sure the burrata is room temperature.”
Though “overall, I would go back,” King said.
Daras, who also owns and operates a paletas shop in Springfield, La Michoacana, takes pride in his culinary creations and will surely continue to impress with his dishes and to welcome customer feedback.
Local diner Samantha Bowers said she appreciated the “cool mix of Italian and Latino food. Incredible chicken spring rolls [buffalo chicken rolled with carrot-celery slaw, served with blue cheese dipping sauce], beef empanadas and Rigatoni Fiorentina. The tres leches cake was the best I have ever had. Great service as well,” she said.
From clams and mussels to cheeseburgers and Cuban sandwiches, light salads to rich pastas, meatballs, marsala, ribeye or ropa vieja, whatever you’re in the mood for, give Mr. Daras and his team a chance to lead you on a culinary adventure at La Cucina Italiana.
La Cucina Italiana
451 N. Thompson Ln., Ste. A, Murfreesboro
Mon.–Sat.: 11 a.m.–10 p.m.; Sun.: 11 a.m.–9 p.m.
Linguine Scampi: $17.49; Chicken Sorrentino: $18.49; Apple and Gorgonzola Salad: $12.39; Rigatoni Alla Vodka: $14.39; Cavatappi Al Forno Cremoso: $15.39; Vegetable Minestrone: $6.19
615-546-4444
lacucinaitaliana451.com
