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Chicken with greens at Belleria Pizza and Italian Restaurant.

STRUTHERS

By Rebecca Nieminen Sloan

The new menu includes a wide selection of entrees such as Italian-style haddock, chicken fettucine alfredo, barbecue ribs, burgers, lasagna, Italian sausage, soups, salads, appetizers, and, of course, pizza.

“But we offer so much more than just pizza,” said part-owner Frank Frattaroli. “Customers love our parmesan crusted chicken, our Bella sausage burger, our fried greens. . .”

I sampled all of the above and more while dining at the Struthers location.

I started with a house salad, which has a light, tangy Italian dressing and pleasing slivers of veggies, and moved to two of the restaurant’s most celebrated appetizers — Italian spicy greens with hot peppers and fried greens with garlic toast.

Both are yummy and great as starters. The greens are mildly spicy because they’re laden with pepper seeds, and the pepper itself was hot but not so hot it set my mouth aflame.

Next came the entrees.

First up was the grilled chicken Siciliano, which features grilled chicken with mushrooms, peppers and mozzarella cheese, all smothered in homemade sauce on a bed of pasta. The dish is hearty and filling — perfect for a wintry afternoon—and Frattaroli said it’s a house favorite.

Second I tried the grilled chicken with greens. This entree features a grilled chicken breast covered with homemade greens and Italian cheeses and is served with a side of rigatoni and greens. It is mildly spicy and light yet filling. Since I’m partial to chicken and greens, this was one of my favorites.

The parmesan crusted chicken came next. It boasts a light, flavorful breading and pink sauce for dipping and is served with a helping of steamed vegetables. Delicious!

Barbecue pulled pork pizza was next. Frank Lellio, another part-owner of the restaurant, said this is a very popular pizza at Belleria. The famous Belleria dough is sprinkled with barbecue pork and then covered with a blend of four cheeses. The combination of pizza and barbecue is a real palette-pleaser.

The Belleria Sausage Burger is another item on the menu that combines elements of the traditional pizza but with a twist.

The burger itself is huge — about the size of a saucer — and since regular burger buns just aren’t big enough for the patty, the bun is substituted with pizza dough.

This resulted in unexpected perfection. The tasty sausage is slathered with grilled peppers and onions and then sandwiched between two thin slices of golden-brown pizza dough. Served with a side of fries, this is a burger with a zest above the rest.

Although my tummy was getting pretty full by this point, I still had some room for a few bites of the homemade wedding soup — a traditional favorite with rich chicken broth, tiny meatballs, tender carrots and greens.

Then it was time for dessert.

My sweet tooth approved 110 percent of the ice cream basket. Imagine warm fried dough that’s coated with sugar and cinnamon and shaped like a bowl. Next imagine that bowl filled with vanilla ice cream that’s drizzled with strawberry and chocolate sauce and topped with whipped cream. It’s to die for.

The pizza fritta is delicious as well. The little chunks of homemade deep-fried dough are rolled in sugar and cinnamon and then served with chocolate or strawberry dipping sauces.

The restaurant also offers a warm chocolate chip brownie that’s a chocolate-lover’s delight with its crisp outside, moist, chewy inside and decadent chocolate chunks.

Bob Camardo is also a part-owner of the restaurant, which offers $5 daily specials that keep bargain-loving customers coming back for more.

Monday’s special is a 12-inch cheese pizza or a dozen boneless wings. Tuesday’s special is a spaghetti dinner with two meatballs, salad and garlic bread; Wednesday’s special is an 8-ounce cheeseburger with fries or a meatball bowl with fries or a dozen boneless wings; Thursday’s special is penne pasta with sausage and marinara and a salad; Friday’s special is a basket of Cajun popcorn shrimp; and Saturday’s special is a sausage link sandwich with peppers and onions and a side of fries.

When talking about some of the changes to the menu, Frattaroli said in addition to a house salad, patrons now have the option of having a Caesar salad with their meal. He also said that Nathan’s hot dogs have been added to the menu and all sandwiches now come with fries, potato salad or applesauce.

About Food:30

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