Aliseo Osteria del Borgo

Aliseo's... An Italian gem.
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"Dining is and always was a great artistic opportunity." ~ Frank Lloyd Wright

Aliseo Osteria del Borgo is a small one room Italian restaurant on Vanderbilt Avenue in Brooklyn, not far from Prospect Park. It was hot, really hot the day we ate there and we were early; but the hostess graciously let us come in out of the 95+ heat. This gave us more time to study the decor. The entryway is hidden by this stained glass partition and plenty of light flows through the large front window.



There are at most, ten tables with mismatched chairs; candles on all the tables and in the windows. Long curtains separated the kitchen in the back from the dining area. Albano Ballerini is the owner and head chef and was there that evening as always.



The long wall is decorated in an old looking rose chintz wallpaper giving the space an intimate homey feeling; antique mirrors with clouded glass and gilded frames were scattered throughout. A rustic plastered fireplace and mantle completed the picture. Strings of small lights added a touch of whimsy. It was relaxed. It was cool.



That night the special was a baked lasagna with duck ragu. You can see it here. Even now my mouth waters when I think of that flaky pasta and that mixture of sauce and cheese..... So, if you're ever in Brooklyn and hungry for pasta that is a bit unusual.... check it out!

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