CHOOSE 1 FROM EACH OF THE FOLLOWING:

APPETIZER
TOSSED SALAD
DINNER ANTIPASTO
HOMEMADE SOUP
TOASTED RAVIOLI
MOZZARELLA STICKS

ENTRÉE

BLACK & BLUE RIBEYE
GRILLED RIBEYE STEAK WITH A PEPPER RUB
AND BLUE CHEESE CRUMBLE
SERVED WITH CHOICE OF SPAGHETTI, PENNE, RISOTTO, OR POTATO & VEGETABLE

CRAB STUFFED HADDOCK
BAKED HADDOCK ROLLED AND STUFFED WITH CRAB STUFFING
TOPPED WITH MORNAY SAUCE
SERVED WITH CHOICE OF SPAGHETTI, PENNE, RISOTTO, OR POTATO & VEGETABLE

STUFFED PORK LOIN
PORK LOIN ROLLED AND STUFFED WITH
FRESH SPINACH, ROASTED RED PEPPERS, MUSHROOM AND RICOTTA CHEESE
FINISHED WITH A LITE GRAVY
SERVED WITH CHOICE OF SPAGHETTI, PENNE, RISOTTO, OR POTATO & VEGETABLE

VEAL OR CHICKEN PARMIGIANA
CHICKEN OR VEAL CUTLET PAN FRIED
TOPPED WITH PROVOLONE CHEESE AND TOMATOE SAUCE
SERVED WITH CHOICE OF SPAGHETTI, PENNE, RISOTTO, OR POTATO & VEGETABLE

INQUIRE WITH YOUR SERVER ABOUT DESSERT SELECTIONS

NO SUBSTITUTIONS FULL MENU ALSO AVAILABLE AT REGULAR PRICES
MENU SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY TAX, GRATUITY AND ALCOHOL NOT INCLUDED

The flavors and warmth of Italy
DINING REVIEW

By Ann Connery Frantz Telegram & Gazette reviewer
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Our ship came in —  and it was a gondola.

Looking for a dinner spot in Leominster recently, we realized we had never stopped at an older restaurant on Lancaster Street (Route 117). We pulled in — and the result was a first-rate visit to Italy.

We may be the only folks in the area who didn’t know about the Gondola Restaurant, an award-winning restaurant long known to locals. It’s the real thing: a little place for a great big appetite! We were surprised by the meal we had there — the food was uniquely prepared and exceptionally tasty.

It was an evening for surprises in more ways than one. For one thing, it’s not easy to find homemade sangria anymore, and it’s even harder to find one that’s smooth and sweet, going down the throat like a light nectar from Bacchus. OK, that may be too strong; let’s just say it was cool and delectable, the perfect choice for a warm evening, and priced at $6.50.

Our appetizer was simple and delicious: a fried ravioli dish that was freshly prepared (as are all of the restaurant’s offerings) and generously filled with a cheese blend. We loved every little bite. Soup came with one meal, and there were several to choose from, including minestrone. The pasatelle, a soup with spinach and grated cheese, was light and tasty. My companion’s salad came with the house creamy Italian dressing, which is a customer favorite and really stands out for its savory taste. Try it.

The restaurant has long prided itself on originality as well as craft — and it shows. The Gondola was filled by families and small groups of customers, in both the lounge and an attractive dining room with booths and tables; we were seated promptly, however, at a table for two in a dining room ell. Diners knew the wait staff, and vice versa; they visited back and forth, giving the Gondola a comfy home feeling.

Our entrées, however, interested us in much more than conversation. We ordered crab-stuffed haddock with penne pasta ($14), and pasta primavera ($12.50). Both were excellent. The primavera sauce was lumpy with large chunks of vegetables — none of those teeny minced morsels you find in far too many primaveras of dubious parentage.

The other entrée, haddock, had a lip-licking crab filling; I found myself searching for bits of unconsumed filling on the plate. The fish was well-prepared and generously portioned. Loved it!

We found ourselves wondering what blindness had kept us from noticing this marvelous restaurant all these years. Lack of attention may be the answer. The Gondola doesn’t jump off the curb to be noticed; it’s inconspicuously placed along the street — has been since its 1957 founding as the Lazy A by siblings Gus and Mary Lelli. Gus’s daughter, Mary, runs it now with her husband, Ric Wood. We were surprised to find her waiting our table that evening, flawlessly. The Gondola is a gem, rich with pride and talent, and locals flock there. When we left at closing time, around 9, the dinner crowd had thinned some.

We did NOT leave, however, without sampling the recommended dessert of the evening. And, oh best surprise of the night, it was a dessert cannoli plump with cheese filling and dribbled with chocolate sauce. Twin cannolis made this a dessert to be shared, as our waitress wisely warned us, bringing two spoons. This generously sized treat was $6.50 and worth every single hard-earned penny.

The last surprise of the evening was the bill: $57.38 for two, including drinks and dessert. We’ve paid far more for less. In short, the Gondola is a place we’ll return to again and again, to sample other menu items, ranging from sandwiches to traditional Italian casseroles, steaks, pasta and seafood. It’s a challenge we think we can meet.

For the second year in a row the Gondola Restaurant in Leominster, MA has been named the “BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT” by the U.S. Small Business Association.

Located on Route 117 (Lancaster Street) in Leominster, MA the Gondola has been owned and operated by the brother and sister team of Mary & Gus Lelli since 1957. With the help of Gus’s daughter and son-in-law, Ric & Margaret Wood, you can still enjoy one of the best cooked Italian meals in the area. Within a very casual setting your meals are prepared fresh daily. Most of the menu items are homemade. Pastas, sauces, dressing and desserts are prepared on the premises with ingredients coming from all local vendors. With the large amount of chains that have inundated the area it is nice to go to a restaurant that is independently owned and operated and really enjoy a home cooked Italian meal.

The staff at the Gondola is friendly and courteous and most have been employed for many years. Walking into this restaurant is like coming home for the holiday. A good majority of the patrons have been frequenting the establishment for many years and are greeted with smiles and hugs. In fact if you talk with some of the customers, they will tell you that they have been visiting the Gondola since they were children coming with their parents. Many generations of customers make this restaurant very casual and comfortable.

Large portions and reasonable prices is another reason to visit. With the economy in a recession you can visit the Gondola and not strip your wallet. They boast luncheon specials for $6.95 which include Veal Parmigiana, Chicken Parmigiana, Manicotti or Eggplant Parmigiana. Your lunch comes with a beverage, salad or soup and bread and butter.

In the evening in addition to a large menu there are Early Bird Dinner Specials. From the hours of 4:00pm-6:00pm from Tuesday through Friday, you can enjoy some of the same Italian Specialties at the bargain price of $8.95. Again these specials include a beverage, soup or salad and bread and butter. You can’t beat that. Also in the evening a variety of Dinner Specials are offered that aren’t on the everyday menu. These include unique Italian specialties from the chef. Some of these specials are Vermicelli Carbonara, Chicken Marsala, Tenderloin Piazzo, Porcini Mushroom Penne, Capris Chicken , Shrimp Rossini, Lobster Stuffed Baby Bella;s and so many more. These specials change nightly, you never know what to expect from the chef on any given day.

In speaking with the patrons you will realize that one of the staples at the Gondola is the Creamy Italian House Salad Dressing. Mary & Gus Lelli created this dressing years ago and it is one of the reasons customers keep coming back.

The dessert menu is another area where the Gondola shines. The majority of desserts are made on the premises and are mouthwatering. With a variety of cheesecakes, custards, cannoli’s, cakes and pies the desserts are hard to pass on.

The Gondola has a full liquor license and comfortable lounge. It is kid friendly and has a separate Children’s Menu for your little ones. A family can enjoy a great meal in a comfortable environment and not break the bank.

Don’t miss trying this place out. You will find that it will be your new dining spot for that great Italian meal!

GONDOLA

The Gondola Restaurant, 428 Lancaster St., is another fine Leominster Italian family restaurant. It began its existence as The Lazy A in 1957. The original chef there, Gus Lelli, and his sister, Mary, bought the business and renamed it. Mary and Gus ran the business for 50 years, although management has passed to their daughter and son-in-law, Ric and Margaret Wood. You will still see the owners often roaming around to make sure everything is done as it has been for the past 52 years.

Even with the influx of other restaurants and chains the restaurant retains the loyalty of patrons who have been coming there for decades and who regard themselves as part of the owners’ extended family.

The restaurant closes on Mondays. It is open from Tuesday through Sunday from 11:30am-9:00pm (8:00pm on Sundays). The restaurant has a full liquor license and lounge. It is best know for its homemade Italian Food including, but not limited to, sauces, salad dressings, pastas and desserts. All food is prepared daily on the premises and served fresh.

You can’t enjoy a better home cooked Italian meal.