Ariana Pizza & Pasta Café:
70-32 Austin St., Forest Hills; 263-3094

Hours: Sun – Thu 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.;
Fri – Sat 11 a.m. – Midnight

Website: www.arianapizza.com

Low-key Italian dining fans have another spot to whet their appetites – Ariana Pizza & Pasta Café in Forest Hills.  Area residents have probably known about Ariana’s mouth-watering treats from the Continent for quite some time – which the restaurant’s busy lunchtime atmosphere certainly attests to. 

Located in the middle of hopping Austin Street, Ariana does a great job as the first half of a relaxed dinner-movie/dinner-shopping evening out. 

As I entered Ariana for a mid-week lunch, I stepped into an eatery with all of the trappings of a classic pizza place, albeit one with some extra seating in the back and unusually clean bathrooms.

I started with the Fried Calamari (appetizers $2.95-$7.95), which was authentic.  The light, crispy breading was not-too-fatty, and went excellently with the tangy marinara sauce.  The only problem was that my appetite wasn’t large enough to devour the more-than-ample portion, and I knew that I needed to save space for the main course.

The Stuffed Shells (Pasta $6.95 – $13.95) that followed were simply delicious.  The pasta ‘shell’ was expertly cooked, and the sweet ricotta inside was like a hidden treat.  Extra cheese melted on top added a little ‘oomph’ to the dish. 

Other choices at Ariana include an expansive selection of entrées ($10.95 - $14.95), and some delicious looking heroes ($5.75 - $8.00).  A large pizza won’t set you back too much ($13), and the extra cost for the “Gourmet Pizzas” ($17-$25) is likely well worth it.  Decadent desserts ($2.50 - $3.99) like tiramisu and cheesecake are also available.

Seating is limited in the restaurant’s storefront location, but don’t worry – takeout provides much of the backbone of this delicious pizza & pasta joint.  To avoid waiting, it’s probably a good idea to call ahead for larger orders.

— Ben Abelson