Il Triangolo: true Italian cuisine and culture
Befitting its name, Il Triangolo is uniquely positioned on the
corner of Corona Avenue and Junction Boulevard, in Corona. This
triangular building was built in the 1800s and is very rich in
history. Angelo Gigliotti, an immigrant from Calabria, Italy,
purchased the building in 1980, never thinking that more than 30
years later his son, Mario, together with the support of his
family, would open a traditional Italian restaurant, filled with
culture. You will be greeted by family when you enter, and
immediately feel at home.
Our meal started with a basket of hard-crusted bread, baked by
Mario’s wife, Pierina, who does all the baking and makes the pasta
fresh daily. Accompanying the bread was a spread of sundried
tomatoes, black olives, anchovies and extra virgin olive oil. The
flavors blended together perfectly. It was hard not to make a meal
of this alone.
You must complement your meal with Mario’s homemade wine mix, a
smooth fragrant combination of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and
zinfandel.
Our already heavenly meal continued with a pasta fagioli soup of
small pasta, very tender cannellini beans and a touch of vegetables
in a light flavorful broth. I must report, “it was almost as good
as mama’s.”
You may want to try the antipasto platter of thinly sliced
sopresatta (made by Mario and family), fresh buffalo mozzarella
over sliced California tomatoes, feather-like prosciutto di Parma
and home-cured olives, all topped with extra virgin olive oil
(shipped directly from Calabria) and home-grown dried oregano.
Try to leave room for one of the many fresh pasta dishes, each
with its own signature sauce. We tried a southern Italian dish of
orecchietti pasta with Giardini mushrooms in a light truffle sauce.
It was presented beautifully and was a magnificent blend of flavor
and texture.
There are plenty of entrees to choose from, sure to please
everyone in your family. We tried pollo il val Dosano, a northern
Italian dish of rolled chicken stuffed with spinach, fontina cheese
and prosciutto di Parma, topped with a light brown sauce. It was
served with a side of broccoli rabe and roasted potatoes. It was a
delicious dish for a hearty appetite.
I hope you have room for Pierina’s magnificent tiramisu or
Italian ricotta cheesecake.
Everything at Il Triangolo is fresh from the market, homemade
and free of preservatives. The menu is moderately priced and the
atmosphere warm and friendly. You will be treated like family by
daughter Josephine or son Angelo, if not by Mario and Pierina.
For authentic Italian food without leaving Queens, this is your
place.
Visit Il Triangolo for a truly romantic Valentine’s dinner and
tell Mario that you heard about him in the Queens Chronicle and
he’ll treat you both to a glass of his delicious homemade wine.
Molto Bene!
Il Triangolo Ristorante Italiano, is located at 96-01 Corona
Ave., Corona, and be reached at (718) 271-1250.