If you are an Italian in Louisville or you just use your hands a lot while talking, you probably have a definitive stance on your favorite Italian joint in the Ville. Tucked away in Louisville’s Germantown neighborhood, one of our Calabrian family’s faves is Sarino, a rare gem that balances authenticity with modern flair.
Opened in 2017 by Chef Carmelo Gabriele, Sarino offers many gluten-free veggie options as well as a bevy of meaty meat-filled meat dishes.
Walking through the doors of Sarino, you’re greeted with the warm aroma of fresh, homemade dishes crafted with care. You immediately get the sense that this is a place where food isn’t just made—it’s celebrated. Their menu is a testament to expert curation, with artisan cheeses, seasonal vegetables, and top-notch charcuterie sourced from some culinary utopia (or at least somewhere that feels as magical as Narnia).
Hope and I start with a menu-researching drink to work out our appetizer, main course, and wine selection picks for the night. I break the seal with a Michter’s Rye Manhattan while Hope gets her bubbles on with a flute of Prosecco.
If you want a big shareable starter that is fun for the whole family, Sarino has an amazing value on charcuterie boards where you mix and match 4 cheeses/meats with ample dollops of caponata (stewed eggplant), olives, and marmalade. Usually served with crostini, you can go gluten-free fairly easily just by subbing the bread out for cucumber. For the cheese selections, we love the Parmigiano Reggiano and the lamb chopper. Our carcass-eating friends recommend the spicy capicola and the sopressata… or the smoked duck if you are feeling a little fowl on a given evening.
For a real antipasti treat, try their roasted burrata caprese: pan-roasted cherry tomatoes, basil, roasted garlic, Calabrian honey, and creamy, rich burrata (sourced from Grande Cheese Company in Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin; their town is literally called Fondu).
On Wednesday nights, Sarino offers many of their great imported wines at half price… or as Hope says, same price, double the bottles. For our dinner pairing, we chose a Sicilian Grillo (a grape varietal falling between a crisp, minerally Sauv Blanc and a more floral and fruity Pinot Grigio).
When needing to get my Za on (I will never refer to pizza like that again.. forgive me), I belly up to my favorite Sicilian Mushroom Pizza on homemade gluten-free crust—tomato, basil, caciocavallo cheese, caponata and covered with shitake and cremini mushrooms. Their gluten-free crust is so good, you will ask your server to check with the kitchen two or three times to make sure you aren’t ingesting the stretchy, fluffy goodness of full-gluten dough.
Wanting to venture out this particular evening, I ordered their Pea Pesto: pea pesto, pistachio, dehydrated kalamata olives, pecorino Romano cheese, and radiatore (sub out for gluten-free pasta). With a wonderful pesto made with basil and smashed peas, some savory flavors from the imported Italian cheese, and just a bit of a nutty crunch from the crushed pistachios, it pairs wonderfully with the Grillo and the last few sips of the Manhattan. For a side dish, the crunch and aromas of vibrant, perfectly cooked broccolini with the lightest hint of olive oil and garlic make everything in the world seem a little better for a hot minute.
For those eating healthily right now in anticipation of midriff season around the corner, the Butternut & Spinach Salad is tasty AND healthy. To make it a little more filling, Hope adds a dead-animal protein to the mix… usually opting for the salmon.
If you have friends that still say the word “Italian” with “a long ‘I’ at the beginning of the word, recommend the grilled pork chop; it is my dad’s favorite pork chop in town.
Pro tip: Make a reservation. On busy nights in Louisville or on weekends, it fills up fast.
1030 Goss Ave., Louisville, KY 40217
(502) 822-3777
https://sarinolouisville.com/
BELOW: Some dining items from Sarino.
