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Business & Tech

Arpeggio

Arpeggio offers a popular weekend spot for a combination of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines.

Arpeggio was an instant success from the day it opened more than 16 years ago. It always seemed to be full; a small wait for a table was the rule. Its combination of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines met many local surburbanites tastes then and now.

Not surprisingly, when the storefront space next door became available, owner Ahmad Galil promptly leased it without hesitation, expanding the entire restaurant and more than doubling its seating capacity. 

The restaurant still crowds up, especially on weekend nights, as most successful restaurants will. But now that warm spring weather has arrived (Finally!), a row of umbrella tables out front offer additional alfresco dining. We four opted for one of these on our most recent visit, and were delighted to watch the sun go down as we enjoyed some very good foods. 

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Having not been back for quite a long time, I was pleased to find that Arpeggio was still maintaining its early prowess as an above average neighborhood eatery.

Things started off appealingly with the sharing of a bottle of good French champagne and boost of vodka our sister and her beau brought, poured into slender flutes Arpeggio provided.

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We also shared a large “Combo Platter” ($15) of a sampling of Middle East favorite appetizers, often called a “maza.” The hummus and the baba ganush were seriously good, as they should be under Galil's direction, not to mention the immense puffed pita bread freshly baked in the wood burning oven (see photo) to spread them on. Falafel balls, stuffed grape leaves, tabouleh (overly parslied), feta, and tahini sauce completed our tour of Lebanon.

A new starter on the “Specials” menu, Thai Calamari ($13), caught my eye, me being quite partial to calamari. Very lightly fried, the generous serving of all squid rings was tossed in a piquant sweet and sour Thai sauce, with black sesame seeds, white been sprouts and minced green onion. It was an unusual and very delicious creation, truly inspired!

Another special, Santorini Pizza ($12 for a small, $16 for a large), tasted as good as it looked. Fresh tomato, black calamata olives, red onion, mozzarella and feta cheese, crowned with a sprig of fresh basil leaf, made for an enticing, colorful, aromatic meal that was not your everyday pizza.

The lamb kabob entree ($20) was also first rate, and my favorite of our four entree choices. The grilled cubes of lamb were tender, tasty (not at all too "lamby," if you know what I mean) and juicy.

I also really liked my filling platter of chicken curry ($16). The creamy curry sauce was very flavorful, the chicken tender, and the penne al dente. What more could you want?... Well, maybe the broccoli and sun-dried tomato it included.

Pesto del Mare, linguini with jumbo shrimp and scallops in a pesto sauce for true pesto lovers ($13 for a small, $17 for a large) was my LDC's pick.  Again, the shellfish were particularly good.

Our fourth main dish was crab cakes with spinach ($26).  The crab cakes were satisfactory, but not Arpeggio's forte. It's better to go to a true seafood house for these, like Legal Seafoods in King of Prussia, whose crab cakes are sublime.

Arpeggio's chocolate gelato, dark and deep, rich and smooth, will satisfy anyone's yen for a chocolatey dessert. Two teaspoonfuls, and your craving will be met.

Our server, Lydia, was more than competent and efficient.  Owner Galil was on hand keeping things moving smoothly.

Overall rating: mmm 3/4 (out of 5 m’s)

Location: Springhouse Village Center, Bethlehem Pike and Norristown Road., Springhouse 

Phone: 215-646-8355

Website: www.ArpeggioByob.com

Cuisine: Mediterranean, plus some Mid-Eastern dishes

Hours: Monday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m, 4 to 9:30 p.m.; Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., 4 to 10 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., 4 to 11 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 9:30 p.m.

Prices: Appetizers, soups, salads, $6 to $14; pastas, $11 to $17; sandwiches, $8;  pizza, $6 to $18; large plates, $16 to $20

Reservations: No (call ahead)

Credit cards: Yes

Alcoholic beverages: B.Y.O.B.   

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