Restaurant Review: Rafaella’s

I knew this day would come and I hate it. I realize as B.B. I am obligated to accurately relay my experiences and personal impressions-that’s why I go to the eateries multiple times-to get a fair impression not simply a first impression.

Rafaella’s is fairly new to Wrightsville Beach. The location is great because it’s before the crazy traffic, it has ample parking and you get to avoid the bridge. The different hostesses who answered the phone and competently fielded questions and took reservations were always friendly and helpful. The inside is spacious and English beachy. A nice screened porch comes off of an ample downstairs bar and you are seated upstairs in a high ceilinged, beautifully painted room. There’s lots of sage and buttery tones, crisp white and gleaming hardwood floors and the chairs are comfy!
My dining guinea pig and I enjoyed the wine list and the beer selection. The range is fun and well chosen and the martinis are very nicely done.

The menu reads like a neo-classic Italian menu should, using mouth-watering catch phrases such as; artichokes, roasted garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, fontina, grilled calamari… The salads should not be missed (I guess you can’t since they come with the entrée!). The house and arugula salad are extremely generous with very fresh leaves that are well dried and the dressing are made in house. I enjoyed the dressings but over several visits they were a wee bit inconsistent, the last visit the Creamy Basil actually shocked my tongue it was so sour.

Bread comes in a charming little galvanized tub and sadly is not housemade. But the raviolis are! I had the choice of butternut squash filled or a crab and mushroom filled. The filling for the squash ravioli was sweet and delicate; the sauce a saffron cream was super thick and soothing. The ravioli changes daily as does the risotto, which is cooked to order and was consistently delicious.

Everyone at my table salted everything. I never salt stuff-ever, so this was odd. Here’s the thing-every time we went, regardless of a party of 2 or 6, something got sent back or not eaten. Frequently things have been cold (entrees) or drowning in olive oil (broccoli rabe starter with sautéed sweet Italian sausage). I am not unfair-I know weekend nights and holidays can be hairy but two of our visits were on slow weeknights.
Entrees range in price from teens to thirties-as this comes with a salad, some of the items are not unreasonable. Steaks are cooked with skill. Do not order the Veal Scallopine Madeira, please. If you go, and it would be unfair not to at least try it to form your own opinion, order the raviolis, risotto, soup (good, hot and fresh-add salt) and a salad with dressing on the side, otherwise you are own your own. They serve lunch as well as dinner so maybe start there. Aaaack-I feel so guilty!! I wanted to let you know though…

Rafaella’s
6722 Wrightsville Ave.
Wrightsville Beach, NC
28403
(910) 256-0702