Eating Out in Chester: Benito's Trattoria

(Image taken from: Benitostrattoria.com)

If you’re an American, then you’ve eaten Italian food before. There are no if’s, and’s, or but’s about it. Italian food is probably one of the most popular varieties of food in this country, but did you know that there’s a difference between food from Northern Italy and Southern Italy?
“North Italian cuisine is a little lighter,” says Benito’s Trattoria owner, John Vucetaj, who runs the popular restaurant in Chester, “In south Italy, they have heavier sauces.”

“North Italian cuisine is more modern,” Vucetaj continues, “Italy still has that old time fashion to it. [It can be] very heavy stuff.”

But even if you like the thick and heavier sauces of the old world, you should still definitely come and check out what Benito’s has to offer, as this place has been Zagat rated for over a decade now for a reason.

“We do have a very good reputation,” Vucetaj says, “we’ve been Zagat rated for the past 14 years.”

It might be because of their stellar lunch and dinner menus. Come in for lunch, and you can get anything from linguine with proscuitto, onions, and tomato sauce, to veal scallopini with shitaki mushrooms, sundried tomatoes, shrimp, garlic, basil, and white wine.

Stop in for dinner, and you can have items like veal scallopini topped with sliced tomatoes, salami, artichoke hearts and mozzarella cheese in a white wine and garlic sauce. Every item on the menu is sure to get vivid images in your head of a delectable meal, and they have other courses that are not on their menu, too.

“We have about 6 or 7 different specials every night,” Vucetaj says, “Like chicken, pasta, fish, steak, appetizers, different kinds. It is a different special every day.”

They also do catering for special occasions, so you don’t just have to come into the restaurant to have their excellent food.

“We do cater for special occasions,” Vucetaj says, “starting in April, May, June, and July, we have [catering for] special events like Holy Communion, birthdays, and graduations.”
And if you’re on a diet and are shying away from the excessive carbs, they still have you covered.

“We’ll have like a whole wheat pasta, and a little more healthy food,” Vucetaj says, “We’re trying to get something different for people who are health conscious.”
Whatever kind of food they serve, it’s sure to be incredible here. The restaurant hasn’t lasted so long for nothing.

“We’ve been here for a very long time, and I think we have very good food, good staff, and nice service,” Vucetaj says.
###
BENITO’S TRATTORIA
WHERE: 44 Main Street, Chester
TELEPHONE NUMBER: 908-879-1887
HOURS: Closed Monday, Tues-Friday: 11:30AM-10:00PM, Sat: 5:00PM-10:00PM, Sun: 1:00PM-9:00PM
CUISINE: Italian
PAYMENT: Cash, checks, and all major credit cards
PRICE RANGE: Appetizers, $5.95-$10.95, pasta, $9.95-$18.95, meats, $9.95-$19.95, Fish, $13.95-$22.95
DRESS: Business Casual
RESERVATIONS: Yes, for Fridays and Saturdays
THE SCENE: This quaint place has enough room to enjoy your meal with a loved one or alone.
ATMOSPHERE: This comely spot is going to be getting new wallpaper in the next few weeks, so look for that
PARKING: In the lot
OWNERS: John Vucetaj