5 minute read
Take a Bite - Osteria Saporino
take a
BY DEBRA WALLACE
Osteria Saporino Where Everyone Is Treated Like a Member of the Family
For two decades, Kamber “Kam” Jaupaj has immersed himself in the hustle and bustle of restaurant life.
Furthering his passion for the hospitality business, he is basking in the glow of Osteria Saporino, his local Italian family restaurant that is known for preparing and serving a scrumptious Italian and Mediterranean menu.
For the last six years, Kam and his brother, Tony, have been happily tending to the needs of local residents and their families, helping them celebrate special occasions and find respite from the pandemic.
Kam runs the restaurant, and his brother handles the business side. Together, they make an unbeatable duo that is happy to honor special requests. While respecting the classics, these brothers bring out innovative dishes that are inspired by local, fresh and natural ingredients.
“I wouldn’t want to do anything else,” Kam reveals. “I thoroughly enjoy it because it doesn’t get boring. I love helping people celebrate mostly happy occasions in this lovely space. We sincerely want you to let us host your special event.”
When it comes to special events, Kam said as people continue to venture out of their homes, he is booking bridal showers, baby showers and graduation, birthday and anniversary parties, both on the patio and inside the restaurant.
In fact, he advises everyone to call early if they know their date because there are dates booked through October.
In addition to the inviting ambiance and music, another aspect of this dining experience that guests can count on is the diverse menu with eight daily specials.
What Tony enjoys most about running Osteria is the relationships that are forged.
“Foremost, what I appreciate is the camaraderie with the people that we meet and sharing their stories and their lives. That is very sweet.”
While diners wait for their starters or main courses, the server will bring freshly please see BITE, page 5 19006
made delectable Italian bread, with a side of extra virgin olive oil for dipping. Kam picks up the bread daily from a bakery in Northeast Philadelphia. The offerings include scrumptious appetizers, including calamari and zucchini with marinara sauce, grilled artichokes or mussels and clams. The creative salads include a fig salad, Cesare, arugula and Insalata Caprese.
The wide variety of main courses for lunch and dinner include an array of seafood, fish, chicken, veal, lamb, steak and five kinds of pasta with seven choices of sauces.
For side dishes, there are Parmigiano truffle fries, sauteed spinach and roasted potatoes with fresh veggies, and to finish the meal there are several desserts and specialty coffees – all a scrumptious variety to tempt every palate.
Among the many starters on the menu are the hot creamy mushroom soup and a perfect summer first course of cold Gazpacho, Portobello Genovese (a combination of Portobello, shitake, champignon mushrooms, chopped shrimp, breadcrumbs, parmigiana and pesto).
The main courses include such items as lobster ravioli with shrimp, Chicken Milanese and eggplant napoleon (layered eggplant parmigiana, fresh mozzarella and marinara sauce).
If all of this wasn’t more than enough, couples, book club members, groups of friends and families can enjoy soft drinks or bring their favorite bottle of wine to share and enjoy because Osteria is a BYOB.
In what was formerly the Arugula restaurant, Kam kept on the same chef, Carlos Trinidad, and is proud that most of the staff have been happy enough to stay around for several years. “Despite the long hours, the environment isn’t too stressful. The people make the place.”
During the COVID-19 restrictions, when restaurants were clearly in distress, Kam said he kept on all of his staff and pivoted by providing easy curbside pick-up.
Today, there are still choices of the spacious in-restaurant dining room, cozy private room, large patio seating with a partially covered area (complete with heaters for chilly days and nights) and take-out.
While dietary restrictions and special requests are considered a headache at other establishments, Osteria Saporino and the staff welcome them.
“It comes with the business,” Kam explains. “We are in the welcoming business. If I can do something special for you and your family, why not? It’s the difference between ruining or making someone’s day, and I always want to make it a positive experience so you will want to come back and bring your friends.”
Now Kam is seeing formerly regular customers who are returning to restaurant dining for the first time in three years, and it is like hosting long-lost family members.
“We are proud to have many loyal customers and they can tell we want to make them happy,” he said. “If it is a good experience, they will come back.” ••
Osteria is open for lunch Monday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday for private events, and for dinner Sunday through Thursday from 4 to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 4 to 10 p.m.
For reservations or additional information contact, Osteria Saporino is at 1051 County Line Road, Huntingdon Valley. Call 215355-5577. BITE continued from page 4
PHOTOS COURTESY OF OSTERIA SAPORINO
Backpack and School Supplies Drive
Help us collect school supplies for students in need. If possible, we’d like backpacks filled with various supplies donated to our cause. Please deliver your donations between the hours of 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. through the dates of July 25 - August 31. Feel free to include your business information so we know who participated!
Join us for this FREE Community Event
Monday, July 25th - Wednesday, August 31st
10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Being Held at:
Artis Senior Living of Huntingdon Valley
2085 Lieberman Drive Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006
For More Information
Check out our other nearby community in Yardley.
