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Lake Toxaway NC: Osteria Del Monte

Hyesoon and I were driving along Highway 64, despairing of ever finding a place for lunch. At just the right moment, this very cute rustic Italian restaurant appeared on the side of the road. Inside, the room was spacious and upscale-casual elegant. I found the service to be great in the Italian style---gracious but not stiff.

For lunch I tried the eggplant parmigana. Everything about it was great. The eggplant was tender. The tomato sauce was sweet with a little bit of acid and full of flavorful. The cheeses were outstanding. The pasta was al dente and just right.

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