For a city of 80,000 residents, Deltona has precious few places to dine. Sure, there are a growing number of fast-food joints and pizza delivery outfits.
But this is a bedroom community where, by and large, people go out of town not just for work, but for spending money -- whether it's shopping or grabbing something to eat.
That's what makes Scorpio's Italian Eatery and Pizzeria so precious.
The restaurant, newly relocated in a Publix shopping center, first opened in the Winn-Dixie plaza at Courtland Boulevard and Doyle Road in 2002.
News-Journal Education Writer Mark Harper and his wife, Pat, enjoyed dinner on a slow Sunday night there recently.
What was the place like?
The new digs are a step up, though not exactly the height of ambience, either.
One is struck by the sweet smell of a pizzeria upon entering, but its nondescript chairs, tables and booths, and casually dressed wait staff are reflective of Deltona's working class, rather than the elegance of its menu, where dishes are named in Italian. The only views are of a bustling shopping center parking lot and the Ace hardware store across the street.
What did you order?
Mark waffled between the Pollo Picatta in Vino Bianco, a lemon chicken dish so good he remembered it from several years back, and Fettuccine alla Bolognese, which he selected. The homemade pasta was just the right thickness and firmness, and the meat sauce got better with every bite.
Pat, tempted by Cannelloni al Forno, took the waitress' recommendation and went with the Pollo alla Rosa -- grilled chicken topped with ham and provolone on a bed of pasta steeped in a scrumptious red creme sauce. She was overwhelmed.
The meals came with a house salad and hot-out-of-the-oven garlic bread.
Both Mark and Pat got doggie boxes -- plenty for a second meal.
And then they shared a single delicious homemade cannoli.
How much did it cost?
The Pollo alla Rosa, with two generous chicken breasts and the pasta, came in at $12.95. And the Fettuccine alla Bolognese for one, at $8.99, was more than enough for two. A single glass of chardonnay at $3.50 and the cannoli at $2.25, plus tip, added up to $35.54.
Scorpio's Italian Eatery and Pizzeria
WHERE: 605 Courtland Blvd., Deltona
HOURS: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday-Thursday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, Saturday
MISC.: free wireless Internet
PHONE: 407-328-9919
WEB SITE: scorpiositalianeatery.com
