Every time I gripped the wheel and circled the Towson roundabout in recent weeks, I noticed a new dining spot, Sweet Léla’s, in the space where the Towson Delly had once been located. The outdoor tables in front of the restaurant were always packed, and there were tablecloths and comfortable-looking chairs. Even from afar, there seemed to be a sophisticated, European air to it. I wasn’t wrong. I dropped by yesterday after round one of the thunderstorms and met owner Antonio Iacampo and his operations manager Vincenzo Diferrante.

These guys are dedicated to bringing true Italian fare to the county seat. Not American Italian, Vincenzo stressed. They have bread deliveries from New York, handpick vegetables from Harold’s produce market, get fresh seafood from Conrad’s, and have an “Italian lady” prepare authentic cuisine. It’s open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but the biggest surprise is the dinner menu with offerings like antipasto Tirolese with Cerignola olives, fresh mozzarella, and toasted garlic bread topped with speck (Italian bacon), or scallops wrapped in pancetta served with hot stuffed peppers. Desserts come from bakeries like Patisserie Poupon, Vincenzo said. There are also house-made cannolis or many flavors of fruit-laden gelato.

You get the picture. This is no run-of-the-mill deli, although it is tiny inside with just a few tables. In the colder weather, Antonio plans to enclose the canopy area. There are also two angled TVs that will soon show Italian movies, he said.

Sweet Léla’s, named after Antonio’s soon-to-be two-year-old daughter, is at 3 W. Allegheny Ave. in Towson. Phone is 410-821-5352. Benvenuta!

Posted at 2:09 pm
Categories: restaurants, what's new