Frangipani Italian Restaurant + Lounge – No.2

Driving down a narrow hill, just past the Rolle Town Tombs, our rental car dips and rises. The tires giving way to a road that has succumbed to years of decay caused by hurricanes, rain, and an unforgiving sun. Nearing the road’s end my eyes are instinctively drawn to the cove-side-restaurant where just last summer I had a defining experience. Frangipani Italian Restaurant & Lounge, with its namesake inspired by one of the rooms at the Landing Hotel on Harbour Island, commands a piece of real estate that would turn even the smug heads of the agents on Bravo’s Million Dollar Listing. Owned by an Italian couple, Davide a former publisher and Franchesca always having played the role of chef, the quaint restaurant opened May of last year and quickly became recognized for its fine dining experience.

As opposed to that summer, when a reservation was hard to come by, I was sure to secure this one well in advance.

We arrive just as the sun is dipping low in the sky, about to nestle in to bed. Davide greets me with a glass of champagne and  I stand transfixed by the spectacular display of colour.

Alongside pre-dinner cocktails, calamari fried in foil and bruschetta of tomatoes and basil are nibbled on while seated on the restaurant’s adjoining deck. Light seeping out of brown paper bags weighed heavily with sand and tea-lights compete with the night’s stars overhead.

Inside the rather quaint and intimate restaurant I order cherry tomatoes and basil atop handmade ravioli stuffed with freshly-caught lobster.

 Andrea tucks in to a New Zealand rack of lamb garnished with fresh herbs, aside grilled asparagus and potato flan bouillabaisse.

Franchesca, who has an uncanny resemblance to Uma Thurman, glides in and out of the kitchen with ease and grace usually not liken to chefs. Niccolo, their youngest and a sommelier in the making, peers at us from behind the bar – his chin just barely resting atop its surface.

His older brother, Tommaso, excitedly visits one table to the next with a pepper grinder in hand. His hands hovering over my plate he asks, “pepe?” and even though the cuisine is so perfectly seasoned I chuckle and say yes.

Naturally, such a response will always be given when asked whether the restaurant should be included to a traveller’s Great + Little Exuma Island Itinerary. For such service is an experience in and of itself.

Photo Credit: AndMarie | Connect: Frangipani Italian Restaurant