Located at 439 Delaware Avenue in a former antique shop is Prespa, named after a Macedonian lake bordering Albania and Greece. Simple black couches and coffee tables line either side of the restaurant and the walls are painted a deep slate blueoa dramatic backdrop to the exposed air ducts that hang from the ceiling. Black and white Italian and Romanian photographs by Brendan Bannon are on exhibit lit by little more than candles at night.
Featured on the menu is brick oven pizza with a variety of toppings such as porchini and shitake mushrooms, grilled asparagus and procuitto, and classic Italian style with tomatoes, basil and fresh Buffalo mozzarella. And in addition to an assortment of grilled panini sandwiches, Prespa features a truly inspired version of the classic roast beef on weck with a spicy wasabi sauce.
Then thereis the beer. Over 40 exotic bottled beers are featured including several varieties of Samuel Smith (imported from England), Boddington Pub Cans, Lindemanis Peche (from Belgium), Purple Haze Raspberry beer, Franziskanner Hefe-weisse (from Germany), Victory Hop Devil, Woodchuck Cider, and even Aspenis low carb beer. Prespa also serves several great high-end beers on draught including Flying Bison (locally brewed) Stella Artois (Belgium), and Guiness (Ireland).
439 Delaware Avenue (near Edward) 716. 842.2255
Excerpted from Jennifer Schratzis article in last yearis Spring/Summer EA.