Reader mail

Hey gang. I'm off Thursday - Happy Thanksgiving! - and Friday, so reader mail is a little early. It's actually restaurant fan mail. Send us your questions. You ask. We answer.

I had made note of Amici's in Landenberg, Pa., after reading Eric's review of it here...and we finally got there! We had a fabulous dinner there last night -- everything about it was special. The innovative food was so well-prepared and the servers were good, knowledgeable, and helpful. I especially liked the fact that there seemed to have been some attention paid to acoustics, as there was none of that intrusive noise which often mars a dining experience.My husband, a mussel aficionado, said that his starter, sauteed mussels with chorizo, Vidalia onion, and white wine cream sauce were the best he's ever had. He also raved about his entree - diver scallops with pancetta, tomatoes, and oyster mushrooms in a tarragon cream sauce.I had the delicious and fork-tender pork tenderloin wrapped in prosciutto, stuffed with a sun-dried tomato pesto and portabellos. The risotto on which it was served was the best I have ever had. The macadamia cream tart was a perfect finish to this wonderful meal. Kudos to the owners and chef. JDK

Glad to hear it, JDK. Eric Ruth gave Amici's , 1215 New London Road (Pa. 896), Landenberg, Pa., just north of the Pennsylvania-Delaware line. (610) 255-5777 or www.amicislandenberg.com, a three star (very good) rating on Sept. 28.

He wrote: "The Newark area finally gains the fine-dining destination it never had thanks to chef Myk Aviles' lively assortment of Mediterranean-accented, harmoniously composed creations. Upscale accents please without pretension in this new building built on the site of an old tavern. Cozy bar's martini creations not to be missed (though at this point, their claim of "70 different martinis" is more aspiration than reality)."