Signature Dishes: Linguine Pescatore at Villa Ballanca in Lower Burrell

This is part of an ongoing series highlighting Signature Dishes at locally owned restaurants in the region. See Trib Total Media’s new online directory of restaurants, Dine Local, at dinelocal.triblive.com.

A combination of four different fish is incorporated into a single, housemade seafood linguine dish at Villa Ballanca in Lower Burrell.

The restaurant opened about 13 years ago by owners and brothers Beni and Valdet Ballanca.

Beni Ballanca said linguine pescatore was put onto the restaurant’s menu because of the wide variety of fish it includes in one dish.

“It’s like the fruits of the sea,” Ballanca said.

Linguine pescatore is made with fresh mussels, shrimps, scallops and baby clams with chopped roma tomatoes. It’s cooked with fresh garlic and olive oil on white wine sauce and served over linguine.

“It’s a really great dish,” Ballanca said.

Linguine pescatore is served with Villa Ballanca’s soup of the day or a tossed garden salad, as well as a roll and butter.

The Ballanca brothers are the ones entrusted with whipping up linguine pescatore when it’s ordered.

The dish costs $16.95 and is listed under the seafood section of the restaurant’s menu.

Ballanca said linguine pescatore is one of Villa Ballanca’s best dishes, along with others such as the raspberry stuffed chicken.

He said he likes everything about linguine pescatore.

“I like to enjoy it with a cup of wine and fresh bread,” Ballanca said.

Villa Ballanca (villaballanca.com) is located at 2740 Leechburg Road in Lower Burrell, 724-339-6111. Open Wednesdays through Sundays.