Tiffany S.
Yelp
First pastas & tiramisu state-side since returning from Italy....and let me tell you that Adelina didn't disappoint.
Emily our server was incredible. She gave great recs! We also were dining Euro style - enjoying the courses and each other's company - which i know can make folks antsy for table turn on a Saturday night so we appreciated it & tipped accordingly :)
COCKTAILS: their menu is pretty extensive. also btw they have Yamazaki 18 on their whisky menu. It's a pretty penny for a pour but, if you know - you know. If you want a more theatrical table-side experience, go for the barol-old fashioned (smoked in a cool skull smoker) or the mediterrean pearl (there's a bubble involved!!)
APPETIZER:
*PESCADO FRITO (Pickled Hot Peppers, Scallions, Calamari Rings,
Citrus Aioli) - breading was great on this as it wasn't overwhelming or too thick. Great flavors.
*BABY BEETS (Mixed Beets, Goat Cheese, Fresh Horseradish, Red Wine Vinaigrette, Lavash) - classic flavors and appreciate the blend of red & golden beets. I didn't really get much of the fresh horseradish, but delish dish all around. Only complaint - more lavash please!
PASTA: they serve this as a 'primi' so before the entree course as they do in Italy! All pasta is in made in house. I mean it better be if Top Chef Fabio Viviani's name is attached to this restaurant! The pasta was served PIPING hot just like in Italy.
*CASARECCE (Braised Wagyu Beef Bolognese, Parmesan) - great classic red sauce. the casarecce was a really nice vehicle as all the nooks and crannies really held and captured all the yummy sauce.
*RAVIOLI (Burrata Stuffed Pasta, Basil-Pistachio Pesto,
Speck, Butter) - I could eat plates on plates on this. This is a must order. It truly reminded me of having savory pistachio dishes in Italy (e.g. Pistachio Mortadella Meatballs - see my Dilla review in Rome, IT!)
ENTREE: neither of these were very pretty photography because brown but it was dang delicious!
*VEAL MARSALA (Thin Pounded Veal Cutlets, Mushroom, Demi, Lombardo
Marsala) - tender, beautifully breaded, super savory with the demi glass and 'shrooms. no notes!
*FILET MIGNON (Crispy Tri-Colored Potatoes, Red Wine Demi, Broccolini) - perfectly cooked, but honestly not something I feel the need to order here at Adelina again because everything else was FIRE.
DESSERT: we ordered...all of them. they also so kindly brought out a birthday dessert with a candle (ice cream!):
*ADELINA'S TIRAMISU (Mascarpone Mousse, Espresso Soaked
Ladyfingers, Valrhona Coffee Ganache) - this is served in a martini glass and the presentation is fantastic. The espresso soaked ladyfingers were basically perfection - soo saturated in espresso but not soggy. A must order.
*DREAM OF CHOCOLATE (Moist Chocolate Cake, Valrhona Salted Caramel, Whipped Valrhona Namelaka, Valrhona Gourmet Glaze) - this dessert was a delight. Reminded me of a candy bar with the tempered chocolate exterior. The salted caramel was perfect.
*ZEPPOLI (Italian Ricotta Doughnuts, Orange Zest, Sugar, Chocolate Sauce
& Raspberry) - The ricotta doughnuts were airy and soo poppable. I could have probably had 36 of these 'doughnut holes'. The sauce - especially the raspberry - was fresh raspberry! And the chocolate sauce had a bit of espresso in it.
We shared all the above between 3 people are we were STUFFED, so choose your adventure as you see fit my Yelp friends!
FYI - the parking situation is 3 hours free at Campus Martius OR Valet Parking ($21 -- it's off Gratiot)