Geoffrey M.
Yelp
Ambiance: 4 cuz it's cozy and warm, but a little cheesy with some of the decor; think early 1990s, but I like it.
Food: 5, solid.
Service: 5, doesn't get much better.
The entrance is a bit awkward and cramped, but it is inviting and warm. The casually nicely dressed host seated us within 5 minutes. I adore the fact they have a dress code at most of their restaurants. Even though it is not necessarily followed and probably rarely enforced, it simply adds to the elegant ambiance of a night out. Who doesn't like to get dressed up now and then and feel special? Especially when you are with someone special. 90% of the patrons here were nicely dressed; what a refreshing aura.
Mauricio clearly had rehearsed the dinner specials, but beyond that, he was his own man and owned his role. Well dressed, easygoing, deftly handling our GF questions and requests. What he didn't know, he promptly found out. I hope to god he makes a lot of money. He was kind, gracious, genuine, always pleasant, courteous, and had a genuine smile. His timing with drink and dinner orders was spot on; there was not a delay in anything, and nothing was ever rushed. He replaced cutlery and drinks without us barely noticing.
The Buratta with a roasted tomato confit and grilled peaches wrapped in prosciutto with green olives was mind-blowing and perhaps the star of the evening.
The cocktails were surprisingly good, and they all had a pleasant, unusual twist (my favorite thing). A margarita with fresh ginger, a French 75 with I don't know what, but it was different, refreshing, and fantastic, Negronis made with Tequilla, yum. The overpriced glass of Barolo was sublime and wonderful, I haven't tasted that in years.
The Rucola salad was simple, clean, refreshing, and amazingly deft with beautifully thinly sliced radicchio, sweet red onions, a touch of shaved parm, and a light vinaigrette, a perfect almost intermezzo.
The wife's slightly unusual "white" cioppino was a beauty, much like clams in a white wine and garlic broth, but with an abundance of perfectly cooked clams, mussels, jumbo shrimp, scallops, and lobster tail & claw meat (my wife's fav!) and some GF penne. She ate every last drop.
The veal ribeye chop was perfection, and I've cooked a few. This was at least as good as anything I used to cook on one of my menus in a wood-fired oven.
It was a beautiful frenched piece, marinated in olive oil and garlic and then charred to a nice medium (as veal should be cooked). Divine. The accompanying grilled asparagus was perfectly cooked, although without the promised truffle oil (I think it ended up on the chop). The roasted russet potatoes were perhaps the only weak link of the night because although they were perfectly cooked and quite good, they had a hint of being par-cooked from a day or two ago and re-roasted tonight. Forgiven.
The suggested creme brule did not disappoint with some fresh berries on top, although it seems it was made with a little bit of corn starch or other thickener in it, which is cheating ;) and adds a completely different texture. Minus a 1/4 point :)
We will be back to try some of their other amazing options.
This venue far exceeds Mariposa, etc. I think a lot of the negative reviews of this joint are mostly missing the point. While I don't necessarily agree with a 3% service charge on top of the total bill, which is clearly stated all over their menus, I understand that many restauranteurs have had to become creative ever since COVID with obtaining and retaining staff. I'm guessing this is not so much about food cost as it is about helping staff provide for things like health care and other benefits. This is becoming more and more common in many venues across the country, so sit down, enjoy your meal, and relax. The overall quality and excellence are well worth supporting a local business.
