Cindy H.
Yelp
It is about time that I update my review for what is still my favorite Italian restaurant in this area.
Last night, 6 of us dined at Gilda's with the ever entertaining, efficient and enthusiastic Steve as our server! Steve is the best! He bantered effortlessly with us while simultaneously providing service that was just right! He not only made us feel welcome, he kept saying repeatedly that he didn't want us to leave! Awwww!
The food was just superb from beginning to end. I have had incredible meals at Gilda's but this was the BEST! We started with an order of the always-yum arancini balls of melty, crunchy goodness. Steve recommended the garlic bread which I have never had. What a dream! Crispy-top focaccia served with a bowl of saucy tomatoes to spoon on top. One member of our party said she could have eaten it for dinner! And she is half Italian and just returned from Tuscany and Rome.
The table shared two salads, one with crispy greens, pear , candied nuts and bleu cheese, and the other was layered fresh mozzarella, eggplant and arugula. I had a small bit of the greens and it was great. Everyone raved about the other.
Around the table was rigatoni, the seafood spaghetti and wild boar pappardelle and the veggie special. I had the veggie which was spaghetti with broccoli rabe, mushrooms and grape tomatoes in a white wine sauce. Ai yai yai, so good. I was afraid it might be bland. Fugetaboudit!! Plenty of flavor, perfectly prepared veggies, pasta pleasantly al dente with a generous pile of fresh parm on top.
We all got desserts. The biggest hits were the tiramisu which I have had many times and am never disappointed. My husband ordered the mango tart special which he savored and didn't offer anyone a bite!
We were seated in a cozy nook we had all to ourselves. The owner dropped by and we all raved about our whole experience. A super time was had by all -- except for the pain afterwards from overstuffed tummies. Blame it on Steve. We didn't want to leave either.