Erin Laray Stubbs
Google
I dined for the first time at Il Cortile del Re in December 2014 with a group of 6 friends. We had decided on this restaurant because online reviews indicated that it would have comparable food and better value than Fulton Five. However, we were disappointed. Although the food was excellent (we were all very happy with our entree selections and wine pairings), portions were almost absurdly small for dinner at an Italian restaurant. The menu offers half-sizes, but we all requested the full-sized entree and were surprised by how little food we received. For example, I ordered the mushroom ravioli, which was delicious, but only received six raviolis - each very small, about the size of a silver dollar. My friends who ordered spaghetti bolognese and other pastas were similarly disappointed by the amount of food they received for the price. One of my friends, who also ordered the ravioli, asked, "What if we'd ordered the half-size? Would they have brought us three raviolis?" As for the service, I would call it average at best. Our waiter was not unfriendly, but was rather inattentive. We waited a long time just for bread to be brought to the table and eventually had to ask for it. Once the food was out, he returned only once to inquire about refilling our drinks. The atmosphere of the restaurant is comfortable, but it is very small and the tables inside are very close to the bar. I believe it would be nice to dine on the outdoor patio during warmer months. Overall, I would give this restaurant three stars for value, service, and atmosphere, although the food, considering only taste, deserves five stars.
