Laurie V.
Yelp
Truly a 5-Star Dining Experience!
Our server, Shereese, was honestly what made the dinner so memorable. Without a doubt, she is the best server you will ever encounter anywhere! (Seriously! It was so remarkable that my husband, who dines at numerous restaurants worldwide, was absolutely blown away.) Not only is she impeccably professional with honest recommendations and a deep knowledge of every detail of the menu, but she also possesses a genuinely poised and clever personality. She checked on us so many times and always at the perfect moments (even though the restaurant was packed). Her phrasing was so refined, like when she said, "I feel like I'm stealing your plate, but it looks as if you are finished," instead of asking, "Are you finished?" or when she said, "I won't hold you hostage; I'll get you the check," always in such a refreshing yet respectful manner. She just exuded joy & positivity.
The BUGATTI FOCCIA bread board is a must; I think anyone will tell you that! The focaccia bread is served with a special creamy butter, fresh pesto, and a balsamic & olive oil mix--it was an extraordinary start. Shereese suggested spreading a touch of the creamy butter on the bread before dipping it into one of the other dishes, and that truly elevated the experience. I can see why Giada's olive oil and balsamic vinegar are famous, because the pesto and the "balsamic & oil" dips were both on a whole different level. I'm planning to return with my friends and make a meal of that and the Caprese Salad!
The CAPRESE SALAD was phenomenal--an absolute must-try. Instead of mere mozzarella, it featured creamy stracciatella cheese, and the bite-sized wedges of multicolored tomatoes were incredibly fresh. An amazing balsamic and pesto drizzle surrounded it, with balsamic molecular gastronomy pearls literally bursting with incredible flavor.
For my entrée, I had Giada's SIGNATURE LEMON SPAGHETTI, which was perfectly twisted in a creamy mascarpone cheese lemon sauce, with crispy capers (which I absolutely loved), and two shrimp. As Shereese placed it before me, she said, "Chef Giada recommends tipping the pasta over into the sauce." My little tip is to have some freshly ground pepper added (from their cool 3-foot-high pepper grinders). My husband had the SCALLOP RISOTTO. The risotto was perfectly cooked and delicious, with peas, asparagus, Maryland crab, and topped with two scallops. Both dishes were generously sized and filling.
They offered several unique cocktails, many made with gin. I opted for "The Moderno," which included Smoke Wagon small batch bourbon, Giffard orgeat syrup, lemon juice, Bigallet China China liqueur, with a splash of Super Tuscan wine floating on top. Personally, I would have preferred more fruit-forward options that weren't as strong, so given the cocktail price of $21, I will order a soft drink next time. However, if you enjoy creative, well-crafted, strong cocktails made with premium spirits, you will find excellent options here.
For dessert, Shereese brought us their famous round cheesecake-on-brownie, beautifully decorated and garnished. It was so incredible that we ate as much as we could at the restaurant and the rest at home.
Paul, the general manager, was incredibly personable and came over to wish us a happy anniversary after we received the check. He ensured that we enjoyed everything and that the dessert was comped, which Shereese had already taken care of.
They obviously informed the valet when we were ready to leave, because our car was waiting at the door, and one of the (all very special) valets said, "We appreciate you."
Everything (and everyone) was exceptional, but requesting Shereese as your server is a must.
We will definitely return!