Alex J.
Yelp
Wasn't sure what to expect from a mysterious new Italian restaurant in the Roosevelt Collection.
Walking in, you're greeted with a sleek yet comfortable interior. Comfortable chairs, trendy plant placement, well lit.
My wife and I warn the hostess that we need a table for two, but that we eat enough for 6-8. Perusing the menu, the calamari stands out to me (one of my baselines for an Italian-American restaurant) and the grilled artichoke stands out to her. We add the meatballs on a whim, because we're not weak. Each course here was delightful: flavorful, golden brown, cooked perfectly calamari; well presented and tasty artichoke (although my wife brushed most of the breadcrumbs off of the top); and, most importantly, the meatballs stole the show. Perfectly juicy, and perhaps the best meatballs I've had in a long time.
Entrees: we ordered the bucatini and the house made lobster ravioli. Bucatini was cooked to the ideal chew, the meat sauce was a good balance of acidity and, well, meat. The ravioli was rich, but delectable. Had some added asparagus mixed in the sauce, giving it an extra oomph. Our only complaint was the sundried tomatoes in the sauce. Do they even dry those things in actual sunlight anymore? I don't know, it's a personal thing, but we're just not huge fans of them. No fault to the restaurant, and the dish was really good otherwise.
For dessert, we opted for the tiramisu. Some of the other desserts sounded really good, as well, but we didn't pace ourselves that well and were pretty full. The tiramisu was just okay. Nothing groundbreaking; perhaps a little watery/light, without adding much depth to the layers? It didn't ruin the meal, but it didn't pen some glorious, sweet conclusion to it. We'll try the other desserts next time.
All in all, a great new addition to the south loop. Give it a shot.