Laura H.
Yelp
Can you say new favorite restaurant? This place is a true gem! From the moment we arrived, we felt special. We had made reservations for our first visit, and since we didn't really know the layout of the restaurant, we didn't request a specific seating area or table type in the reservation notes.
As the hostess was showing us to a table in the middle of the restaurant, I saw that a cozy corner booth was available. When I asked if we could sit there she said something about it being reserved and one of the managers heard her and immediately told her that if that is where we wanted to sit, that was where she would seat us. He actually walked us to the booth himself and was so nice welcoming us! His name was Nick, and he checked on us several times throughout our meal to ensure everything was as expected and to see if he could get anything else for us. So, definitely a five-star experience when it comes to service!
We also had the pleasure of meeting Chef John Coletta who stopped by our table during our meal to be sure everything was meeting our expectations and engaged with us in some delightful conversation about the history of the restaurant and his own personal history as a chef. We definitely shared some laughs!
Now, let me tell you about the food ... I'm half Italian ... so the bar is set very high! The food was exceptionally delicious!
We started with the pepperoni pizza, and it was perfection. The crust was the perfect blend of crispy and chewy, the pepperoni was the right amount of salty and spicy, and the cheese and sauce were tangy perfection. Our meal was off to a great start!
For entrees, we shared the penne alla vodka and the beef short rib. The pasta with the vodka sauce was so tasty, and the beef short rib was the best we have ever eaten. I might need to ask Chef John for the recipe the next time we are there!
I have to comment on the Twist & Grate Grana Padano cheese grater on each table. We had never seen this before. At most Italian restaurants, a server typically stops by with a block of cheese and hand grates it over your dish. But, we loved having quality cheese at our fingertips throughout the meal. Nice touch!
Fully satisfied and happy with our experience, we once again were impressed that as we were walking out the manager Nick made sure to meet up with us to ask how everything was and wish us a nice evening.
We can't wait to go back to our new favorite restaurant and also plan on trying their other location in Chicago when we are there in August.
Thank you for an amazing experience!