Aash M.
Yelp
Rena's Italian Fishery & Grill is a fantastic, upscale choice for dining with surprisingly more affordable options than other restaurants of similar caliber.
* Initial thoughts:
As aforementioned, the place has a fairly upscale vibe, dimly lit, and upon entering you're greeted with a huge wine wall that definitely adds to the atmosphere. It was packed (We went on a Saturday night) and they had some spots to sit down but even these were all taken up. We weren't waiting too long as we had a reservation - we were there just a tad early.
* Service
Our server - Steve - was fantastic and genuinely enjoyed being there. He brought so much personality to the night that honestly, I wouldn't want to be served by anyone else. He had fantastic recommendations that were spot on and was very attentive with his service and was passionate about nearly everything. I wish we could've talked with him more but it was a very bust night.
* Food:
The food was great! As an appetizer, we ordered the fried mozzarella medallions which I had assumed would be essentially cheese sticks. While similar, these were of higher quality and fairly filling. You get a total of 5 (see pics). 6 would have been better to make sharing for two easier but that's nit-picky. The best part was they didn't "feel" greasy/oily and I didn't feel gross after eating them. From this moment I knew they use quality ingredients.
For our main courses, I ordered the gnocchi primavera which is both vegetarian & vegan. It came with zucchini, brocollini, tomatoes, and portabella mushrooms mixed in with it. It was pretty good, but I didn't think the dish was cohesive enough - maybe I should've asked for some pomodoro to mix in with it. I'm sure with their level of service, they would've accommodated.
My girlfriend ordered the Cinghiali Wild Boar Bolognese. She enjoyed it just fine. It wasn't outstanding but she did like it. Nothing much else to note otherwise.
* Drinks
We ordered 3 drinks total, 2 different types. The had a limoncello mule which we weren't too fond of honestly. The drink was crafted well but I suppose we both aren't real fans of Limoncello which was a bummer since I love mules.
However, I also ended up ordering two Amaretto Sours (which isn't featured on their drink menu) but these were the best Amaretto Sours I've EVER had. It was legitimately sour so if you're a fan of sour flavours, I implore you to order one (or 3!). Topped w/luxardo cherries, it was perfection. I'd honestly come here for these alone.
Lastly, for dessert we ordered the Coffee Cake (it has Bailey's Irish Creme mixed into the cake) w/Vanilla Gelato accompaniment. We probably shouldn't have because at this point we were stuffed, but it was fantastic. Definitely a must-try option if it's your first time here.
* Summary
Rena's Italian Fisher & Grill is a great, upscale place perfect for a date night or a night out with some close friends. The vibe and atmosphere is nice, the service from Steve was FANTASTIC and they have an eye for quality. Drinks were made great, the entrees were a little underwhelming but the appetizer and dessert made up for it. Definitely a must-go and be sure to get an Amaretto Sour if it's your type of drink!