Mark T.
Yelp
I don't have an issue with going to a fancy restaurant, and paying 45 bucks for a piece of fish. However, that fish better be out of this world.
The halibut, among other things made Sorellina a disappointing experience, and not one I hope to repeat. More on the fish later.
The vibe in the restaurant is classy and upscale. However, if you happen to be seated in front of the large blue-ish woodsy mural, the blue light cuts through the otherwise amberish light. No big deal, and no point lost - only me being me.
To drink, I ordered the Passione. This was a take on a margarita as I understand it. The drink was strong and tasty, with the citrus giving it sweetness, savoriness, and just a little tartness. I liked the use of mezcal also.
The bread provided to the table while we waited was great! It had a nice crust, and the insides were cooked through (the kind that bounces back from gentle pressure instead of turning to play-dough).
To start, I ordered the Tuna (tartare). As far as Tartares go, I liked the interpretation here. The combination of sauces gave the fish sweetness followed by some noticeable, mustardy heat! These flavors were very well balanced and neither the sweetness nor the heat overwhelmed the dish or had me reaching for the water. I also liked the perfect amount of freshness offered by the veggies. My critique here is that the chips served with the meal were so overly crisp, it was like eating glass. Wonton chips absolutely have a place with tartares, but only if they don't fight for attention.
For a main I ordered the Halibut. It had the makings of a good dish, but when it came to what was on the plate, it fell flat. What I liked was the pleasant and delicate interplay of the sauce and seasonings. However, I would have definitely liked more of the sauce. Once halfway through the fillet, the sauce was all gone, and all that was left was a relatively dry (i.e. not moist) piece of fish. The pieces of potato and lobster seemed like an out-of-place afterthought, with the lobster being somewhat rubbery. If this main didn't cost $45, I might be a little more forgiving. For that amount of money, I would hope the execution would be on-point, and not contain a dearth of sauce and pointless lobster pieces.
Then there was the contorni of sweet corn. The corn reminded me of mexican street corn. By itself, perfectly pleasant, however, the execution here was a heart-attack inducing disaster. After the first spoonful off the top, I noticed that the corn was, quite literally taking a bath in butter. A little bit of butter with corn is wonderful, but not in such an outrageous amount.
To their credit, the server took this dish back and did not charge me for it. They did offer to make it with no butter, less butter, which also is appreciated, but I like to eat dishes the way to chef intended. It seems here the chef intended to make his patrons go hard at the gym every day for a fortnight, all for a dish of corn.
They also offered to bring me a different side instead, but I declined.
For dessert, I ordered a cappuccino and a tiramisu. The cappuccino was excellent, the coffee had great flavor, and there was a perfect amount of foam. However, this cappuccino cost seven dollars. I get that this restaurant is in the heart of Boston, but seven dollars for a cappuccino is nonetheless extremely steep. The tiramisu was enjoyable. The consistency was very pleasant, and it wasn't overly sweet. I found the execution interesting of having the cream towards the outside and the cake towards the inside.
Then there was the service. For a place of this caliber, I would have liked the service to be a little more attentive. There is definitely something to be said for being able to enjoy your meal, but conversely, having to look around for a server isn't the best feeling (again, in a place of this caliber).