Kenneth F.
Yelp
Introduction:
I arrived at approximately 11:40 A.M. Upon entering I was greeted by the host and was asked if I would like to be seated in the patio area, bar, or main dining room. I elected the main dining area and was seated promptly. At this hour on a Tuesday, mind you today is Valentine's Day, the main dining room was not excessively busy. Initially, there were about a dozen or so other guests in the main dining area which had grown to about two dozen by the time I departed at 12:45 P.M.
The Food:
As I took my seat, the host laid the menu before me on the table and retreated. I began to quickly scan the menu to make my decision. I chose to order the bread basket which consists of an Italian sourdough baguette (not a standard large French baguette, this is a small baguette) and includes a bottle of olive oil and a bottle of balsamic vinegar on the side (for use while dining, not to take home). That menu item, in contrast to most other establishments, was not complimentary. It will cost you $3. As for my entrée, I ordered the Fettuccine Formaggio (creamy cheese sauce.) which comes at $18 and decided to add salmon for an additional charge of $6. Within minutes of making my decision, I was greeted by my server, given a glass of iced water, and asked if I desired something more to drink. I stayed with the water I was given and proceeded to order the bread basket and Fettuccine Formaggio.
The Bread:
No more than five minutes later, I was brought the bread basket and the accompanying bottles of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. The bread smelled delicious. It had a soft interior and a slightly crunchy exterior. It tasted good, was easy to break off pieces and to bite. I put a small amount of the extra virgin olive oil and the balsamic vinegar on my bread plate and sampled them with the bread. The olive oil was well balanced, not strong, which is good. The bottle was also labeled "medium" so they might have varying strengths of the olive oil if asked, though I cannot be certain since I did not inquire. The balsamic vinegar was good as well. It was not strong and had a sweet taste. The bread basket and bottles of olive oil and balsamic vinegar were satisfying, as best as a simple ensemble such as this can get. At three dollars, the price for what you receive is appropriate.
The Pasta:
The Fettuccine Formaggio came to my table only fifteen minutes after ordering. As my server brought the dish over, the server asked if I cared for any parmesan cheese (crumbles) and pepper. I responded that I would and the server quickly returned with the cheese and pepper. The server added as much of each to my plate as I desired and withdrew. The pasta was warm and creamy, as the description mentioned. The salmon filet topping the pasta was of a decent size. After a few bites of the pasta, however, I noticed there was a lack of salt. After adding salt, the dish came together. Similarly, as with the bread, a simple dish such as this has little room for improvement. The Fettuccine Formaggio was good, it was nothing extraordinary, but it certainly was precisely what I was expecting and was satisfying.
By the time I had enough of the pasta, salmon and bread, it was 12:22 P.M. The server came by after a couple minutes to ask if I wanted my remaining pasta boxed up to go. I said yes and also asked her for a dessert menu. When the server returned at 12:30, I ordered the Classic French Lemon Crème brûlée ($12).
The Dessert - Presentation:
The dessert arrived only four minutes later. The presentation was lovely. The Crème brûlée was served in a heart shaped dish on top of a larger square dish with a doily in between. On top of the Crème brûlée there was a small handful of blueberries and a small cookie-type chocolate sandwich (this was not a macaron). On the larger square plate off to the side of the Crème brûlée dish, was one strawberry that was sliced. The entire dish was topped with powdered sugar. My only complaint with the presentation is that there was a small smudge of some sort of red sauce on the top right corner of the square dish that was overlooked.
The Dessert - Taste:
The Crème brûlée was absolutely excellent. Hats off to the pastry chef/team. The Crème had the consistency of a custard, the caramelized sugar on top was a nice thin layer and easy to break through. The lemon flavor
Finishing Up:
As I was finishing up the dessert, the server returned with the check. I departed at about 12:45 and was engaged in a short conversation with the host and gave a farewell as I walked out.
Pros and Cons:
Pros:
The food was good.
The staff was kind and attentive.
The music was at a good volume level.
Cons:
The atmosphere did not feel Italian.
The host should have been wearing a button up shirt, not a polo.
The Verdict:
I would recommend Verona Cucina Italiana to others. I had a great overall experience there today and would come back. The bread and pasta were good, but the dessert was excellent.
Total: ~$42 + tip
