Billusa99 Anonymous

fer reel!

2 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Billusa99 Anonymous

Food: 4/5  Vibe: 4/5  Service: 4/5  Value: 5/5  Overall: 4/5

We were there last night. There is a massive watercolor just inside the door that depicts what I would call harlequins at Mardi Gras that sets the pace for inside - fun, color, seaside, corals, greens, aqua-blues. That's carried into a whimsy-barouque paint-framing around every window and massive oval "Alice's looking glass" mirrors on the walls that have been (machined?) broken and re-assembled. The only thing not totally au courant with today's HGTV trends are the chairs. They have this 70's baby blue, diamond-brocade covering that clashes. The color works; the brocade does not. The last thing we noticed is "no drapes" and I'm sure this is going to be a big shock for the next big newspaper reviewer who walks in. But, c'est la vie... the glasses were tres cool, and, most inportantly, the drinks looked colorful, bright and huge, so all will not be lost for them!

Wait... this is a restaurant review? Oooooops!

At 7:00pm on a Wed we got the last window banquet and there were only 3 empty tables left. The fresh bar/booze bar was half filled, too. Prompt table service with a list of specials that took time to explain. Only 2 whole red snapper left, we were told. That's OK, as we cook that at home a lot so why buy it here? Agent 99 got a reasonably priced Firestead Pino Gris for 7 bucks and I got water with free lemon -- I can't wait to drink again! We started with 4 baked oysters for $11 - not a bad price. They were Oysters Pescobar and were topped with chorizo, green onion and "I forgot" in a semi-spicy cream sauce (Looziana hot sauce-based, perhaps?). They were plump and delicious but could have been a wee bit hotter, as a baked oyster should not be cool in the center.

On to our entrees. 99 eschewed fish for the Fettucini Bolonese and I went for the Spaghettini ala Fruiti de Mare. It's made, I was told, with the same tomato broth and seafood (bay scallops, shrimp, mussels, baby clams, some "whitefish")as their cioppino. Except the waiter called it "CHEE-o-PEE-no." Oh well, he's very good, otherwise.

They make their pasta (not in-house yet; likely at Taverna) and it's perfectly cooked. The bolonese was rich, meaty and not mushy. 99 loved it. My dish sang, too. Lots of seafood and shellfish and none of it tasted the least bit "off." The mussels were especially meaty. The broth was a little bit thinner than I am used to, but I am a fan of really robust cioppino, so no fault there. I slurped the remaining up with my spoon! Both dishes were extremely well priced at 15 or 16 dollars. Nove take note!!!

If I could wish for one thing, it would be a plate of crusty bread to go with it all. We saw some on some tables later on, and did not see it on the menu, but we never got around to asking. Perhaps it was just a small miss last night.

I perused the wine list (in thirstful envy) and it's well stocked and reasonable priced, much to my shock nowadays. All the pastas were 14-18 and the fresh fish was 19-22. I'd say Alberto has himself another concept winner, judging by the quality of the food and the Wednesday night crowd. And, he's priced it for the times, too. Something a LOT of other places should take heed of... quickly.

2 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )