I was meeting my friend at Audace for dinner the other night and arrived early. The hostess met me at the door and led me downstairs to a stunning dining room that was both modern and reminiscent of The Gilded Age. Even their website references "timeless elegance" and that really was the vibe it exuded. I was sat at a small, cozy table that was a booth on one side, and I was thrilled to wait for my companion in comfort rather than being forced to park myself at the bar. I was immediately greeted by our server, who was very sweet and attentive, though I will say that, as the night progressed, his eagerness bordered on being invasive. The attention was a bit too much, and I would have appreciated less check-ins throughout our meal.
Getting down to the actual items we consumed, everything was excellent! I started with a glass of the 2023 Villa Raiano Falanghina Beneventano from Italy. It had lovely floral notes upfront and a finish that invoked flavors of pineapple and white peach. The deep golden-colored wine was fantastic! Before our meal arrived, we were gifted a few large slices of bread with a red pepper butter. The bread was a bit dry, but the flavorful spread helped make each bite more enjoyable. For our entrees, we both decided on the Branzino. The plate consisted of one large, pan-seared and wild-caught seabass filet, which was served over grilled zucchini, roasted potatoes, and a red pepper purée. Each item was well-seasoned and perfectly cooked, and the fish was tender and flaky.
We decided to splurge and get a dessert, and we went with the one our server highly recommended...the Tortino Nocciola. The sweet treat took about 20 minutes to prepare, but we were fine with that fact. We were not sure what to expect from the intricate description on the menu, but the chef pulled off the elegant dessert with decadent grace. The bowl contained a round, homemade hazelnut cake that was topped with a hazelnut crumble and was sitting in a thick soup of molten white chocolate and hazelnut paste, as well as a salted-caramel. A scoop of creamy vanilla gelato and a chocolate, leaf-shaped tuile were also included. The whole thing was super rich and super delicious.
Audace provided an exemplary experience in a stunning dining room, complete with live jazz music to top off the evening. Though the service was a bit too pestering, at least the staff was engaged and professional, and the kitchen certainly knew what they were doing. I would definitely return and also would love to try some of their pasta dishes next time. read more