Mixed reviews here. Definitely disappointed especially after spending $240 for dinner. Had been looking forward to this place, but before I review the restaurant and entrees, let me talk about our server, MATTEO. He outshined the food.
We decided to dine upstairs inside as I read it was quieter and when we entered I saw a large staircase and because of a recent surgery asked if they had an elevator. They did and can easily hold 6 people. Our hostess met us upstairs with menus waiting to seat us. The place is beautiful inside and out and on the outdoor patios on both levels. Impressive.
We were seated and MATTEO introduced himself and guaranteed excellent service and asked if we had any questions and /or drinks to start with. He was very personable, helpful, engaging, funny and a professional all in those few minutes. We liked him a lot after only speaking to him for those 5 minutes (it seemed like) He made us all very comfortable. He knew as I entered online that it was our 45th wedding anniversary. He said that before we order that he'll be back with four glasses of champagne to toast the occasion. That was great!
There was never a rush of any kind and we took our time to read the extensive menu. I had read the reviews before coming here and had about 12 pictures of entrees on my iPhone, some to go over with and just looking forward to. The pictures were incredible. MATTEO answered all our concerns and was very helpful with our choices. Don't know if I should have given three or two stars?? Read on.
I already knew what I wanted and so ordered for myself the SPICY LAMB FLATBREAD and the HALF GRILLED SEAFOOD PLATTER for starters to share with my wife. And the LOBSTER with SPAGHETTI as my entree. My wife's entree was the SWORDFISH. My two friends ordered a SALAD and the SALMON as their entrees. (More descriptions of the entrees below)
Our entrees:
TURKISH FLAT BREAD:
SPICY LAMB SAUSAGE
w/ tomato sauce, feta
"SMALL" OPEN FIRE ROASTED SHELLFISH PLATTER ($69) w/ scallops, prawns, clams, mussels, garlic lemon. (Didn't want the clams so was able to get more shrimp in its place)
MIXED GREENS SALADS:
W/manchego cheese, marcona almonds, lemon ", EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil)
LOBSTER SPAGHETTI
sweet garlic tomato sauce, parmigiana reggiano, calabrian chili
SWORDFISH
marinated olives, pine nuts, confit potatoes, saffron tomato sauce
SALMON
roasted cauliflower, w/mustard vinaigrette garlic, red grapes, (had asked for a little more cauliflower on the side with the mustard vinaigrette which was delicious)
The GOOD REVIEWS:
My friends generous salad was very good hand they said the salmon was GREAT because they order theirs, "medium rare" and that makes the difference.
My TURKISH SPICY LAMB FLATBREAD was very good! The spaghetti to my lobster spaghetti was very good. (but not the lobster, see below)
The NOT-SO-GOOD-REVIEWS:
My seafood platter looked not like what was on their website or other reviews. I said I don't see any lobster and the server pointed it out, the two much smaller pieces that I mistook for shrimp and it was well done. The other complaint was the shrimp as well also was overdone and chewy, rubberlike. Not happy. The scallops, mussels and the tomato based broth was excellent. I expected more based on earlier pictures and the price.
My LOBSTER SPAGHETTI that gets rave reviews was again with lobster out of the shell as promised but chewy! Overcooked for the most part except for the two very small pieces of the tail.
The SWORDFISH was a generous piece of fish that was cooked nicely but the marinated olives, pine nuts, confit potatoes, saffron tomato sauce was so strong, slightly spicy that wasn't noted and couldn't taste the fish, the sauce was overwhelming. Too much.
So, we weren't thrilled about coming back here for the seafood that we experienced but will come back and try the weekend brunch. The prices are not an issue but expected more for a $200 bill (on food, no drinks) Did tip generously as that was the highlight of the night. MATTEO was the hit, not so much my entrees! Again, we dine out a lot and I expected lobster and shrimp to my liking. AND the swordfish was lost in these flavors that we expressed to the server. We had seen other seafood entrees oysters etc that looked nice as they passed but we're a little shy now about ordering any down the road given our experience.
Look at my small seafood platter picture to one posted only 9 days ago. That was four pieces of lobster cooked nicely. There has to be consistency in a restaurant otherwise they'll close eventually. I hope it works out for you.....we'll give it another two trys here (hopefully) these things we know can happen. Hence, the disappointment!
We decided yesterday we will no longer go back, even for the brunch. Don't want to spend another $240 and be disappointed again. Not worth it. Too many other great places we love. read more