Sette Mezzo Ristorante
6370 St. Rd 7 (Regency Lakes Village…read moreCenter)
Coconut Creek
Despite living less than 2 miles from Sette Mezzo, Wednesday night was my very first visit to the restaurant. They've been around about 9 years, and I've lived in Coconut Creek for 20 years, but somehow--I was barely aware that it existed.
After reading a great review by Susan Stone last week, I made a reservation for Wednesday the 26th. When the day arrived, it was stormy with on and off rain showers, but because there is very easy parking in the Center, we found a spot steps from the door.
The interior of the restaurant is attractive and there is a very compact bar in the back. I can see myself sitting there in the very near future (happy hours are 4-7 on weekdays). It was not particularly crowded and our server led us to a table on the edge of the main dining room. It was perfect and while I had read a few comments on Yelp that said it was too brightly lit, that was not the case when we were there.
We started with the same cocktail that Susan Stone had, the Bello Giorno (vodka and Prosecco with a splash of cranberry, $12). It was light and refreshing and the very definition of an apéritif.
I had checked the food menu online and both my husband and I THOUGHT that we knew what we wanted. So, I was more interested in the wine list, since I was certain about what I would order.
But when Melinda, our charming server, came over to recite the copious number of specials, it changed everything. In addition to veal, beef and lobster specials, there was a crispy skin branzini, as well as a yellowtail snapper dish. She gave us some time to debate it (and, for me to look for an acceptable white wine since we were no longer ordering pasta).
What did not change was the appetizer we had selected in advance. We shared an order of Cervelatta Sausage ($20), something we both love. Sette Mezzo's version was slightly charred and served on a bed on onions and peppers. It was excellent and authentic.
I chose yellowtail snapper, and my husband had crispy skin branzini (both $42). The snapper was in a lemon butter sauce and served with spinach and potatoes. The branzini was crispy on one side and perfectly cooked on the other side. It was also accompanied by spinach and potatoes.
One of the reasons we have never been to Sette Mezzo is because I rarely want Italian food. Don't get me wrong, I love Casa D'Angelo and Anthony's, and a few others, but as a cuisine, it's not my first choice. I generally want fish when I dine out and had I realized how well this restaurant can prepare fresh fish, we would have been here many years ago.
We also shared a bottle of Italian Chardonnay, Scarpetta ($42), which was a perfect match for our fish because it was a refreshing, largely unoaked chardonnay from Friuli. We rarely order a full bottle at restaurants these days because there is often unspoken pressure to eat, pay and get out. I felt like unless it was a busy Saturday night, we'd never get the bum's rush at this establishment. We spent about 2 hours in the restaurant and our bill before tax and tip was $181. We paid cash, but I saw no notices about mandatory credit card fees or gratuities.
Let me just stop right here and assure you that you do not need to spend $200 to dine at Sette Mezzo. I did not snap a photo of the restaurant's menu because it's readily available online and the prices are accurate. Many pastas are $20-$26 and the veal and chicken dishes are mostly about $25. I took photos of the wine list and both the cocktails and wine are priced fairly. I was originally torn between 2 Super Tuscans, but because we chose seafood, I was delighted to find the chardonnay. Without question people can dine well for far less than what we spent.
It is my opinion that this is so much more than a neighborhood spot. Although, I am delighted it's in my neighborhood, the quality of the dishes, as well as their expertise with fresh fish, elevates the experience and makes it worth a bit of a drive. NOTE-this review is also posted in LESFL FB group.