Very cute and cozy little place. Tightly packed tables fill up by 8:15pm on a Saturday night and stay filled for the duration of the evening. The randomness of the decor adds to the charm. A stray teddybear on the counter, the walls littered with black and white pictures of old film celebrities, and a dimly lit interior all provide for a charming vibe. The almost all male staff are comprised of really friendly fellows who meander between packed patrons to rapidly deliver your appetizers and meal with a non invasive yet genuinely invested in your dining experience air. The only strange part about the ambiance was the music. There was no cohesive theme to the music. It started with a random Kenny G sort of vibe and by the time we left, they were booming r&b....It seemed very off the vibe of the restaurant itself and really random.
My sister and I started off with a grilled vegetable salad with balsamic dressing. I was really pleased that the balsamic sauce was not too overpowering. The veggies had the delightful smokey flavor of the grill yet weren't pulverized by the grilling process. It was a really delightful warm-ish salad.
I ordered a smoked salmon pasta over a spaghetti with lemon dressing. It was bright and not too heavy and the smoked salmon over time cooked a bit over the heat of the pasta. My sister ordered a mushroom pasta with tagliatelle pasta. She thought it was vegetarian but it came out with a righteous helping of a thinly shaved smoked meat, which she discarded immediately. She thought hers had a pleasing rustic flavor, but as she was eating the mushrooms, she noticed that some didn't taste too fresh and left a bitter taste in her mouth.
I ordered a glass of red house wine which was actually really lovely and paired well with the salad.
To round it out we ordered a tiramisu. I would recommend you pass on it as it was really not super flavorful.
I think this would be a lovely little place to come with a date. I wouldn't recommend a large group---but my opinion is irrelevant, seeing as, while we were eating a party of 10 was seated.....which I still don't quite understand how they managed that! read more