We finally made it this past weekend to Vinnie's Mootz for one of their special tasting menu…read morenights, and it absolutely lived up to the hype.
If you're expecting a typical dinner, think again. The tasting menu featured around 12 courses, and by course ten I was completely full--but somehow still excited for what was coming next. Every dish was thoughtfully prepared, packed with flavor and very tasty.
For me the standout of the night was the very first dish which was Vinnie's homemade mozzarella with tomatoes, which was so good that we even bought some fresh mozzarella to take home. The meatballs were also outstanding, and the steak and eggplant course was another highlight. After all that food, finishing with a cannoli just felt like the perfect ending.
The atmosphere is casual and inviting, but the food is every bit as good as what you'd find at restaurants that cost a lot more. Live guitar music throughout the evening added to the experience created a nice vibe. My only suggestion would be maybe to turn it down a notch or two as it was a little hard to hear others at our table. Still a very nice touch though and all songs you would know.
I always like it when a chef comes out of the kitchen, especially at a tasting menu, and Vinnie came out several times to chat with guests which was very nice. It just added a personal touch and showed how much pride goes into both the food and the overall experience and we got to hear his back story.
This tasting menu is an incredible value and a great way to try dishes you might not normally order. Just remember to come hungry--and maybe skip lunch beforehand. If you can get a reservation for one of these tasting nights, don't hesitate.