Came to Naples to visit for the weekend and we wanted to treat ourselves to a memorable dining experience. The service, food and ambience definitely exceeded our expectations.
Admittedly, when we drove to the location, we were initially taken aback as we did not expect for the restaurant to be situated in a strip mall. However, going inside the restaurant and being greeted by the friendliest attendant, we realize we were in for a treat. Looking back, I kind of appreciate now the restaurant's choice of location and very casual interior design and atmosphere, as Old Vines Supper Club's concept revolves around giving an unpretentious dining experience, stripped down of all the bells and whistles of the usual fine dining restaurants, with the main focus of providing spectacular flavor with their creative tasting menu. The overall atmosphere allowed us to better appreciate the whole experience.
Amuse Bouche: Carpaccio and Deep Fried Polenta Cake, topped with chimichurri. Strong start. Loved the contrasting texture of the deep fried polenta cake and the lightness of the carpaccio.
Dinner Roll and Butter: The chef again demonstrated her attention to detail as she served the most flavorful butter we've tasted. The rosemary thyme butter has great flavor, and paired perfectly with the warm poppyseed dinner roll--crisp on the outside; soft, tasty and pillowy on the inside.
First Course: Husband got the fluke crudo, and I got the white asparagus panna cotta--I loved both dishes. The fluke crudo is reminiscent of a deconstructed sushi roll which I like. Both dishes were very light and fresh-tasting.
Second: Poached Hogfish: Hogfish perfectly poached. Serving the carrots charred improved the flavor and the overall taste of the whole dish. I could not enjoy the spring peas puree as it was a bit overseasoned, and having it with the other components overpowered the other flavors.
Third: Husband had the braised beef and broccoli raviolo, and I got the seared halibut. I liked husband's dish better, but I still enjoyed my halibut. Menu said the halibut came with a jumbo lump crab, but I could not taste nor see it in my plate. The heirloom beans were quite heavy though and somewhat overpowered the halibut. I would suggest cutting down on the beans... But overall, still a good dish!
Fourth: Stuffed Quail. I loved this dish! It paired well with the "farrotto" -- their version of risotto.
Dessert: Chocolate and cherries. Not sure if it's a bad batch or intentional, but some parts of the torte and/or ice cream felt a little grainy to my liking. This slight letdown did not really greatly affect our overall rating to the whole experience since we were quite stuffed and satisfied when we got to the dessert.
Overall we had a great time at Old Vines--great concept, great choice of food components, very sophisticated menu. I loved the intimate setting and comfortable ambience. Definitely one for the books. read more