We received a gift card here for Christmas.
We put off going due to the long list of crash and burn restaurants that have previously occupied this beautiful space.
We are sorry we did.
The place is charming, in an old bank from the last century (perhaps 2 centuries).
It has a very comforting feel aesthetically, but it is very tight, and loud from the bar area (which doesn't bother us).
Our waiter was Dave, who was very attentive, polite and knowledgeable.
The food is off-the-hook. Every course was delectable.
Most places provide some bread and dipping sauce or oil.
These guys roll out an antipasto on the house that will knock your socks off! My wife doesn't eat bread or processed meats, but even she imbibed in the feast.
I ordered the long stemmed artichoke appetizer, which absolutely blew me away. So tender, buttery, flavorful and delicate.
For an entree I had the chicken parm, which i usually use as a barometer for any new Italian restaurant. Absolutely fantastic! Two huge cooked to perfection pieces of chicken that were scrumptious.
When we were paying the bill, Dave (I hope I got the name right) provided a delicious assortment of complimentary fruit, as well as two shots of sambuca.
Bottom line is the place is off the hook, and we will DEFINITELY be back!!!
Only ONE complaint, and it did not involve us, but did look problematic....a seat in the vicinity of the kitchen and bathroom occupied by a couple continuously had staff rubbing up against them as there was hardly any room to pass between tables, they had to practically stand on their toes to squeeze through without rubbing against them. Avoid that one seat and you have a keeper of fine Italian dining!
******edit 3/4/2018*****
We SO wanted this to be our next local favorite, given the wonderful experience described above (8 days ago).
As any of the staff at Painters Tavern across the street will testify, we are as loyal and as generous a customer can be (been going there every week for 30 years).
We started off on the right foot, with the same delicious on-the-house antipasto.
Things declined with my appetizer, the above mentioned long stemmed artichokes. They resembled NOTHING what I ate last week. The before mentioned tender, buttery and delicate was tonight congealed and rubbery (as if having sat in a refrigerator overnight). It's was also swimming in cheese, which was absent from last week (perhaps a masking technique as the artichokes were clearly wilted).
My wife ordered for her dinner the house salad with grilled chicken and the dressing (some sort of balsamic) on the side.
The waiter asked ok, the Caesar salad with chicken? We said, no, house salad, grilled chicken, dressing on the side. No pen or paper to take down this complicated order.
This is when we became PO'd.
What my wife received was a Caesar salad with chicken.
The waiter apologized and removed the (wrong) order.
When the (what we thought) correct order arrived, it was a house salad with chicken.
Except the chicken was OBVIOUSLY from the previous dish. It was cold, and LOADED with Caesar dressing (which doesn't exactly go with balsamic).
When this was brought to the attention of the waiter, they tried a THIRD time to make a simple order the right way.
We said no thanks, and asked for the bill.
My wife was visibly upset, as she did not have anything to eat the entire time. Whoever the bartender is at this establishment, he seems to be the only professional in the place, HE came over to the table to inquire if everything was ok.
Then the shock of the bill.
I understand businesses do not make money giving food/drinks away........that being said, we each had two drinks, I had an appetizer and an entree. They deleted the cost of the salad (which my wife never received). Eighty one dollars. Eighty one dollars. Could have been a lot easier to swallow had they taken ONE drink off the bill in good faith. Nothing. Zip. Bare in mind my wife had nothing to eat.
On our way out the door, the bartender seemed concerned at our situation. Our advice, find a business suiting your skill set....you're wasting your professionalism on a losing establishment.
Oh, and perhaps the waiters should invest in pen/paper. This whole debacle probably could have been averted had it not been for bad memory.
Five stars to one star (one week).
Won't be back. Shame. read more