Oil & vinegar.
The very first time I dipped bread into oil & vinegar was right here. A pretty memorable experience, I'd say. The fun part about eating the bread here is that the oil & vinegar comes in a metal container upside down on its plate. Your server (I was actually able to) twist and lift it to release the contents onto the plate. It's actually not just oil & vinegar, there a couple spices (unknown) added in there. What I like about the bread basket here is that they serve a variety of bread. There are thin crunchy bread sticks, fluffy loaves, and classic French bread.
It's funny writing a review about this place because my best memory of this place is this was where my family and I went when there was a black out a couple years back. We ended up lingering around University Village and were getting hungry, so we ended up here. I actually hadn't eaten a meal here for a while, so it was a nice surprise to be eating supper here.
Atmosphere here reminds me of a typical Italian restaurant. Cloth napkins, high ceiling, servers dressed in all black, the smell of olive oil in the air...
I've been here with my family for both lunch and dinner. My recommendation is to order a couple of dishes to share, so that you can try a little bit of everything. This is actually my tip for most restaurants. I suggest ordering a salad or appetizer to start things off. The 'frutta' salad is pretty tasty. It comes with arugula, strawberries, blueberries, goat cheese, almonds, and raspberry mint vinagrette. The bruschetta here is decent too, I'm a big fan of it, and it's done well here.
The paninis here are very good, I like the pollo (chicken) one the best. They are served with your choice of ciabatta rolls (more bread?), polenta fries, or salad. I like the polenta fries here, they're crisp and unique. A really great pasta is the penne. It has sauteed chicken, broccoli, tomatoes, garlic, white wine, chili flakes, and pine nuts. The risotto here is also yummy. My family's favorite dish to order here is the pollo ripieno. It is a half chicken stuffed with swiss chard, goat cheese, pine nuts, and currants. Additionally, it is served with garlic mashed potatoes, green beans, and roasted garlic sauce. The chicken is cooked perfectly. I also like the stuffing, it is divine. The garlic mashed potatoes are a great side to go with this dish. I think it was here that we got the idea of putting garlic in our homemade mashed potatoes. Genius idea!
I'm hoping to come back here again, I want to try more of their menu! 'Strati', melanzane pizza, pappardelle, and gnocchi all sound absolutely delicious!
This place is perfect for those who have a liking for Italian fare. It's also great for a casual lunch or formal dinner. You won't leave here hungry, but you won't be needing a friend to drag you out of the restaurant. (= read more