Sorelle Off the Lane is a welcome addition to the Warren food scene. As fans of their sister restaurant Spaghetti Lane in Barrington, my partner and I were excited to see them open right down the street from us. Winning!
The space, previously home to Uptown, has been transformed in a really tasteful way. It leans darker and cozier than its predecessor, and the vibe is immediately comfortable. One suggestion though: the lighting over the bar could use some attention, particularly in the corner. It's a touch too dark for what is otherwise a really nice space.
We grabbed seats at the bar and were greeted right away by bar manager Yamil, who presented us with menus. That said, there was no cocktail, just a very solid wine list, but seeing as we were already leaning toward Black Manhattans, that wasn't a problem. What impressed us was the Amari situation. For a lot of restaurants, a Black Manhattan is a non-starter because they simply don't stock Amaro. Sorelle not only had it, they had two we had never come across before, and we personally have quite the collection at home. Yamil gave a smile and knowing nod when we ordered them and upon delivering mentioned a Manhattan in general was one of his favorites and that he was in the process of building out the bar, ordering more of the staples along with accoutrements like Luxardo cherries. The cocktails he delivered, even lacking a cherry were perfectly balanced and were so good we each had a second one toward the end of dinner.
We were offered bread to start, yes please, which was served in beautiful wooden boats with a round of butter sitting in olive oil, topped with a pinch of salt and a few rosemary sprigs. It was one of those simple things done just right. Honestly, irresistible.
We only meant to order a single Greek salad to share, but ended up with one each. When they came, we were so excited to dig in that we completely forgot to take photos. Oops. They were loaded with Kalamata olives, feta, pickled onions, cucumber, crispy chickpeas, and a punchy, vinegary dressing. Fantastic.
For mains, I went with the Pan Seared Sea Scallops off the specials menu. These were cooked to perfection; perfectly seared and buttery smooth. They were paired with a Brussels sprout, potato, bacon, and onion hash that was equally impressive. The potatoes had this interesting preparation, cubed and maybe boiled then lightly fried, that gave them a great texture. The whole dish was cohesive and so tasty. Generous portion too, though I still found myself wanting more.
My partner went with the Caprese Salad, which was a little disappointing. Big beefsteak like tomatoes were used, and for us they're just a bit too mealy, lacking the punch you really want in a dish where the tomato is the star. A Kumato, an heirloom, or even a Campari tomato would elevate this significantly. The arugula was a nice touch, adding a sharp pepperiness, and the basil was there, though it didn't make much of an impression. A little more balsamic wouldn't hurt either. The Caprese is an Italian staple and an obvious showcase dish; they're close, but it needs a little refining.
We almost never order dessert, but after watching a few plates come out of the kitchen we took a look at the menu. My favorites are bread pudding, tiramisu, and crème brûlée, and they had two of the three. We went with the bread pudding and I'm really glad we did. This isn't your dense, heavy bread pudding that leaves you wondering why you ordered it. It's surprisingly light, and the berry compote adds a nice brightness to each bite. If you're on the fence about dessert here, don't be.
Overall, both my partner and I left impressed and if the enthusiasm throughout this review didn't tip you off, we will absolutely be back. read more