Came here for an end of the year work Christmas party with my bf. Michelle was so passionate and enthusiastic about the class and you could tell that she loves what she does. The atmosphere was very relaxed and even though it's an old building it was comfy and cozy. They offered us sangria and tea but they also had other drink options as well if we didn't want that. I got the sangria and it was well balanced. Not too sweet and not too much alcohol, just perfect. To start off she made some bruschetta for us and told us the right way to make it. A lot of American Italian places salt it quickly and it gets mushy but she salts it before serving it so it was fresh and had a nice bite to it. When she was making it you could smell the fresh basil. The bread was crunchy and we were instructed to brush the garlic against the bread before adding the bruschetta. It was a great touch and I didn't know how simple this could be so I'm looking forward to making this at home. The salad was a lemon vinaigrette salad that was light and refreshing. All the veggies on it were crunchy and tasted like they were locally sourced . As for the pasta it was a fettuccine with herb oil and roasted eggplant and zucchini. It was delicious and I look forward to trying to remake this at home as well. For the dessert it was a moist but pretty dense vegan chocolate cake with raspberry compote. I could only take 3 bites because it was pretty dense but my bf loved it and gladly took it. I appreciated that when we asked for extra bread she didn't hesitate, she gladly gave us more. Same with the sangria. Michelle also told us the story of the building and the different uses it's provided for example how it's been a birthing center before. She is the owner and provided the history of it and also why she transformed it into what it is without changing the buildings integrity and keeping the original structure intact. She has preserved this place well and honored it greatly and her love truly shows. One thing I wish they had is maybe a heater inside during cold months. Our class was a cooking demonstration and Michelle walked us through appetizer, salad,main then dessert effortlessly. After each meal was prepared we were served the meal and she would work on the next thing but it felt like a steady pace and not rushed. All in all great space and ambiance.I highly recommend this for team building events. Definitely accommodating as well as we had a vegan, keto and vegetarian coworker and they gladly were able to help us. read more

Coming here has been on my bucket list for so long. It's in such a cute building and it's always sold out for different classes. My mom and I did the pasta making and tiramisu. Everyone was so friendly, you get a complimentary Sangria, they have water and soda too. They give you bread to snack on while waiting for the class to start. The instructions were super easy and we had a great time and they're very particular on keeping everything clean and labeled so you get your own food. I would definitely come back to try another class. read more

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If you want a boutique and well curated cooking experience, grab whatever class you can! I've been to several classes now and best money ever spent. No other experience in Gainesville like this, hands on, not intimidating and you will be laughing the entire time with Chef Michelle plus going home with delicious creations and inspiration! So creative! read more

I was disappointed with the cooking class last night. The ad implied that a trained chef would teach the course on making gnocchi - the reviews were positive for Michelle's teaching and she is a fully qualified and experienced chef. She did not teach the course. A very young woman taught the lesson and she didn't seem to know what she was doing. I knew that it is important to not add too much flour- otherwise the gnocchi will be rubbery and very dense. She kept telling me to continue kneading it and adding more and more flour. I didn't think that was right, but I followed her instructions exactly- as I feared, the gnocchi was awful- very dense and bland with the consistency of Goodyear tires. We also made tiramisu- they had us use lady fingers out of a package from Publix. They were tough and stale. Some of us sat on little wooden folding chairs which were terribly uncomfortable. For a few of $75 per person, I expected more. One person who has signed up was very late and the instructor waited until she arrived so we began the class 25 minutes late. This meant that we were really rushed at the end when we were trying to enjoy our meals. Very disappointed. read more

I had the BEST cooking class last night here! We learned to make pasta. It was legitimately the best date I've ever been on. The food was amazing and the atmosphere was so cozy. Michelle is an amazing teacher and made it so easy to learn. Will be returning! read more

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The absolute best cooking classes! Everything Chef Michelle teaches is easily replicated at home. She teaches you the rustic way and you do not need any fancy equipment at home. I have taken more than 10 classes and will continue to take as many as available. My favorites are the focaccia and the pie class. I was able to replicate these recipes and impress my friends and family with my new skills. If you are looking for something to do for fun and I highly recommend her classes. read more

HOW did I NOT know about this place until recently??? Location: North end of Duck Pond - nice transitional use tucked just off Main St in a beautifully renovated old home. One of those places that, if you live in the 'hood you can stroll over to, enjoy lunch or dinner and then walk it off after. Mm. So, after an appetizer and cocktails at Zuzu, our dinner time approached... we arrived and - lucky for us - it was Spring Break and we had NO problem with table choice on a Friday night. We took the sun porch room - close enough to the acoustic guitar guy to hear, and yet we could still chat and ignore him. (I kinda hate acoustic guitars, but my lovely dinner companion is a fan) Food: We decided to split the special baked shells with blue cheese and sundried tomatos dish. ZOMG. It was really good - pasta perfectly al dente, sauce rich - very rich. I was arguing with myself over the sauce - part of me wanted more, the rest of me realized more would be too much. Mmm. Being 3 cocktails in at this point, I just had water - the lovely redhead got a glass of red wine - oops. Turns out its -really- sweet and used for the sangria. Yeah, see the waitress is not a drinker and missed that point... so, it went back and was replaced with another glass, no issues. The only real disappointment was the "basket of bread" for 2.50 - the bread seemed stale, and the balsamic and oil mix was off - let's just pretend that didn't happen. shall we? For dessert we split the nutella panini with almonds - OH YES, PLEASE. Damn that was good stuff. This place is very reasonable. 1 entree, 1 dessert, 1 glass of wine and one unfortunate bread dish was 27 bucks. Acoustic guitar guy was free. Luckily. I'm moving in a few weeks, but I'll definitely be back for lunch before I boogie outta town. read more

The Fat Tuscan Cafe - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Took a terrific baking class on Italian English Muffins. Michelle, the owner and head chef, is incredibly entertaining and informative, walks you through how to use the equipment and waxes not only on the chemistry but also the cultural aspects of the food and the process of preparing it--inspires you to go home and cook. The space is also beautiful and historic, with restored original fireplaces and even some lead glass window panes from the late 19th century. Places like this also tend to bring together a good bunch of people, so among the dough kneading and baking there was also good company and conversation. Oh and great sangria. Great time. read more

The Fat Tuscan Cafe - Pan searing the english muffins before baking them. - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Okay. I'm going to start my review before I get my meal now mind you the sandwiches are the main feature on the menu as well since solids I've been sitting here for 15 minutes but with my wife and me of you to receive either napkins forks for our meal I find that to be a discouraging. I really can't believe they ran out of prosciutto since it dominates their menu and that they haven't run down to Sam's or some other store to take care of the problem. Maybe they are a bit overwhelmed. Maybe my last stop here I would definitely recommend not trying this place. The food looks tasty and it tastes fine I just don't see the need to wait Persaud long to get proper service. The main reason I give it two stars is because of the complete lack of organization and the long waiting time for such a simple entree. ------------ On my second visit with friends the other day for dinner service was better. But the food is bland overall. I have a Groupon (expired) so I will go in to get my $10 sandwich ... read more

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I hosted my son's wedding rehearsal dinner at the Fat Tuscan and it was the easiest event and just exceptional! This is the note I wrote to Michele afterward. If you're looking for just the perfect space to hold a special event I would highly recommend the Fat Tuscan. Michelle, I just wanted to tell you how wonderful the rehearsal dinner was last Thursday evening. Things could not have been more perfect! The ambience of the Fat Tuscan was warm and inviting. The service of the staff was friendly and efficient and very caring. The food was simply amazing! All of my guests raved about how good it was. It was a relaxed and enjoyable and wonderful evening that will always be a special memory! Thank you for making this part of my sons wedding so easy and so exceptional! Sincerely, Dawn read more

I am in doubt about cleanness. I ordered a pasta and it was smelling like cigarette. When I went to restroom, I saw that one staff is smoking outside and then he went back inside to kitchen without washing his hands. The girl who was in cashier and server was so rude. read more

Went here for a friends bday lunch. The restaurant itself is very charming, beautiful woodwork with several rooms for dining. They set us up at a large table in a back room; very spacious. Service was very friendly and prompt. My boyfriend and I shared a pitcher of sangria and overall It was ok. Certainly not lacking in sliced fruit, but it def was watered down. Had three good sized glasses and wasn't even tipsy (not that I was going for that haha). Still a refreshing drink nonetheless. A far cry from the Columbia but I haven't found anyone to live up to that delicious beverage. I ordered the Greek Panini and it was very tasty. Hot pressed eggplant, sun-dried tomato, olives, and feta cheese. Yum! The eggplant was a little tough and the portion too small, but otherwise it was very tasty. I think I'll go back to try more things, but for the price you should get more. Gelato company sells paninis with a complete meal for the same price. If the rest of their menu isn't as good as my sandwich I probably won't go back. read more

The Fat Tuscan Cafe - Sangria - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Taking a class at the Fat Tuscan will having you feeling more like Julia Childs than a contestant on Food Network's Worst Cooks in America. And just like in Childs' kitchen, cooking juice (aka wine) is highly encouraged. Recently, I participated in my first cooking class at the Fat Tuscan with my mom. However, I use the term cooking very loosely because it is mostly mixing - at least in the potato gnocchi class. When we arrived, we were served sangria and made our way to our table. Each station was set up with the eggs and flour needed. Then the potatoes that had been pre-boiled and put through the potato ricer were served to each participant. The cooking consisted of mixing those items, rolling the dough into snakes and cutting the gnocchi pieces. They had two stations set up with boiling water, and you dropped the gnocchi in and waited. The helper wanted to take them out, but I wanted to do it because there hadn't been any true cooking until that point. To top it off there were two pre-made sauces. They were both good. We did one of each since there were two of us. The "cooking" lasted maybe 20 minutes. I would have preferred for it to be more hands-on with both making the gnocchi and the sauces. I have never used a potato ricer, so I think learning how to do that would have been great. Overall, it was a fun class for what it was. I have done much better cooking classes, but for the (low-ish) price, I am not surprised. read more

Went here for a date night dinner. It has a very cute, romantic atmosphere on outdoor patio complete with fountain, hanging lights, and the tree was even decorated with ornaments for Christmas. Entrees come w/ a side salad and slice of foccacia bread. Bread slice was pretty small, I would've liked to have a bit more. Salad was fine; the tomatoes on it were very fresh. The house wine is a tad sweet, but that's how I like it :) I ordered the homemade meatballs w/ angel hair pasta. The 2 giant meatballs were great, very filling with great flavor. The angel hair pasta was cooked al dente, but there were a few little areas that were not cooked quite enough. Great sauce and cheese to round out the dish. My boyfriend had the herb porkchop. It was well seasoned and came with a side of roasted potatoes and root vegetables. For dessert we had the bourbon chocolate pecan pie. It was pretty tasty but small (not sharing size portion). I definitely want to come back here for lunch- I've heard it's pretty great. read more

The Fat Tuscan Cafe - homemade meatballs with angel hair pasta - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Went for dinner. Enjoyed the outdoor seating by the Roman style fountain. Reminded me of my time in Rome this past summer. Pork chop was cooked nicely and well seasoned. I enjoyed the root vegetables. My GF's giant meatballs and pasta was tasty. The type of homemade dish that really hits the sport. I think this place is probably a 4 star lunch spot - a nice variety of quality sandwiches, soups and salads. Must try. read more

The Fat Tuscan Cafe - Pork chop with root vegetables - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Joined family in celebrating my niece's birthday and had a wonderful time at our cooking class. Michele made it fun and was very interesting in explaining what we were doing and why. The food was delicious and would recommend friends and family enjoying time together at Fat Tuscan. read more

We really wanted to give this place 3 or more stars. We've been wanting to try this place for a while. Parking is non-existent only 4 or 5 spots available. So plan to park on the street. The location is nice and the building/house they are in is a nice atmosphere. But that only goes so far. Service was from in experienced staff. Not knowing they should have napkins available, and they were slow. We saw the kitchen and had hopes some good food would come out of it. But alas the food was just average. Everyone at our table said their food was average at best. So needless to say we won't be back anytime soon. So much potential, but such a let down. read more

I decided to do a rating after my second time visiting this place. The food is decent and the price isn't bad. I had their antipasto sandwich with lemon dill couscous on the side. The sandwich was pretty good, the couscous was surprisingly dry. The food here isn't the problem as I'm not expecting an authentic Italian meal in the middle of Gainesville, but the service. Is. Terrible. Easily a 30 minute wait for a pressed sandwich that comes out barely lukewarm and a hostess that is completely inattentive. I had a similar experience the first time that I went and really wanted to give it another shot, but it looks like I will not be returning for a third time. Shame, I had hopes for this place. read more

Came for lunch. The menu was VERY limited. The food was ok, nothing special. The desserts were just bad. The waitress seemed overwhelmed with a completely empty restaurant. The dinner menu appears to have more options, but I probably won't be back to find out. read more

The Fat Tuscan Cafe - Grilled veg panini - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Because of its location, The Fat Tuscan Cafe is a great choice for my lunches downtown during the week. I've been there several times and there are a lot more good things about it than bad. The food is really good. They have homemade sandwiches with quality ingredients that I can definitely tell aren't frozen. The soup is made fresh and usually very good. I especially like the decor and atmosphere of the Tuscan. It's very traditional and grandmother-like. It's small inside and can get a little cramped, but the outside patio in the back is beautiful and great for a sunny Spring afternoon. My only complaint really is the price. I guess since the food/ingredients are so fresh and sometimes imported fresh, that the prices have to be pretty high. Still it's tough to pay ten bucks for a sandwich - for me anyway. read more

Don't choose if you are in a hurry. Slow service. The food is good when it finally gets to you but the service is TERRIBLE. read more

I have eaten at the Fat Tuscan several times now over the past few years since its opening, and my experience is always the same: fantastic atmosphere, decent food, mediocre service, and extremely long wait times. I don't understand what takes this restaurant so long to put out simple food (sandwiches, salads). My party arrived at 11:30, didn't get acknowledged till 11:45, finally received food at 12:30, and didn't get our check until 1:00. If a restaurant is going to be open during the weekday lunch rush, it should be ready to handle people who want quick, delicious food and should staff itself appropriately. There are plenty of other locally owned restaurants in Gainesville that can accommodate lunch rushes, so why can't the FT? Also, I think the prices could be a little more competitive. $9 for a grilled cheese sandwich? $10 for a salad? If you're not going to offer the high level of service that other places like Cafe C can offer (whose prices, by the way, are the same but at least include a drink), then I don't want to eat at your restaurant. Near its cash register, the FT had the slogan, "Work like you don't need the money," and that's exactly what the wait staff looks like...like they don't need the money. I felt like no one was working hard for my tip. You don't see people bustling around; you see people whimsically making the food. (I watched a girl making a salad while I waited to pay, and she moved as if she felt no urgency during what looked like a pretty busy lunch rush). The food is pretty good (semi-unique, consistently delicious), but it is NOT worth the wait. Every time I go to FT, I think, "This time it will be better," but I've been fooled three times now and will not be returning. read more

Amazing ambiance, awesomely friendly service, above average food. The tropical salad was wonderful. The espresso was better than most you might expect in the US. What did it for me was the live classical guitar playing my choice of old Spanish balads I once shared with my abuela and a glass of sangria. So very romantic! Take note boys! read more

We went here over the holidays. It was a terrific date for my wife and I. House is lovely and was decorated for Christmas. There was a fire outside on the patio (it was cold!) and the heat was on inside but not oppressive. There was a folk singer- she wasn't that good but she wasn't that loud and live music almost always is preferable to whatever is on the speakers in the restaurant. We had read complaints about the service on YELP and can of course only speak to our own experience, but we felt like the service was outstanding. Even a/the chef came by to see how everything was. My wife had the veggie lasagna which she said was among the best she'd had- high praise from a Carroll Gardens Brooklyn couple. I had a meat pasta-- it was spicy and rich and cooked perhaps a bit too long but still full of flavor. Very good meal. Sangria looked amazing and tasted almost as good. I recommend. Off the beaten path in Gainesville a bit but if they advertise well among the date-night university crowd they'll do well. Affordable cuisine in a great atmosphere. read more

We visited the Fat Tuscan with a large group of 9 last Friday evening. The atmosphere is nice, beer selection is great, but the food was just OK. The portions were small for the price. The menu is also quite small. I immediately was drawn to the Shrimp and Polenta dish which the waitress informed us was not available. The majority of our table got the lasagne. I'm from a small town with a large Italian population and when you order Lasagne you expect salad and bread alongside. Nope, this one is just a slab of lasagne. Overall, we'd go back but probably just for drinks. read more

Sure, sometimes they have a little attitude, but unless you are an abnormally sensitive person, ignore these other people. The food is amazing- mostly (if not all) locally grown. The ingredients are amazingly fresh. The salads have the perfect combination of nuts, apples, etc. - depending on what's in season. The coffee comes in a French press. The sandwiches are delicious. When they have jasmine tea its really good, but they tend to experiment with new and different- sometimes exotic- foods and drinks but I promise the food won't disappoint. A little pricier than most lunch places but everything seems well priced (especially for the ingredients that are local and organic). Btw, this goes in the locals' favorites category. read more

This is a funny place that is tucked in the middle of a neighborhood in a house. We stopped by for appetizers and drinks and had a good time. They had a musical act that added the atmosphere. The drinks are a little pricey but not terrible. We got the bread and olive oil along with some hummus dip. Don't be afraid to ask for more bread if you get either of these dishes. Gainesville certainly has places that are a better deal but this is certainly an enjoyable place for happy hour. read more

My number one go to restaurant for afternoon food. Drove from Archer Rd. to get lunch! Never a disappointment. Great food, beautiful, environment & wonderful service. Fresh local made and sourced food daily specials. Give the Fat Tuscan a try, you will be pleased. read more

Really cute garden seating. We say in the garden and it brought back fond memories of living in NorCal. The sweet potato ginger soup was very good and refreshing. The Greek panini with grilled eggplant, grilled zucchini and chevre ($8) was good but a little bit too much. The goat cheese was overpowering the taste of the grilled vegetables. Nice concept though, but maybe tone it down a little bit. My house salad was just ok - a little underwhelming. Mushroom risotto for dinner was amazing, according to my husband. Awesome ambiance, friendly staff and good food. We always like a shot of espresso after a meal and Fat Tuscan makes a good cup of espresso so that's just the icing on the cake. They have dinner on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays evening. Will definitely be coming back. read more

Came here on a recommendation from a friend and am so glad we did. The restaurant has so much character, which is noticeable right when you walk up to it; it looks like you're heading into someone's home. When we were seated, our table was a cozy one by a candle lit fireplace. Ordered the eggplant stack which was full of texture and flavor. It came with a side salad an piece of Italian bread. Really recommend this on the menu, but the 3 other people I went with also enjoyed their orders too (Mediterranean pasta, spicy shrimp pasta, & shrimp scampi). Don't live in the Gainesville area, but would definitely go back with friends and family when I'm in town again. When you're there, ask your server for information on the building, they'll give you a scrapbook showing its transformation to what it is today. read more

The Fat Tuscan Cafe - Eggplant stack - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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On a thursday night, it was empty, which was nice a we got one of the rooms in the house to ourselves. All the food was tasty, the sangria was delicious, and the service was attentive. It was a nice intimate experience. The service was a little slow, but the food and service made up for it. As for what food we had; two glasses of the red sangria with peach and chai, hot artichoke dip as the starter, and two pasta entrees that came with a salad. I made my own pasta, penne with rose sauce and chicken, and my boyfriend had the special, an orzo dish with shrimp and Mediterranean veggies. read more

The Fat Tuscan Cafe gave my hubby and me our perfect Wedding!!! The owners and staff are amazing and everything was so elegant and intimate. We were able to rent out the entire cafe and the courses of meals were AMAZING!!! The hand-rolled lasagna with roasted veggies was to die for and our assortment of cheesecakes made all our guests so tickled. The staff was so attentive to sweet. All of our guest kept saying how the whole event was beautiful and they felt like they had a big yummy meal at a relatives home!!! Thank you Fat Tuscan!!! We are so thankful for you and your dream team! read more

The Fat Tuscan Cafe - Ceremony in their courtyard!! Perfection!!! - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Michelle and her staff went over and above the call of duty to make my daughters wedding day extra special. The setting is perfect for an intimate wedding or special event. The food selections are endless and over the top delicious! Michelle even recreated a special wedding cake from a recipe of the grandmother of the bride. The care and attention given to making the setting unique and personal was so much more than we ever expected. We are so lucky to have found Michelle and The Fat Tuscan! read more

I was hoping to like this place, but here's the thing: The prices are high and the portions are stingy. The sandwiches I have eaten here were very tasty and nicely put together -- good, fresh ingredients. But for $10, I want a little something good WITH my sandwich. In three visits, I was never given any side except a really blah cold pasta salad. Compare this to The Jones, where I can always get a fresh field greens salad as my included side with a sandwich. Yes, you see, there is NO comparison. The Fat Tuscan also seems prone to running out of things by about 1 p.m. or so, which is when I have gone in for lunch. read more

My experiences have been the same as the other reviews, so there's really no need to go into lengthy detail. A nice atmosphere, but the service and wait time is excruciating. Sometimes I can get past the service if the food, which is what I really came for, is outstanding and reasonably priced. Unfortunately, neither is the case in that regard. The food is good, not great, but why am I paying double price to order off the kiddo menu? Small portions, so I leave hungry and way overpay. I won't go back again. read more

Owning a business is hard and I don't want to trash someone's hard work- but the service here is really awful. I've been here three different times and it has been progressively worse. I highly recommend the owner come down from upstairs and train them more. The last time we were there we sat around in an empty place for 10 minutes before anyone took our drink order. Then another 15 for our food order... Then our food was dropped off and the woman- our waiter (who also described herself as a manager) disappeared inside again to chat. I had to go searching for forks. FORKS. read more

This review doesn't get a 1 star because the waitress was great and she was really attentive. We went on a game-day, so there was maybe one or two couples there. Despite that, they had run out of some beers. We asked for the special appetizer, which left more to be desired. My fiancee ordered the stuffed shells with shrimp, which was good; I ordered the Chicken Piccata which was super bland, with a rice (equally bland) with raw bell peppers in it. I couldn't have more than 4 bites of it, salt couldn't salvage it. We had an espresso before we left, which was good (so was the accompanying biscotti). We had been looking forward to going to the Fat Tuscan for a long time, and finally had the chance last Saturday. Very disappointed with the food. The location is charming, the staff was nice, but I go to restaurants to eat. Sorry, I won't be returning. read more

Very slow service - took 30 minutes to get a water, over an hour to get food, and 15 mins to get the check. Food was messy - Half of my lettuce was wilted, the grilled shrimp wasn't grilled, and some of our bread had little bits of slimy stuff stuck on it (I'm hoping it was cheese). On the plus side, the setting is really nice and the food options were interesting. read more

If I could I would have given this place 0 stars. There is nothing I hate more than when people treat me like I am unimportant and not worthy of their time or their concern. Horrible customer service by hostess when I had reservation made 3 weeks in advance. She was very sassy and rude and basically told me and my 80 year old grandparents after graduation to go somewhere else. I would never recommend this place to anyone and will never give them my business in the future. Bad taste in my mouth...no pun intended. read more

We started our evening with dinner at Fat Tuscan. We were seated on the deck overlooking the courtyard which, by the way, is now my favorite outside seating in any Gainesville restaurant; lights strung up overhead, a brisk and clear night, and an acoustic duet at appropriate volume. The ambiance was damn near perfect. I was served a warm glass of California cabernet that, after sitting at ambient outside temperature, was perfect. For the appetizer we ordered the Head of Roasted Garlic with Chevre Goat Cheese and Baguette toast points. Granted it is no great culinary feat to put this dish together but it delivered exactly what was promised. It hit the spot. Next was a bowl of Corn Chowder. The chipotle flavor was a little assertive but beyond that (matter of personal taste) there was certainly nothing wrong with the dish-- so far so good. I ordered the Shrimp and Polenta dish while the wife opted for the special of the day: Shells with Mushrooms and Smoked Gouda Bechamel. The Shrimp dish had an appealing zing; not overwhelming but enough to keep the palate interested. The addition of chorizo to the already very good tomato sauce was a nice augmentation that complemented the shrimp quite well. The polenta cakes were well cooked, though I would have liked to have seen the caramelization imparted from the griddle--minor detail. In some places a "special" is determined by seasonal products (vegetables, stone crabs, truffles, etc...), exotic, hard-to-procure, or exceptional quality meats and/or cuts (feathered/wild/small game, heritage breeds of pork/steer, etc...) or other product (small farmed artisan cheese, dairy, charcuterie, etc...) worthy of highlighting that will set you apart from the competition and perhaps break up the monotony in the kitchen; something to keep both the chef and the regular customers excited or at least interested. In other places a "special" is determined by what is immediately available in the kitchen that can be assembled and labeled 'special.' I fear we experienced the latter. I must stop anticipating what dishes will be like since it, more often than not, results in disappointment. I imagined a Stuffed Shells type dish; stuffed with a piquant duxelle (maybe with minced pistachios or other nuts thrown in) a thick-but-not-gloopy Smoked Gouda Bechamel with maybe some macerated, fire-roasted heirloom or grape tomatoes as garnish. We were presented with a casserole of shells (the smaller variety of Shells-N-Cheese fame) sitting in a shallow pool of thin sauce with pieces of mushrooms (couldn't tell which kind(s)) and, thankfully, some roasted grape tomatoes. After about two teaspoons of table salt the dish became alive. After about four bites the dish became joyless. The server assured us that the desserts were made in house so we split a (rather large) piece of excellent Carrot Cake. Yes. You didn't misread that: "Excellent!" Also I think the portions are on the generous side. I wish I would have been wowed but will settle for a literal star rating: "A-OK". I will, more than likely, be back. read more