We went tonight for Chris's birthday. We didn't have a reservation & the hostess said the wait would be 20 minutes, but it ended up being less because we said we wouldn't mind a communal table. We were seated at the end of a table of a large party...it was kinda awkward for me at first...at pizzaiolo it was fine because the communal table was many little parties, but i just felt like we were invading their space...it was a minute detail i guess...(though the latecomers of their party looked at us funny for a sec because they didn't know it was a communal table)
we ordered:
CHOPPED HEARTS OF ROMAINE
with Aparagus, Sieved Egg and Roasted Garlic Dressing
8.
POMMES FRITES
with Aioli
4./6.
MUSSELS
with Pernod from the Wood Oven
12.
GRILLED LAMB SKEWERS
with Fregola Sarda and Fennel-Olive-Pistachio Relish
14.
The salad was sup'd to be one of the best in the world...but i felt like it was well seasoned and not THAT amazing...the asparagus added a nice touch though
The pommes frites were so delish. We got the smaller dish & it was mounded...It was not greasy & well seasoned & sprinkled with parsley. The not greasy part totally baffled me...
The mussels was the best part of the ones we ordered above...It felt like a never ending bowl & the broth was so good sopped up with the bread given (we asked for more & got like half a baguette)... i've never really had mussels like this...& they were super tender & they gave us little forks to pick out the meat...this is something i'd probably crave
The lamb skewers were nice...the relish was very complex. There were only 2 skewers though for a total of about 5 cubes which i felt was pretty pricey for what it was...the lamb was very juicy inside but still not the best lamb i've had (ajanta's was better but i guess the cooking method might've been why it was more tender there...it was in curry)...it was on a bed of jerusalem couscous in a tomato based sauce/stew...it was very complex in flavor as well...but i probably wouldn't order this again...
the dessert though was a different world...
everything was like 4 desserts in one...& we finally decided on
WARM BROWN BUTTER CASHEW TART
with Roasted Banana Ice Cream and Butter-Rum Sauce
8.
This was super delish...it was like bananas fosters decomposed...the tart shell was cookie-ish almost because it was sweeter than most crusts...the filling was a less sweet and lighter colored version of pecan pie filling w/ cashews...the butter rum sauce was exactly like the bananas foster syrupy sauce & the roasted banana ice cream was to die for...i could eat a pint of it myself...it was basically caramelized bananaish & soo good...we agreed we'd lick the plate if it was appropriate...
the server was very not personable..i felt like just another customer...& then at the end of the meal i was given the receipt for our meal but they charged the large party's meal (at the communal table)...good thing i noticed otherwise that meal would've cost me about $350....which would not have made me a happy camper
i liked the meal overall, but now i know what to order to make it worthwhile
random things i liked: water was served in an old washed out wine bottle w/ labels removed; the outdoor patio was made indoor w/ real lights & chandelier & covering & heat lamps...this added over 10 smaller tables & one communal table



