My previous comments still apply. This time they weren't out of the fatty brisket, which was very good indeed, though I think the pork ribs are still a notch down from Kreuz Market. The pork chop was maybe a touch less heavenly than last time, but still better than anyone else's BBQ pork chop.
I like it. Though the appetizer sampler platter was overpriced for what you get, I liked my grilled pork tenderloin quite a bit, and it came with a very nice smoky, tangy glazing sauce that nicely complimented it. And they kept our chips and salsa pretty well stocked. Given how close they are to Central Market, they could probably get away with charging more than they do. I'd definitely like to return and try a few more benchmarking dishes.
I like it. It reminds me a bit of Cafe Spiazzo during it's heyday, but the portions are a bit more generous, and the restaurant itself is a bit bigger and brighter.
The calamari and wild mushroom medley appetizers were fine for what they were, but what really impressed me was the pumpkin gnocchi, which didn't sound like anything i would be interested in but turned out to be really tasty, and among the best gnocchi I've had. I was also favorably impressed with my veal saltimbocca. Not only was the veal quite good, but the pasta accompanying it had a very interesting green garlic sauce on it; it was better than the last version of this I had at Reale's, who might have been off their game that night. And my "Limoncello Creme Brulee" was very tasty indeed, with the lemon tang adding a nice zest to an already excellent dessert.
However, there were also a few things about the restaurant that seemed off-key. First, the place was empty when we got there at 6 PM. Second, when Milton showed up late, they just grabbed an extra chair to squeeze him in at our table of four; if would have been nice if they asked if we wanted to move to a larger table. In fact, the service was a constant dull annoyance. There's a difference between an unobtrusive waiter and an indifferent one. I got the distinct impression that our waiter didn't care whether we were there or not; he seemed to be mentally counting the hours until he got off work. Except for a miscommunication about A.T.'s meal, there was no actual problem with the service per se; it's just that the tone was wrong.
Also, I thought the free bread and the (not free) side salad needed improvement. The bread was fine, a nice hearty rustic style; however, we each got one tiny plate of two small slices each, and never got asked if we wanted additional bread. The balsamic vinaigrette dressing as fine, but there wasn't enough of it on the salad, and I heard another diner ask for extra dressing for his salad as well. Some adjustment seems in order.
Finally, the menu is a bit limited.
But real though they were, I don't want to make too much of these flaws. The food itself is both very good and reasonably priced, and if I lived down south I could see myself dropping in here on a semi-regular basis. Give it a try; they certainly seem to need, and deserve, the business.
Essentially this is OK for what it is: food and drinks all came in at less than $20 person, at least those of us who only ordered one entree. My lamb currey was fine, the appetizers were OK, and I liked my waffles fries (yeah, I know, not Indian, but they had and I had a yen for them so I ordered them) were just fine. But nothing really stood out, either, and it's not in the same league as The Clay Pit or Bombay Bistro.
I like being able to get drink refills, not to mention hot sauce refills (though they need to put a ketchup dispenser out there as well if they're going to serve fries).
This really strikes me more as a lunch place, and I wouldn't object to being dragged there. But it's still not anyplace I'd go out of my way to visit.
See the logs for October of 2007.