I dined here over the weekend for a special occasion and was hoping to love this spot based on a…read morefriend's recommendation. Overall, the food and experience felt average to me, which is why I landed at 3 stars. Not bad, just okay.
I had no prior knowledge of the restaurant, their brand, popular menu items, or social media presence. To be fair, doing a bit more research beforehand might have helped me get more out of the experience and try what they're best known for.
This is a casual neighborhood spot, so there's no need to dress up. Their tagline, "Where the locals eat," fits the vibe well.
The staff are friendly. An older woman was kind and social. She showered me in compliments and the spent some time chatting with the table next to us. It gave the place a neighborhood, familial feel where the staff seem comfortable engaging with guests. Our server was polite, though a bit rushed. He would check in, start a conversation, and then quickly move on mid-sentence.
I ordered the Malbec, Antigal (Argentina). It's a $15 bottle retail and priced at $15 per glass.
We ordered the Mussels and Focaccia bread as an appetizer. The broth was a bit on the salty side, though the fries on top were cooked well. The bread felt a little firm and could have been fresher.
If you're seated at a 2-person table, space can be tight once both appetizers and entrees arrive. We ended up moving to a larger table to accommodate everything. The portion sizes and plates are large and can be shared among 2-3 people.
I ordered the Rigatoni Bolognese, which was underwhelming for me. My husband ordered the 24-Hour Braised Beef Short Ribs and really enjoyed them. He said they were tender and flavorful.
For our special occasion, we were treated to their homemade mud pie dessert. It's a coffee flavored ice cream with an Oreo crumb crust topped with whipped cream and chocolate drizzle. The portion was very HUGE and more than we could finish. It became a bit repetitive after a few bites. The slice portion can be shared up to 3-4 people, in my opinion.
If I were to return, I'd be interested in trying some of the dishes they highlight on social media rather than sticking to the more standard Italian options.