Stars: **** 1/2
Price: $$$$$
Weirdness factor: 0
Sushi Damo
330 West 58th Street New York, United States
Sometimes you just crave sushi, even if you're in one of the most notoriously expensive areas in Manhattan.
Such was the case for Sushi Damo. My father and I chose this place because we happened to be in the area, and I WANTED JAPANESE RIGHT THEN AND THERE!! Lol... not really, but kinda. We knew this restaurant would be expensive going in, based solely on its location (hey, it's Columbus Circle, what'd you expect?), but we also figured it would be better than trekking all over to god-knows-where, trying to find a cheaper place to eat in a different area.
Both the exterior and the interior of Sushi Damo are quite modern and sleek. Everything is very streamlined and minimalist-looking. Basically, it looks expensive. The service was friendly and we were sat right away.
We each had a Sapporo draught beer (at 7 bucks a pop-but hey, it's Columbus Circle). We had tea as well, but ordered beer for the main reason that Sapporo on draught is kind of hard to come by.
Although the appetizers were priced pretty well, (the miso soup was very tasty and for $3 was a veritable NYC bargain) I wasn't about to pay a whopping $6 for edamame, Columbus circle or no. That said, the shrimp shumai were probably the best I've ever had: delicate and light, with just the right shrimpy aroma. Those were quite delicious and garner my highest recommendation of the items we ordered.
For a main meal, we chose to get two rolls and split them. I don't know about you, but I tend to judge a sushi place on their "special creation rolls", because these often disappoint.
We got a Passion roll (spicy tuna, salmon, yellowtail and seaweed salad with fresh salmon outside, formed into the shape of a heart *see photo*), and a Tokyo Rose roll (blackened tuna, shiso -I'm a sucker for anything with shiso- daikon radish sprouts, and panko bread crumbs, topped with spicy tuna and 3 kinds of fish roe).
I gotta say, Sushi Damo really stepped up to the plate -- these rolls were delicious and beautifully crafted. I'd say Damo could give my old standby Ichiban a run for its money, if each roll weren't a good 6 or 7 dollars more expensive and soup were included (which it isn't).
All in all, I rather enjoyed Sushi Damo. The atmosphere was nice and the food was excellent. The only downside is that you'll definitely be paying at least $25 per person for a full meal (but hey, it's Columbus Circle... what did you expect?). For more economical (and more authentic) Japanese food, check out St. Marks Place. However, if you're in the Columbus Circle area and are looking for an elegant experience in Japanese cuisine, Sushi Damo is a nice choice.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Folks Southern Kitchen - Folk-ing delicious Fried Fare in the Atlanta Suburbs
Stars: ***
Price: $$
Weirdness factor: 3
Folks Southern Kitchen
2031 Windy Hill Rd & Cobb Pkwy Marietta Ga 30062, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
I am a big proponent of patronizing local places to eat... so, rather than eating at the local Olive Garden or Chili's we opted for dinner at Folks Southern Kitchen, which has 11 locations and all are exclusive to Georgia.
Since, apparently, 1978, Folks has been aspiring to be the greatest thing in southern cuisine chains since Shoney's or Cracker Barrel - however, I can't say they were any better than Cracker Barrel, and certainly not as good as Shoney's.
The food here is typical "southern-fried" fare - literally, virtually everything is fried. Don't go here if you have a cholesterol problem, because even something seemingly light (mashed potatoes) comes loaded with enough saturated fat to knock you into next week.
Highlights were the Fried Green Tomatoes, Fried Okra, and Meatloaf. Low points were the aforementioned mashed potatoes, and the dry and tasteless cornbread. I am a big cornbread fan, and I have to say, I was very disappointed with Folks' version. My chicken livers were battered and fried, something I (naively, I suppose) didn't expect. It made them heavy and a little well-done for my taste, even if they tasted OK.
One warning to southern-fare novices: the sweet tea. As a southerner myself, I LOVE it. But Folks' bucket-sized peach tea was so sickeningly sugary, I had a tough time getting it down. I guess it's an acquired taste, though... kinda like when you drink a cocktail that is terrible the first time around, then order another and find that the second one (and yes, I did have a second one) goes down pretty easy.
Again, not for the even remotely health-conscious.
Next time, I think I'll try the catfish with hushpuppies and redbeans and rice.
All in all, Folks is comparable to Cracker Barrel or Shoney's, but probably a little cheaper. If you're a fan of this kind of food, then I suggest you give ol' Folks a try instead of the other two, as it's always a good thing to support local places. Just don't expect anything spectacular.
Price: $$
Weirdness factor: 3
Folks Southern Kitchen
2031 Windy Hill Rd & Cobb Pkwy Marietta Ga 30062, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
I am a big proponent of patronizing local places to eat... so, rather than eating at the local Olive Garden or Chili's we opted for dinner at Folks Southern Kitchen, which has 11 locations and all are exclusive to Georgia.
Since, apparently, 1978, Folks has been aspiring to be the greatest thing in southern cuisine chains since Shoney's or Cracker Barrel - however, I can't say they were any better than Cracker Barrel, and certainly not as good as Shoney's.
The food here is typical "southern-fried" fare - literally, virtually everything is fried. Don't go here if you have a cholesterol problem, because even something seemingly light (mashed potatoes) comes loaded with enough saturated fat to knock you into next week.
Highlights were the Fried Green Tomatoes, Fried Okra, and Meatloaf. Low points were the aforementioned mashed potatoes, and the dry and tasteless cornbread. I am a big cornbread fan, and I have to say, I was very disappointed with Folks' version. My chicken livers were battered and fried, something I (naively, I suppose) didn't expect. It made them heavy and a little well-done for my taste, even if they tasted OK.
One warning to southern-fare novices: the sweet tea. As a southerner myself, I LOVE it. But Folks' bucket-sized peach tea was so sickeningly sugary, I had a tough time getting it down. I guess it's an acquired taste, though... kinda like when you drink a cocktail that is terrible the first time around, then order another and find that the second one (and yes, I did have a second one) goes down pretty easy.
Again, not for the even remotely health-conscious.
Next time, I think I'll try the catfish with hushpuppies and redbeans and rice.
All in all, Folks is comparable to Cracker Barrel or Shoney's, but probably a little cheaper. If you're a fan of this kind of food, then I suggest you give ol' Folks a try instead of the other two, as it's always a good thing to support local places. Just don't expect anything spectacular.
Raglan Road - An Irish Diamond in Touristy O-Town
Stars: *****
Price: $$$$
Weirdness Factor: 1.5
I LOVE Raglan Road!
It is one of my favorite places to go and grab a drink or snack and watch some live music, which they have 5 nights a week. The atmosphere is friendly, especially in the open "performance" area and at the bar.
Because it's on Disney property, the pub is very safe and there is virtually never a "rowdiness" problem. The bartenders can call for security at any time.
They have great whiskey, needless to say, and *almost* every Irish draught beer you can think of off the top of your head. I would have liked to see some Kinsale ale, but no such luck. I recommend you try their "flights" (of either whiskey or beer), in order to sample a lot of different things at a reasonable price.
The food is pretty tasty. We had a very interesting liver pate, with berry jam, on toast. If this sounds weird, it was. But still good! Don't let the strangeness of the menu offerings scare you... there is a real chef in the kitchen. This isn't your ordinary plebian pub!
On the downside, this place is not the cheapest. But you get what you pay for, what with the live entertainment and free parking. Plus, if it's not too late, you can go to Pleasure Island next door and finish the night out at the clubs over there.
I can't tell you how many times I had planned on going to PI, but stopped for a quick drink at Raglan Road first, never making it to my final destination! :)
I do not know if they serve half-pints here. This is important in a pub, but not all that common in the US. I would like to think they do, as Orlando sees many British tourists, but I'm not sure about the half-pint situation.
Anyway, I am a local and always enjoy bringing guests to Raglan Road. It's always a fun place with an eclectic mix of people. There is no such thing as a "local" crowd there, and everyone is welcome. Two thumbs up.
Price: $$$$
Weirdness Factor: 1.5
I LOVE Raglan Road!
It is one of my favorite places to go and grab a drink or snack and watch some live music, which they have 5 nights a week. The atmosphere is friendly, especially in the open "performance" area and at the bar.
Because it's on Disney property, the pub is very safe and there is virtually never a "rowdiness" problem. The bartenders can call for security at any time.
They have great whiskey, needless to say, and *almost* every Irish draught beer you can think of off the top of your head. I would have liked to see some Kinsale ale, but no such luck. I recommend you try their "flights" (of either whiskey or beer), in order to sample a lot of different things at a reasonable price.
The food is pretty tasty. We had a very interesting liver pate, with berry jam, on toast. If this sounds weird, it was. But still good! Don't let the strangeness of the menu offerings scare you... there is a real chef in the kitchen. This isn't your ordinary plebian pub!
On the downside, this place is not the cheapest. But you get what you pay for, what with the live entertainment and free parking. Plus, if it's not too late, you can go to Pleasure Island next door and finish the night out at the clubs over there.
I can't tell you how many times I had planned on going to PI, but stopped for a quick drink at Raglan Road first, never making it to my final destination! :)
I do not know if they serve half-pints here. This is important in a pub, but not all that common in the US. I would like to think they do, as Orlando sees many British tourists, but I'm not sure about the half-pint situation.
Anyway, I am a local and always enjoy bringing guests to Raglan Road. It's always a fun place with an eclectic mix of people. There is no such thing as a "local" crowd there, and everyone is welcome. Two thumbs up.
James Rooster Taverne and Grill - Cozy Cellar Dining
Stars: ****
Price: $$$$
Weirdness factor: 0
James Rooster Taverne and Grille
3 Rue de la Commune, Montreal, Canada
The James Rooster pub is located down by the water in Old Montreal, right across the way from the Science Museum and IMAX theater. As you walk north from there, towards the basilica, you'll spot a sign for the James Rooster right by a small stone archway built into the wall.
It's pretty inconspicuous, and that's part of its charm. Because we were trying to kill time until sunset, we decided to pop in for a quick beer. The stone archway leads you through a short tunnel and then into a charming little courtyard, which is much more reminiscent of Europe than North America.
Anyway, it was pretty early, around 5, so the place hadn't started picking up yet. There were 2 couples at the bar besides us, but the restaurant part seemed to be pretty empty.
The "bar" part is situated in kind of a a stone cellar converted into a lounge, with cozy lighting, arched ceilings, and the hockey game playing on one of the large plasma tvs. I don't know if the site of the James Rooster used to actually be a cellar, or if it was just designed that way as an afterthought, but it sure did look like an old dungeon or something!
The waitress/bartender was really friendly and helpful.
I had a pint of the St. Ambroise Vintage Ale from the tap, which is locally made by the McAuslan Brewery, right in the city of Montreal itself. It was very nice and good complex flavors, just enough hoppiness. Mmm.
My friend had a bottle of the Apricot Wheat Ale, also made by St. Ambroise. This one had the most delicious apricoty aroma and lovely finish. It's a shame the Apricot Wheat Ale only came in bottle form because I could have easily had a pint or two, it really was delicious!
The food specials for the evening were posted on a chalkboard in the bar. There was some kind of roast beef special, and gravlax (aka smoked salmon). When you order a drink at the bar, you get a complimentary little platter of hors d'oeuvres, I guess they change from night to night. When we went we got little crostini topped with both slices of roast beef and a dijon-mayonnaise sauce, and (particularly tasty) gravlax with a dill and creme fraiche sauce. Mmm.
If we'd stayed for dinner I think I would've ordered that, even though all the entrees were a little pricey.
One of my favorite things about the James Rooster was the intimate feel of the place; one of the cooks came out from the kitchen wanting some kind of liquor from the bartender to add to his bowl. It just seemed really organically put together and not too stuffy.
I'd say the James Rooster is a perfect location to go for drinks before dinner, expecially if you're on a date and especially if it's early enough to have the place mostly to yourselves. Plus it's in a lovely, scenic area right by the water and you can take a nice stroll along the river afterwards.
Price: $$$$
Weirdness factor: 0
James Rooster Taverne and Grille
3 Rue de la Commune, Montreal, Canada
The James Rooster pub is located down by the water in Old Montreal, right across the way from the Science Museum and IMAX theater. As you walk north from there, towards the basilica, you'll spot a sign for the James Rooster right by a small stone archway built into the wall.
It's pretty inconspicuous, and that's part of its charm. Because we were trying to kill time until sunset, we decided to pop in for a quick beer. The stone archway leads you through a short tunnel and then into a charming little courtyard, which is much more reminiscent of Europe than North America.
Anyway, it was pretty early, around 5, so the place hadn't started picking up yet. There were 2 couples at the bar besides us, but the restaurant part seemed to be pretty empty.
The "bar" part is situated in kind of a a stone cellar converted into a lounge, with cozy lighting, arched ceilings, and the hockey game playing on one of the large plasma tvs. I don't know if the site of the James Rooster used to actually be a cellar, or if it was just designed that way as an afterthought, but it sure did look like an old dungeon or something!
The waitress/bartender was really friendly and helpful.
I had a pint of the St. Ambroise Vintage Ale from the tap, which is locally made by the McAuslan Brewery, right in the city of Montreal itself. It was very nice and good complex flavors, just enough hoppiness. Mmm.
My friend had a bottle of the Apricot Wheat Ale, also made by St. Ambroise. This one had the most delicious apricoty aroma and lovely finish. It's a shame the Apricot Wheat Ale only came in bottle form because I could have easily had a pint or two, it really was delicious!
The food specials for the evening were posted on a chalkboard in the bar. There was some kind of roast beef special, and gravlax (aka smoked salmon). When you order a drink at the bar, you get a complimentary little platter of hors d'oeuvres, I guess they change from night to night. When we went we got little crostini topped with both slices of roast beef and a dijon-mayonnaise sauce, and (particularly tasty) gravlax with a dill and creme fraiche sauce. Mmm.
If we'd stayed for dinner I think I would've ordered that, even though all the entrees were a little pricey.
One of my favorite things about the James Rooster was the intimate feel of the place; one of the cooks came out from the kitchen wanting some kind of liquor from the bartender to add to his bowl. It just seemed really organically put together and not too stuffy.
I'd say the James Rooster is a perfect location to go for drinks before dinner, expecially if you're on a date and especially if it's early enough to have the place mostly to yourselves. Plus it's in a lovely, scenic area right by the water and you can take a nice stroll along the river afterwards.
La Paryse - Best poutine? Yes. Best burgers, non!
Stars: ** 1/2, *** on a good day
Price: $$$
Weirdness factor: 3
La Paryse
302 Rue Ontario Est Montreal QC, Canada
La Paryse is probably mentioned in every guidebook to Montreal, touting it as THE place to have THE greatest burger to be found in the city.
Maybe we went on an off night, but these guidebooks couldn't have been more wrong! Totally unimpressed by the burgers.
The atmosphere, while a little harried, was cute and informal, with a majority of French-speakers. This is also a VERY homosexual-friendly restaurant! I didn't care for the music, however; I enjoy Bjork and Sinead O'Connor as much as the next person, but in their place, and not while I'm eating a burger and fries, ya dig?
I'll start with the good news. La Paryse has the best poutine (that I've experienced, anyway) in Montreal. The fries are crispy and golden brown, the cheese is grated (not in huge, cold lumps, but in thin strips that melt away) and their gravy is excellent. The poutine gravy at La Paryse has a great complex, authentic taste - not prepackaged. This was my first time trying classic poutine, and nowhere else in the city quite lived up to it. I highly recommend La Paryse for its poutine above anywhere else in Montreal.
Now for the negative.
My friend got the regular Beef Burger, which (while it seemed to be 100% beef) was rather sawdusty. It was seasoned properly but just wasn't juicy enough. (Stay tuned for my review of 5 Guys Burgers in Orlando, the best burgers ever!)The fixins for the burger seemed to be fine. I chose the Pinto Bean Burger (they had 3 different veggie burger selections), and this was equally disappointing. It was heavy and sticky, with way too much mayo. Honestly, I would rather have had a black bean patty from Chili's. The only thing that saved this burger was the 'herb cheese' they put on it, which was pretty tasty.
The prices were normal, about 8 dollars for the burger, but $1 extra to share a plate.
We got a bottle of wine which completely sucked, and it was around 28 CAD! Take my advice and don't get wine there, just have a coke or something, don't get ripped off by their alcohol!
I would say, since this place is in a pretty busy and trendy area, to go there just to check out their poutine, as it is really great. But afterward, go elsewhere, maybe St. Denis, for dinner and drinks.
Price: $$$
Weirdness factor: 3
La Paryse
302 Rue Ontario Est Montreal QC, Canada
La Paryse is probably mentioned in every guidebook to Montreal, touting it as THE place to have THE greatest burger to be found in the city.
Maybe we went on an off night, but these guidebooks couldn't have been more wrong! Totally unimpressed by the burgers.
The atmosphere, while a little harried, was cute and informal, with a majority of French-speakers. This is also a VERY homosexual-friendly restaurant! I didn't care for the music, however; I enjoy Bjork and Sinead O'Connor as much as the next person, but in their place, and not while I'm eating a burger and fries, ya dig?
I'll start with the good news. La Paryse has the best poutine (that I've experienced, anyway) in Montreal. The fries are crispy and golden brown, the cheese is grated (not in huge, cold lumps, but in thin strips that melt away) and their gravy is excellent. The poutine gravy at La Paryse has a great complex, authentic taste - not prepackaged. This was my first time trying classic poutine, and nowhere else in the city quite lived up to it. I highly recommend La Paryse for its poutine above anywhere else in Montreal.
Now for the negative.
My friend got the regular Beef Burger, which (while it seemed to be 100% beef) was rather sawdusty. It was seasoned properly but just wasn't juicy enough. (Stay tuned for my review of 5 Guys Burgers in Orlando, the best burgers ever!)The fixins for the burger seemed to be fine. I chose the Pinto Bean Burger (they had 3 different veggie burger selections), and this was equally disappointing. It was heavy and sticky, with way too much mayo. Honestly, I would rather have had a black bean patty from Chili's. The only thing that saved this burger was the 'herb cheese' they put on it, which was pretty tasty.
The prices were normal, about 8 dollars for the burger, but $1 extra to share a plate.
We got a bottle of wine which completely sucked, and it was around 28 CAD! Take my advice and don't get wine there, just have a coke or something, don't get ripped off by their alcohol!
I would say, since this place is in a pretty busy and trendy area, to go there just to check out their poutine, as it is really great. But afterward, go elsewhere, maybe St. Denis, for dinner and drinks.
Heartland Brewery - Go on a true Beer Voyage!
Stars: ***
Price: $$$
Weirdness factor: .75 (due to the passersby)
Heartland Brewery
127 W 43rd St, New York, New York, United States
Knowing that we weren't going to have much choice once we got back to our neighborhood, we grabbed a quick bite (and drink) nearby to Penn Station. Even though the food in that area is also pretty hit-or-miss, the Heartland Brewery was a very nice place to stop and chill out for an hour or so.
This place is rather like a Houlihan's, or a John Harvards... it's an independent brewery that also serves food, namely comfort food and pub fare.
Our server was excellent, really friendly but also really attentive and quick.
To drink, we both had the "Seasonal Voyage", which consisted of 8 little taster glasses of 6 different house beers, and 2 of their seasonal brews. Many passers-by stopped to look through the window at our "voyages", making us feel like raging alcoholics, but COME ON! It's a microbrewery! That's what you're supposed to get!
To eat, I got the pulled pork sandwich. It was pretty tasty, and so were the fries, but there was just a tiny ramekin of cole slaw... not enough! Where I'm from, you simply can't have a pulled pork sandwich without lots of cole slaw!
My friend had the beef burger cooked medium rare, and (surprisingly) that's how it came out.
The prices are a little high for what you get; but, hey, it's New York.
I guess this review is really about the beer. I prefer hoppy, bitter beers, so my favorite would have to be their house IPA (Indiana Pale Ale). It was aggressively bitter and hoppy, and definitely would have been my drink of choice had I ordered a pint of just one kind. Coming in second was the Red Rooster Ale, reminiscent of Killians, but hoppier and with a sweeter finish.
Ultimately the Heartland Brewery is the kind of place you'd typically avoid in NYC because there are so many other options; however it's still good ol' comfort food with decent beers, and would probably be slammed every night if it were located in, say, Long Island.
Price: $$$
Weirdness factor: .75 (due to the passersby)
Heartland Brewery
127 W 43rd St, New York, New York, United States
Knowing that we weren't going to have much choice once we got back to our neighborhood, we grabbed a quick bite (and drink) nearby to Penn Station. Even though the food in that area is also pretty hit-or-miss, the Heartland Brewery was a very nice place to stop and chill out for an hour or so.
This place is rather like a Houlihan's, or a John Harvards... it's an independent brewery that also serves food, namely comfort food and pub fare.
Our server was excellent, really friendly but also really attentive and quick.
To drink, we both had the "Seasonal Voyage", which consisted of 8 little taster glasses of 6 different house beers, and 2 of their seasonal brews. Many passers-by stopped to look through the window at our "voyages", making us feel like raging alcoholics, but COME ON! It's a microbrewery! That's what you're supposed to get!
To eat, I got the pulled pork sandwich. It was pretty tasty, and so were the fries, but there was just a tiny ramekin of cole slaw... not enough! Where I'm from, you simply can't have a pulled pork sandwich without lots of cole slaw!
My friend had the beef burger cooked medium rare, and (surprisingly) that's how it came out.
The prices are a little high for what you get; but, hey, it's New York.
I guess this review is really about the beer. I prefer hoppy, bitter beers, so my favorite would have to be their house IPA (Indiana Pale Ale). It was aggressively bitter and hoppy, and definitely would have been my drink of choice had I ordered a pint of just one kind. Coming in second was the Red Rooster Ale, reminiscent of Killians, but hoppier and with a sweeter finish.
Ultimately the Heartland Brewery is the kind of place you'd typically avoid in NYC because there are so many other options; however it's still good ol' comfort food with decent beers, and would probably be slammed every night if it were located in, say, Long Island.
Il Porticciolo - Great, affordable fare for locals and tourists alike
Stars: **** 1/2
Price: $$$
Weirdness factor: 1
Il Porticciolo
92 Via R. Birolli, Manarola, Italy
We decided to try the Trattoria Il Porticciolo from a referral out of one of our guidebooks, mainly because it advertised 6-euro pasta dishes, and we were pretty strapped for cash.
While their dishes averaged more towards 8 or 9 euro than 6, this little trattoria stole my heart. It is hands-down my favorite eatery in the Cinque Terre.
Il Porticciolo is pretty much in direct competition with the larger, more expensive, ocean-front restaurant Marina Piccola, so they're cheaper. The first night we went there, the service was ok, we had a bottle of local white wine. My friend had a frutti di mare, seafood pasta. The shrimp still had their shells and heads, and the little squid still had their beaks. If you're not used to seeing seafood prepared like this, it could be a little disconcerting... but I loved it. The more the fish looks how it did when it was caught, the less it's been handled, so theoretically it's fresher. It certainly looked and tasted fresh and delicious, beaks and all.
I had the pappardelle pescespada (wide, flat pasta with swordfish) in a mildly spicy, lightly creamy tomato sauce. I'm not kidding when I say this was probably the best (or at least top 3) pasta dishes I've had in Italy. It was absolutely delicious.
We were staying in Manarola, so the following night we decided, rather than search for a new restaurant in another of the 5 towns, to return to Il Porticciolo because we had enjoyed it so much.
They remembered us. This time we got slightly better service, and bread with oil and spices as a complimentary appetizer, something we didn't get the first time around. A few nights later, one of our last in the area, we decided to eat there one last time... why not?
This time, they DEFINITELY remembered us. Not only did we get bread and oil, we also got sardines, and a complimentary limoncello (or some kind of digestivo) after dinner. I guess most tourists don't come in 3 times within the space of a week, but you just don't see hospitality like that very often, and it didn't go unnoticed.
If you're in Manarola, go to Il Porticciolo. Forget that, actually. If you're in the Cinque Terre at all, go to Il Porticciolo. It's just a hole in the wall, but it delivers more than its loftier, pricier, picturesque-ier competitors ever could. Two thumbs up.
PS. By the way, did I tell you I had the same dish all 3 times? And I'm a crazy foodie, the kind of person who's morally against that! The pappardelle was that good. I'd have it again right now.
Price: $$$
Weirdness factor: 1
Il Porticciolo
92 Via R. Birolli, Manarola, Italy
We decided to try the Trattoria Il Porticciolo from a referral out of one of our guidebooks, mainly because it advertised 6-euro pasta dishes, and we were pretty strapped for cash.
While their dishes averaged more towards 8 or 9 euro than 6, this little trattoria stole my heart. It is hands-down my favorite eatery in the Cinque Terre.
Il Porticciolo is pretty much in direct competition with the larger, more expensive, ocean-front restaurant Marina Piccola, so they're cheaper. The first night we went there, the service was ok, we had a bottle of local white wine. My friend had a frutti di mare, seafood pasta. The shrimp still had their shells and heads, and the little squid still had their beaks. If you're not used to seeing seafood prepared like this, it could be a little disconcerting... but I loved it. The more the fish looks how it did when it was caught, the less it's been handled, so theoretically it's fresher. It certainly looked and tasted fresh and delicious, beaks and all.
I had the pappardelle pescespada (wide, flat pasta with swordfish) in a mildly spicy, lightly creamy tomato sauce. I'm not kidding when I say this was probably the best (or at least top 3) pasta dishes I've had in Italy. It was absolutely delicious.
We were staying in Manarola, so the following night we decided, rather than search for a new restaurant in another of the 5 towns, to return to Il Porticciolo because we had enjoyed it so much.
They remembered us. This time we got slightly better service, and bread with oil and spices as a complimentary appetizer, something we didn't get the first time around. A few nights later, one of our last in the area, we decided to eat there one last time... why not?
This time, they DEFINITELY remembered us. Not only did we get bread and oil, we also got sardines, and a complimentary limoncello (or some kind of digestivo) after dinner. I guess most tourists don't come in 3 times within the space of a week, but you just don't see hospitality like that very often, and it didn't go unnoticed.
If you're in Manarola, go to Il Porticciolo. Forget that, actually. If you're in the Cinque Terre at all, go to Il Porticciolo. It's just a hole in the wall, but it delivers more than its loftier, pricier, picturesque-ier competitors ever could. Two thumbs up.
PS. By the way, did I tell you I had the same dish all 3 times? And I'm a crazy foodie, the kind of person who's morally against that! The pappardelle was that good. I'd have it again right now.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
