Bonnie’s 4-star review:
Delicious drinks and good food! What more can you ask for when catching up with an out-of-town friend?
{ATMOSPHERE}
As my friend and I sat at the bar downstairs, we could not help but admire the huge bay windows at the front of the store which let in lots of summer light. Everything is wooden and had a casual atmosphere of a lounge (TV's for sports included) but with a more classy twist.
{DRINKS}
I love tequila based drinks and went with the TOROSIAN HEAT (Reposado Tequila, Stone Fruit-Jalapeño Marmalade, Lime, Pineapple). I was pleasantly surprised about the jalapeño marmalade and am excited to try more spicy drinks from now on. You can definitely taste the smooth tequila, but it wasn't overpowering.
My friend got the MEYER LEMON CRUSTA (Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Meyer Limoncello, Pierre Fernand Dry Curaçao)--it's sweet, citrusy, and the glass is rimmed with sugar.
{FOOD}
Taleggio Stuffed Arancini, Black Garlic Aioli - got to sample two of these fried risotto rice balls stuffed with cheese. They are crispy, rich, and oozing with mouthwatering goodness. The real winner was the tangy garlic aioli sauce..I wanted to lick the plate clean but alas, the waiter took it away.
Little Shells, King Trumpet Mushrooms, Grilled Corn w/ English Peas, Basil, Truffle Butter - the truffle butter and parmesan cheese on top really brought out the richness of this dish. My friend really enjoyed the fresh corn in this dish. I would love it more if it had more mushrooms.
Fillmore Pizza w/ Hen of the Woods Mushrooms, Leeks, Mozzarella,
Grana Padano, Pecorino, Fontina, Garlic, Thyme - I ordered this 12 inch pizza due to my affinity of mushrooms and I was not disappointed! The pizza was loaded with thinly sliced mushrooms that paired well with the white sauce and garlic. The pizza is Neopolitan style with a thin, crispy, yet chewy crust. I could only eat half and saved half for lunch the next day.
{SERVICE}
I came here before the dinner rush (5:30pm) on Pride Weekend and was able to get a table for 2 within 10 minutes. In the meantime, you can order a drink at the bar while waiting (although in hindsight, that made carrying our drinks up to the dining area a bit precarious). The bartender was attentive and helpful in recommending drinks for our taste preferences; he even made my cocktail less spicy when I was hesitant about the jalapeño marmalade. Our waiter was also very welcoming when he found out we were newcomers--he brought out a sample of the Taleggio Stuffed Arancini for us to try!
*PLEASE NOTE*
- This is a small restaurant. I probably wouldn't come here with more than 6-8 ppl (definitely make a reservation for a larger group). You can do it via OpenTable or their website.
- It's a bit pricey...cocktails average between $11-12 and the entrees are between $15-20. I will come back again for a special occasion.