Pam & Jeff Rate the Chef

We sat at the bar (our normal) and were greeted by both bartenders who were friendly and personable. The cocktails were well-balanced and quite good. Pam had the Paper Plane (High West bourbon, aperol, amaro montenegro & lemon), and Jeff had the Quattro Dita (Redemption rye, campari, cynar & sween vermouth). While enjoying the cocktails, they served a snack mix including house-made chips and Marcona almonds, but Jeff’s favorite was the mixed olives with a bit of lemon rind for an added flavor pop.

Pam selected a wine from their respectable wine list. Jeff decided to try an Italian beer – Birra Baladin Nazionale, which had unique citrus and hops notes. It made for a great complement to the Sicilian Crudo that had tuna, salmon and scallops with capers and onions. As you can imagine, it was tasty, light and a nice sized portion. We also ordered their special appetizer – a Crispy Risotto Cake topped with pesto and served in a pool of bechamel sauce. While crispy is not the traditional way of serving risotto, in this fried cake, with the contrast of the bechamel and a well-balanced pesto, it was delicious.

For an entree, Pam went with the Mediterranean Sea Bass which was a solid choice. The fish was perfectly pan roasted, tender and flaky. Served with broccolini and mint gremolata, each bite was a delightful combination of flavors. Jeff took our bartender’s recomendation and got the Spicy Gemelli with a side of Meatballs from their appetizers. First to meatballs, which were fantastic with the mixture of lamb, pork and beef resulting in a lite and tender texture. The tomato gravy was well executed and something I would expect as a “secret family recipe” to be begged for at a friend’s house. The spicy vodka sauce on the gemelli was lightly applied without leaving the tender gemelli pasta swimming. Perfectly al dente, the pasta was great. Our entrees did not disappoint.

We ended the evening with their Italian Sunday. Never doubt the combination of vanilla ice cream, pistachios, sea salt and a touch of Extra Virgin Olive Oil. The sea salt and EVOO kicked up the flavor of the vanilla ice cream while adding an herbal, savory hint.

After our Friday evening visit, we enjoyed it so much we were back for lunch on Monday. This time we started with Steak Tartare and their Chilled White Beans. The tartare was nice, but not outstanding. There are better options in Houston. On the other hand, the white beans, typically served as a side dish, were excellent. The pop of lemon with crisp radish slices were delicious. I heard this is a seasonal item and likely will be coming off the menu for the winter. If the next version is anything like these, I have no doubt it will be great.

Pam noticed the Plaza Salad on the menu during our first visit, noting it had some of her favorite things. It did not disappoint with roasted chicken, golden beets, pancetta, marcona almonds, goat cheese and honey vinaigrette. A fantastic salad, and one that has been added to her list of favorites. Jeff decided to not be as healthy and ordered the Italian Dip, their take on a French dip with shaved tri-tip, melted provolone, sauteed broccolini and giardiniera spread. The tri-tip was tender and flavorful, and once dipped into the au jus, it was perfection.