Monthly Archives: November 2014

Little Tokyo (43 of 52) (CLOSED)

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Right now, in 2014, there are actual people who are still afraid of sushi.  My Mom is one of them.  You could even be related to one of them.  You could even be one of them and need smelling salts whenever you read about Aimee ordering Octopus on this blog.  I am here to break it down for you as it relates to this week’s restaurant.  Everything you need to know about what sushi is and isn’t and can be found on this clearly from the 90’s website.  I want you to read it before we continue.  Go ahead.  I’ll wait…

My love of sushi is well documented so I need little to no prodding (maybe a little prodding to get my fat ass loaded back into the car when I try to go home after eating 17 rolls) to go get some sushi.  When Little Tokyo was recommended to me, adding it to the list seemed like a no-brainer.  Joining me was a small but dedicated bunch.

Durwood-Best friend, comedian, San Diego’s go-to young black non-singing actor

Dylan-The newest addition, the 2014 model.  A Kate & Joe production.

Harry-Wise guy, master of the grill, loves camping for some reason

Kate-Costume designer, Comedian, Once starred in a church rap video

Sebastian-The coolest kid in Kindergarten.  A Kate & Joe production.

Little Tokyo 1

Smile pretty! Everyone except Dylan, who finds selfies indulgent.

 

Located in the San Diego neighborhood of Carmel Mountain, Little Tokyo is quiet (very quiet this particular night) strip mall sushi place with charm and an affordable, if standard, menu.

Kate ordered the Crunchy Roll, which she says was good and right in line with white person sushi (or Gaijin as the Japaneses call it!).  Kate’s baseline gauge of the quality of any sushi place is its Spicy Tuna roll, which she also ordered and said was excellent. Finally she got an order of Yellowtail Nigiri, which she said was well cut and fresh.  Sebastian was a tough sell on Little Tokyo’s Orange Chicken with white rice due to the multi-colored sesame seed garnish but Kate bravely picked them out and Sebastian did put a dent in his dinner, which something I understand not all parents have as much luck with.  Dylan was less picky about her dinner as Kate’s boobs did not have sesame seeds on them.  This time.

Durwood had the Devil Roll (Shrimp Tempura, Crab, Avocado topped with Eel and Eel sauce).  He called it “Everything I love about sushi in one roll!” So well done.  He also had the Sesame Chicken Plate, which he called simple with good, tangy flavor.  He’s happy to see things like this available on the menu.  Harry had a Kirin Ichiban beer to drink along with Sunomono Salad, which he said was lacking in it’s customary wakame seaweed but was otherwise good.   Harry also had the Albacore Sashimi, which he said was “like buttah”.

I ordered Shrimp Tempura (*my* go-to sushi place appetizer).  God bless the Japanese and their penchant for lightly battering and frying anything at all.  There’s not much variant in how to prepare shrimp tempura but most of the menu at Little Tokyo is pretty standard fare.  It did the job it was meant to do.  Not the greatest I’ve had but certainly not bad either.  Competently made.

Little Tokyo 2

Like a warm hug from an old friend, so is the sight of fried seafood on a doily for me.

Up next was a spicy crab and tuna roll which tasted very fresh and was a really decent size for what I ordered.  I quite enjoyed it.

Little Tokyo 3

Random fact about me: I NEVER eat the end piece of sushi first or last. Sorry for the twitching, all my readers suffering from OCD.

Finally, I had a Surimi roll, which was tasty but HUGE.  Seriously, this was a hockey puck of sushi.  perhaps the most flagrant bastardization of Japanese sushi is America’s need to supersize everything.  It’s intended as finger food and while it was tasty enough, I’m not a big fan of sushi that I can’t eat in a single bite.  I don’t like to hold conversations while I’m trying to deep throat tuna.

Enjoy your sushi loaf.

Enjoy your sushi loaf.

The overall review of Little Tokyo is satisfying but nothing Earth shattering.  The atmosphere is quiet, the place is clean and the staff was very nice.  It’s also very affordable.  It did its job for me and while I could get very much the same type of food closer to home, I wouldn’t make it a point to drive up to Little Tokyo.  But if you are located near by and looking for some decent sushi, this is your place.

Further reading: http://www.yelp.com/biz/little-tokyo-san-diego

To see all of the pictures from this restaurant, be sure to follow The Boy who ate San Diego on Instagram!

 

 

Waypoint Public (42 of 52) (CLOSED)

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A quickly rising neighborhood of San Diego is one I hold near and dear to my heart; North Park.  It can be hipsterific (even the name is ironic.  It’s South of me and it’s almost impossible to find a place to park).  Back in the day, North Park was the place to go for dive bars, hole-in-the-wall restaurants, hole-in-the-wall adult book stores and some well-stocked thrift shops.  In recent years, they’ve cleaned up their act and several hip, upscale eateries have surfaced all over the neighborhood.  I’ve covered a few on this here blog already so basically I’m running out of things to say about North Park.  Waypoint Public, the brainshild of Executive Chef Amanda Baumgarten, is one of the newest additions to the ‘hood and I was ready to see what they had to offer with my trusty companions.

Aimee-Roommate since the 90’s, BFF, allergic to hot dogs and therefore labeled a commie by many

Chris-Attorney, lifelong food snob, loves good Scotch and gay jeans

Harry-Wise guy, master of the grill, loves camping for some reason

30 beers on tap? I nominate these men as tribute.

30 beers on tap? I nominate these men as tribute.

The design of Waypoint Public is definitely bar-centric, with just a few picnic tables in the open-air space.  There’s even a cute little play area for kids (or, I would imagine, drunk adults.  Don’t quote me on that.)  The vibe is cool and while it was pretty crowded, it wasn’t so loud I couldn’t hear anything.  As I am not a beer fan, Chris, Harry and even Aimee decided to take the hit for me and ordered themselves some drinks.

Aimee ordered an Anthem Pear Cider, which she described as “very yummy”.  Having tasted it myself, I can completely get behind that assessment.  The 1st beer Chris ordered as the Haandbakk; a Flanders oud Bruin from HaandBryggeriet.  He tried to pronounce it and injured his tongue.  Not in a dissimilar way to how I injured my tongue when I tasted it.  Gross.  He, on the other hand, quite enjoyed it.  Harry had a Midnight Sun Beserker.  He said it was really tasty.  Heavy dark and nice.  It also did its job with the alcohol.

For starters, I was told by someone who’s opinions I trust on such matters to order the pretzel.  It comes out hot, fresh and covered in salt.  It’s also served with 2 different types of mustard; a sweeter one and and one with peppercorns.  The peppercorn kind was the best.  The pretzel, however, wasn’t quite the showstopper I was hoping for.  The one I had a South Paw Social Club a few months back was far superior.  It was still good, though.

Hot, fresh and terrified to see me. Same way I likes my dates!

Hot, fresh and terrified to see me. Same way I likes my dates!

For main courses, Chris ordered the Shrimp and Chorizo Arrabiata with House Made Tagliatelle and Spicy Tomato Sauce.  He was not particularly in love with this dish.  While the flavors were on point, he felt a $16 plate should come with more than just the 3 shrimp he found on his plate.  I thought it had a really good flavor and I’m a sucker for fresh pasta.   Aimee had the Mussels with Pork Belly with Kale, Tomato Sherry Broth & Grilled Bread.  She says this dish was AMAZING.  Perfectly steamed mussels with broth and bread delicious enough to make a return visit.  She also quite enjoyed the service (which I have to say was excellent).  Our server saw she had eaten most of her bread and offered to bring her more.  Nice touch.

Harry ordered the cassoulet, a classic french dish with duck, pork skin, haricots verts and beans.   He deemed it nothing short of incredible.  A flawless blend of simple favors that came together perfectly.  Chris was also raving about it.  He said it Cassoulet encompasses everything there is to love about French food when done right and Waypoint Public did it right.  I ordered the Crab Pot Pie with red potatoes, assorted veg  and crispy pork skins baked inside a flaky crust.  It was rich, warm and tasty but the number one flavor note I came away with from the dish was salty.  It was very salty but still enjoyable.

Added charm: None of the plates match.

Added charm: None of the plates match.

We also enjoyed some side dishes with our meals.  Chris and Harry had the sauteed baby broccoli, which they said was decent enough but nothing Earth shattering.  I ordered a side of Jalapeno Mac & Cheese, which was rich, tasty and delightfully zesty with a nice heat to it but nothing compared to Aimee’s side order, which I have to take a moment here to focus on because it one of my favorite parts of this meal:  The Fries.  Sounds strange, I know but i took one of Aimee’s.  Then another.  Then another.  I then stopped our server to order a plate of my own.

You guys, these are THE BEST FRIES IN SAN DIEGO.  I have lived and eaten here for more than 16 years and I totally stand by that statement.  I mentioned in my review of Alchemy how particular I am with my fries.  I love thick cut steak fries but these were on another level.  Thick cut, well seasoned and floppy.  Yeah, I said floppy.  I love floppy fries.  These were everything I love about french fries and the whole batch of them were like that.  I’m in love.

These french fries are the Prince guitar solo of food. (That means they were my favorite thing)

These french fries are the Prince guitar solo of food. (That means they were my favorite thing)

In closing, our experience at Waypoint Public was a really good one, particularly for our beer lovers in the group.  Chris mentioned that the beer list alone was reason enough to return.  I would happily accompany him just for those fries.  Maybe some Cassoulet too but fries.  Seriously, I dream about them.

Further reading: http://www.waypointpublic.com/

To see all of the pictures from this dinner, be sure to follow The Boy who ate San Diego on Instagram!

 

Nine Ten (41 of 52)

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La Jolla, California (the neighborhood I work in) is known for being a lavish beach side community where the wealthiest of San Diegans enjoy fine dining, art museums and occasionally perform charitable acts of handing a dollar to any lost middle class folks they see wandering the sidewalks.  The restaurants are known for being equally swanky and unapproachable but this week’s restaurant, Nine Ten, is here to dispell that image.  Joining me for this upscale dining romp are the following friends:

Aimee-Roommate since the 90’s, BFF, allergic to hot dogs and therefore labeled a commie by many

Amy-Rocky Horror performer, Michigan football loyalist, a common floozy

Chris-Attorney, lifelong food snob, loves good Scotch and gay jeans

Harry-Wise guy, master of the grill, loves camping for some reason

Samantha-My co-star in “Five Course Love”, Aubrey Award winner, A sometimes Amish Jew

Party of 6, here at 7 to see if Nine Ten is the one.

Party of 6, here at 7 to see if Nine Ten is the one.

We found the atmosphere at Nine Ten to be surprisingly chill and welcoming.  They couldn’t seat our party in the regular dining room so they instead gave us our own back patio table, complete with crisp night air, the gentle sound of the ocean and a busser that looked like 80’s TV icon, my boyhood Daddy fantasty and Father of hot-but-douchey pop misogynists, Alan Thicke.  Throw in a delightful singing server named Amy and it made for one magical evening.

For pre-dinner cocktails, Chris ordered the “Ryes an Fall” (Rye whiskey, cognac, Peche de Vigne & Lemon), which he seemed to enjoy.  Harry had a Saserac, which he said was tasty.  He and I also both had the “Endless Summer” (Sailor Jerry, Apricot Brandy, Ginger Beer & lemon) It’s like adult lemonade with alcohol.  Anything that takes my childhood and mixes it with copious amounts of liquor that doesn’t involve an abusive home life, I’m all for!  Samantha got a traditional martini with blue cheese stuffed olives.  She was a huge fan of this drink and particularly the blue cheese.

For our appetizers, Aimee had the house version of Chicken & Dumplings.  She said it was delicious with a great both.   Chris got the Shrimp Toast at the bar, which he said was not amazing but was a beautiful presentation.  He also had the House Cured Smoked Salmon (cucumber, apple, baby potatoes, fennel, radish, rye bread, charred dill oil & whey crème fraiche vinaigrette) which he called a “great starter”.  Harry had the Lamb Tartare (black garlic, orange chili oil, pickled onion, cured egg yolk & masa cracker).  He really enjoyed the pine nut flavors and delightfully delayed kick on the finish.

Samantha got the Jonah Crab Salad (pickled avocado, lobster knuckle, blood oranges, pickled ramps bulbs, herbs, buttermilk dressing and hot sauce powder) She had no idea there was even such a things a lobster knuckles but said the Buttermilk dressing was SO good with the fresh crab meat.  Amy had the Heirloom Tomato Salad (Chino farms tomatoes, Spring onions, Shaved Turnips, Watermelon Radish, Smoked Feta, Mustard Frill, Purple Cress, African Basil Vinegar & Vadouvan Oil).  She loved the amount of flavor in such a simple salad.   I had the Maine Lobster & Hiutlacoche Agnolotti (Chino Farms corn, lobster mushrooms, herbs).  It was pretty damned fantastic.  As one always ready to rub my native-New Englander bragging rights in anyone’s face, the lobster was on point.  Fresh, tender, delicately sweet.  The Corn and pasta were amazing together.  Really solid opener.  Would go back for this alone.

Nine ten 1

I don’t know which cave man got the idea to crack open a giant sea bug one day and eat it’s innards but, boy am I ever glad they did.

For our main courses, Aimee ordered the Pumpkin Seed Crusted Lamb Loin (torpedo onions, roasted acorn squash, kale, pomegranate seeds, lamb pancetta, squash puree & lamb pomegranate jus).  She called this the best lamb dish she’s had in this entire challenge.  She said it was perfectly executed with an outstanding sauce.  Amy had the Chino Farms Butternut Squash rice Grits (roasted mushrooms, acorn squash, pickled squash, pumpkin seed crumble, brussel sprouts & herbs)  She called them amazing with great flavors and textures.  She appreciated the fact that the vegetarian dishes offered were all well thought out and not just “Non-meat stuff”.

The head chef at Nine Ten, Jason Knibb, was offering something special the night we were there.  He hails from Montego Bay, Jamaica and cut up a whole goat (not, like, at our table.  My God.  Could you imagine?)  Harry felt a need to jump on this opportunity, for science.  It was his first time having goat and he really liked it.  It included a mushroom cream which he thought was divine.  I don’t have any more details about the dish because it’s not on the menu but I did want to include it because it speaks to the skill set of a very talented chef.

Chris had the Hay Smoked Duck (Not be confused with Hey!  Smoked Duck!) with roasted asian pears, anson mills farro, huckleberries, duck egg sabayon, puffed wild rice & duck jus.  He said it could actually be the best duck he’s ever had.  As Chris taught me “If pigs could fly, they’d taste like duck”.  It’s a nice metaphor best taken at face value because the mechanics of such an image are really upsetting.  Samantha and I both ordered the Braised Prime Beef Short Rib (roasted beets, baby artichokes, brussels sprouts, savoy cabbage puree, fried brussells sprout leaves & horseradish beet vinaigrette).  Samantha thought they were amazing.  Fork tender with a great sauce.  She also enjoyed the crispyness of the brussells sprouts.  As for me, I thought they were another hit at what had so far been a pretty impressive meal.  Rich, tender and full of flavor.  Chef Jason for sure knows how to cook some meat.  Delicious!

Nine Ten 2

I tried to do some tie-in joke with the In Living Color sketch about that Jamaican family who each had a dozen jobs but every single version had me coming off as a huge racist, so instead I offer you this: Hey! Meat! Tasty!

With such a great meal so far, there was no way we were skipping dessert.  Aimee had the Maple & Apple Butter Cream Puff (white cheddar crumb, local apples, maple & hay ice cream).  She loved its beautiful texture and thought the cheese crumb was great.  She mentioned that the ice cream wasn’t really even necessary for this dessert, one of the best composed we’ve tasted.  Chris ordered the Vanilla Flan Tart (Caramelized Hazelnut, poached pear & Hazelnut whipped cream).  I got the 1/2 Baked Chocolate Cake (with caramel sauce and Vanilla ice Cream) It was sweet, ooey, gooey, warm and chocolatey.  The smartest aspect of this dish is that it’s served in a cup about the size of a coffee cup: the perfect amount.  A great, decadent cap off to a great meal.

Nine Ten 3

Half baked chocolate cake. Had I known doing a half assed job at something could lead to such amazing results, I would’ve exerted far less effort in my life.

So in closing, we really had a great night.  Nine Ten offers upscale fine dining tastes with a friendly attitude.  This place is certainly on the more high-end price wise but it wasn’t so expensive that you would only eat there once a year.  Everyone at the table would go back (that includes the most important opinion: mine!)

Further reading: http://www.nine-ten.com/

To see all of the pictures from this meal be sure to follow The Boy who ate San Diego on Instagram!

West Coast Tavern (40 of 52)

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A great thing about setting myself on this challenge (and there have been many) has been discovering places that I not only have never eaten at before but many that I would have otherwise never even heard of because they’re so hidden.  Such is the case with this week’s restaurant.  Located in the trendy area of North Park is the Birch North Park Theatre.  It’s a cool place that I’ve been lucky enough to sing on the stage of.  I love it because it looks like the Muppet Show Theatre.  In the lobby of the birch theatre is a bar and restaurant: West Coast Tavern; this week’s restaurant.  Joining me for a fun night of food and drink were the following:

Amy B-Vegetarian Belle, Author, Event Planner

Amy J-Rocky Horror performer, Michigan football loyalist, a common floozy

Brad-Rocky Horror performer, Fluent in most nerdisms, Still thinks Miley Cyrus is sexy

Chris-Attorney, lifelong food snob, loves good Scotch and gay jeans

Durwood-Best friend, comedian, San Diego’s go-to young black non-singing actor

Elisa-Singer, my Hebrew homegirl, Intense stare

Harry-Wise guy, master of the grill, loves camping for some reason

Ky-Rocky Horror performer, Disneyland enthusiast, Roommate of Brad

Tomy-Fashionista, Rocky Horror performer, an original Kathryn

Representin' for the west coast. Only in Cali where we riot not rally.

Representin’ for the west coast. Only in Cali where we riot not rally.

First thing you should know about West Coast Tavern:  It’s LOUD.  It was pretty packed but the music and atmosphere is way more bar/night club than restaurant.  I felt like my Grandmother making everyone repeat everything they said because they weren’t nose to nose with me.  A positive note to counter would be the staff.  They were terrific.  They were able to get us in (they don’t take reservations) with minimal hassle and the wait staff were very knowledgeable about food and drink…  and speaking of drinks…

Tomy ordered the Mommy Dearest (Skyy Vodka, Basil, Strawberries and Lime).  He deemed it Alright but nothing special, having ordered it mostly for the name because gay.  Amy J got the Smoke and Honey (A bourbon concoction of some sort).  She gave the drink a “10” and loved that our server asked if she was familiar with the type of drink she was ordering.  Harry had the Cucumber Basil Gimlet (Hendrick’s Gin, Cucumber, Basil, Lime & Simple Syrup).  He found it nice, refreshing and strong.  For his 2nd drink, Harry ordered the Old Fashioned with Bulliet Rye, as did Amy B and Chris (Templeton Rye for him).  It was a winner for Harry and Chris seemed pleased with it but for Amy, she felt it was decent but not the best available in North Park.  Brad ordered a Mezcal Mule (Xicaru Mezcal, Lime, Ginger Beer & Bitters) He felt it needed more smokiness but thought it was a great cocktail.   Ky had a Strawberry Margarita.  She felt it was alright but very effective.  Apparently this place has a heavy pour.  We are okay with this.

For appetizers, Durwood ordered the Hot Wings.  He called them pretty standard but good.  Harry got the Oysters on the half Shell, which he said were exactly what he wanted.  Brad had the Marrow (Bone marrow with grilled Scallions, Ranch, Pickled Radish, fried Onions and a warm baguette).  The dish reminded him of Escargot in texture and flavor, which he enjoyed.  Brad likened it to eating “Beef butter”.  Gross.  Amy J ordered the grilled asparagus, which was well done if unremarkable.  Ky and I both ordered the bowl of Chipotle Bacon Fondue with bread and veggies.  Ky found it a bit greasy but I really enjoyed it.  Hearty, salty and thick.  The consistency of it was much closer to pub cheese than fondue but it was super tasty.

Now, how to recreate this dish at home in a bacon bowl...?

Now, how to recreate this dish at home in a bacon bowl…?

For main courses, Ky and Tomy both ordered the Spinach and Chicken Mac n’ Cheese (with Goat Cheese, Bacon and Bread Crumbs) .  They both mostly enjoyed it but Tomy did mention the cheese used was a bit stank and bitter, like many of my ex’s.  Ky said it was good and enjoyed the sharpness of the cheese.  Tomy also advised not getting the version offered without chicken as the protein seemed to anchor the dish flavor-wise.  Brad got the Pork Belly & Waffles (with Bourbon infused Maple Syrup, Garlic Butter & Bacon).  He said it was really good, particularly the syrup, which was not too sweet.  The pork was well cooked and the waffle combined sweet and savory flavors.  He deemed the bacon unnecessary.  Amy B & Elisa both had Veggie Sliders (Veggie patties with chipotle Aioli, Tomato & Arugula).  Amy said they were good.  Elisa found the patties to be thick, moist and crispy with a really enjoyable Aoili.

Durwood also ordered the Chicken and Spinach Mac n’ Cheese.  He enjoyed it but the spinach seemed more like a garnish than an ingredient to him.  Amy J ordered the Al Fresco Veggie Flatbread (with White Bean Hummus, grilled red Onions, Tomatoes,  Feta Cheese & Basil).  She found this to be really uninteresting, as though the item were added to the menu as nothing more than an afterthought.  Both of our Amys found West Coast Tavern’s menu  to be surprisingly veggie un-friendly.  Harry got the same Marrow (appetizer that Brad ordered) for his entree and he loved it for some reason.  I had the Angus Beef Sliders (with Cheddar Cheese, caramelized Onions, Garlic Aioli, Lettuce and  Tomato).  As Elisa mentioned with her sliders, these were actually way more food than they looked.  They were well cooked and very flavorful.  The accompanying fries were also great with the dipping sauces available (the best being a very good garlic aioli).

Any opportunity to double-fist burgers and I'm there.

Any opportunity to double-fist burgers and I’m there.

The dessert menu was small but we decided to sample the Pistachio Bread Pudding with Vanilla Ice Cream and Caramel.  This was a smash hit at the table, with everyone pretty much raving about it.  I myself am not a huge fan of pistachio but even I have to say, this was really tasty.  Warm, melty, nutty and rich.  Great dessert.

Melty, gooey, moist and a slew of other filthy-not-filthy adjectives can be used to describe this dish.

Melty, gooey, moist and a slew of other filthy-not-filthy adjectives can be used to describe this dish.

Overall the experience of West Coast Tavern was a mixed one.  The drinks were well received and most of us enjoyed the food.  I had a really great dinner but the atmosphere was totally not conducive to dining.  Others found it to be forgettable.  With so many new places springing up all over North Park, this place has some serious stepping up to do to keep up with the serious competition.  As for me, I would love to eat there again but I would make a point to not do it on a busy Friday night.  But for lunch or even brunch (which they do offer), I would happily pop in again.

Further reading: http://westcoasttavern.com/

To see all of the pictures from this meal be sure to follow theboywhoatesandiego on Instagram!

 

Mona Lisa (39 of 52)

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I grew up in an Italian American household.  That sounds so pretentious.  Like my parents were immigrants who looked like extras from a movie about the cold war (For the record, they aren’t).  Rhode Island was called “Little Italy” by many due to it’s large Italian population and surplus of gold chains and hair gel.  A number of family restaurants have been there for generations and my favorite one growing up was Marcello’s in Cranston, Rhode Island.  Old world charm, amazing classic style Italian food and best of all, on a busy Friday night, my family could show up unannounced and be instantly led past a line full of people waiting to our table.  How cool is that?!  Years later, Marcello’s has long since closed and the only clout I have is when the cashier at McDonald’s smiles at me and says “See ya tomorrow, Andy!” but I digress.  I have great memories of a time long since gone.

or is it?

Mona Lisa, located in a place actually called  Little Italy, is an old school Italian restaurant.  When I say “old school”, I mean dark 70’s wood paneling, romantic paintings on the walls and opera playing on the loud speakers.  At least 4 more square inches of chest hair sprung up on me the moment I crossed the threshold.  While dinner at a family-style Italian restaurant back in the day meant I ate with my family, today I embark on this culinary journey with the chosen family:

Aimee-Roommate since the 90’s, BFF, allergic to hot dogs and therefore labeled a commie by many

Amy B-Vegetarian Belle, Author, Event Planner

Durwood-Best friend, comedian, San Diego’s go-to young black non-singing actor

Dylan-The newest addition, the 2014 model.  A Kate & Joe production.

Jason-Rocky Horror performer, 75th level-coffee snob, token minority

Joe “Bish”-Computer wunderkind, Husband of Kate, a tall drink of water

Kate-Costume designer, Comedian, Once starred in a church rap video

Ky-Rocky Horror performer, Disneyland enthusiast, Roommate of Brad

Sebastian-The coolest kid in Kindergarten.  A Kate & Joe production.

Tomy-Fashionista, Rocky Horror performer, an original Kathryn

Dine with us. We'll figure out together what, precisely, is a-matta-you.

Dine with us. We’ll figure out together what, precisely, is a-matta-you.

I really can’t talk about Mona Lisa without talking about the deli right next to it, owned by the same folks.  My boss was very enthusiastic about me hitting this up and after one quick walk through, it was easy to see why.  The place is full of all sorts of cool stuff.  Amy was a particular fan of the fact that they sold drums of cannoli cream.  I was shocked to discover a type of pasta I’ve never seen outside of Rhode Island is sold there.  It reminded me of delis in New York. which I love.  I also hear they make some killer sandwiches there so a trip back for lunch may need to be a thing.

We started off with beverages.  I had a real Italian vanilla cream soda with Torani syrup and actual cream.  It was a different texture but super good and sweet.  When they brought my house salad before dinner was when I knew this place was legit.  Oil and vinegar-based dressing.  This place tastes like home.  Very nostalgic.  At this point I was very excited to see how our main courses would fare.

I know it looks like used dish water with extra foam whip but trust me, it's damn delicious.

I know it looks like used dish water with extra foam whip but trust me, it’s damn delicious.

Aimee had the Gnocchi alla Vodka with meatballs.  Her dish was preceeded by a minestrone soup that she described as “meh” and mentioned that the broccoli in the soup looked and tasted a bit tortured.  The Gnocchi, on the other hand, was a home run for Aimee.  She said it was perfect, light and pillow-y dumplings with a really nice sauce.  The meatball she ordered with it was very flavorful.  Tomy ordered the Chicken Parmgiana with Canadian bacon and minestrone.  He, like Aimee, was not in love with the minestrone and said it needed some pasta in it.  He found is his main dish to be good but not spectacular.  He also made mention of the food being ridiculously large (it’s true, these plates are sized for sharing).  He did however love the cheesy garlic bread that he and Ky shared.

Amy got the Lasagna Marinara with a bowl of minestrone.  She felt the minestrone was solid with good spice.  She found the lasagna to be very good but nothing mind blowing.  She enjoyed the use of quality cheese and sauce in the lasagna.  The whole thing gave her a very comfort-food style vibe and reminded her of similar places she visited as a kid, much like I did.   Durwood ordered the Pesto alla Genovese with chicken with a Caesar salad.  He said his salad was really good; lightly tossed in just the right amount of dressing with quality cheese.  He gave another solid nod to the garlic bread.  While Durwood prefers a more traditional pesto, he really enjoyed his pasta.

Kate got the Chicken Marsala.   She found it to be good but nothing spectacular with a really good portion size.  Her most specific criticism was for the lack of flavor from the onions, which traditionally provide a sweet note.  She suspects they may not have been reduced enough.  Joe and Sebastian shared the Pepperoni Pizza.  This was a surprising hit.  As pizza is usually served as an after thought at restaurants that don’t specialize in it, this pizza was delicious, according to Joe.  He said it was so flavorful, it almost didn’t need sauce.  Ky had the cheese ravioli with meatballs.  She really enjoyed it, praising it’s great spices, cheeses and sauce.  Having tried it, I can honestly say it was my favorite thing at the table.  Super delicious.

Jason ordered the Lingiune with Clam Sauce.  He loved it, saying the dish was beautifully made and had a generous number of clams.  Furthermore, he loved the fact that the clams weren’t sandy, which I took to mean they must instead be Danny.  I had the Chicken Parmigiana.  One thing I found to be a bit odd was the accompanying linguine was served on a separate plate.  I’m used to the meat being served on top (Pause for gay joke).  The cut of chicken was good.  Great breading and moist chicken with a solid marinara sauce.  As Tomy had mentioned, it was huge but very satisfying and made for a great lunch at work the next day.  As Amy and Kate suggested, this was straight up Italian comfort food done well.

Vegetables, you've never been more unnecessary.

Vegetables, you’ve never been more unnecessary.

With the sheer mass of the food, it was tough to think about dessert but we are dedicated to sitting in true judgement about this place, so we soldier on.  Aimee ordered the Lemon Sorbet.   She loved it, calling the sorbet refreshing, light and zesty.  Plus points for presentation as it was served in a hollowed out lemon.  Amy got the Cannoli, which she dubbed really solid.   Durwood had the Tiramisu.   To say he loved it would be an understatement.  He called it fresh, light, creamy.  Basically a mouth orgasm.  It had him dancing in his seat.  Jason echoed that sentiment, calling it the best Tiramisu he’s ever had.

Sebastian and I ordered the Spumoni Ice Cream.  This is a dessert I hold near and dear to my heart.  When I was little, Marcello’s had a spumoni ice cream dish that I loved.  Spumoni is a molded ice cream dish (think Neapolitan) with fruit and nuts.  They would top it off for me with Creme de menthe.  I’m not sure why they would serve a 6 year old alcohol but my parents sure appreciated how quiet the ride home from the restaurant was.  I was disappointed that Mona Lisa did not have Creme de menthe but they offered Kahlua and it wasn’t the same but did call to mind the flavors of the dish as I remember it, which I loved.  Sebastian had his sans Kahlua and really loved the pistachio layer of the ice cream.

The Kahlua made it melty. Come to think about it, it also made me a little melty.

The Kahlua made it melty. Come to think about it, it also made me a little melty.

In closing, while some of the food was hit or miss for the group, we overall really enjoyed the experience of dining here.  Most of us plan on coming back and Durwood said it would be a great spot for a date.  The staff was friendly and very helpful.  It was nice family meal, which is really what a good Italian restaurant is for.

Further reading: http://www.monalisalittleitaly.com/restaurant.php

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