Can I just say that when I scored this reservation I celebrated like I had won something consequential? It was a huge accomplishment for me. You may clap. [The pictures in this post are from my Tik Tok because I deleted the originals (rip)!]
When we got to the restaurant it became clear why it’s so hard to get a reservation. Yes, it’s good food; yes, it’s famous; it is also TINY. So tiny that we didn’t even get to eat inside. We were sitting in the dining shed outside the restaurant—circa Beefbar, like am I being slighted?—which was a shock considering I did not choose outdoor dining when I made the reservation and I didn’t even know that was an option. They decorated the shed (perhaps this is not the right noun to use) very nicely though, so it was still a nice dining experience! I did get to go inside, of course, because I went to the restroom so I can confirm it’s cute inside, the bathrooms are nicely decorated with their own monogrammed paper towels, and probably less than 20 tables altogether. Also, they book reservations one month in advance so just know you gotta wait!
The service? Spectacular. The waiters are decked out in like tuxes or something. I don’t truly know the difference between a man’s suit, tuxedo, etc. so I can’t say for sure but they looked dapper.
Also, quick note, the menu was enormous. Larger than multiple heads. I found that very amusing.
Complementary: They brought us along a smorgasbord—yes—of treats to start the meal!! Hospitality. TAKE NOTES. We literally had no space at the table for our actual orders. The spread included an assortment of bread, a block of parmesan cheese, salami, and pickled vegetables. The bread with the tomato sauce on it was the winner, along with the cauliflower. It was at this point that we also realized the plates and flatware they use here is so cute. It seems kind of like what you would find at your grandparents’ house—vintage-style plates—but it totally went with the theme and we loved them.
Drinks: I got a paloma and my friend got a negroni. Both were really good! The paloma was made with mezcal and had a full pepper in it so it was a little spicy which I loved. The negroni was served with the classic ~artisan ice cube~ and was also tasty!
Appetizers: We ordered the Caesar alla ZZ which is a whopping $32. Yikes!! It came with fresh anchovies people. Fresh! They plucked them right out of the sea and put them right on the plate I’m convinced. And I am one of the rare anchovy-lovers so I thoroughly enjoyed this. The salad was also served with huge croutons which were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. This was a pleasant surprise because I hate when croutons are so rock solid that they crumble as you bite into them like a Nature Valley bar. The salad had good flavor and it was a decent size. If you can stomach the $32, go for it.
Entrées: Everyone knows—and if you don’t, let me tell you—that the most popular pasta on the menu is the Spicy Rigatoni Vodka. I was skeptical of this because it did not look like all that in the photos I had seen. But I stand corrected. This was my absolute favorite dish I had here and if I went back I would just get this as my entrée. We ordered the Spicy Rigatoni Vodka, Tortellini al Ragu, and Linguini Vongole. One thing about me is that my favorite dish of all time is linguine and clams. When it is on the menu, it’s on sight. So, I had to try that, my friend wanted to try the tortellini, and we shared the Spicy Rigatoni Vodka. We both agreed the rigatoni was the spotlight. I thought that the Linguine Vongole was a tad lacking in flavor. It was missing that salty taste from the clams, while I could taste the garlic (a good thing), it was missing more depth of flavor. Unfortunate! The tortellini were good, but again, not the star.
Dessert: We weren’t sure if there would be dessert since there was no real dessert menu, but our waiter graced us with the desserts by reading them to us from memory. We went with the Nutella Tiramisu Cake for dessert—they only had cakes for dessert. This cake was served with a lady finger on top which was a nice little touch. The cake was delicious! All the flavors went so well together and it was perfectly sweet.
Overall, we had a great dining experience. All of the food was good, the service was great, and I think that it was worth the price. At the very least, I would go back. The must order is the Spicy Rigatoni Vodka! I shouldn’t doubt the hype.
Enjoyed reading your food notes. Sounds so good I must try this restaurant when we come to visit.