Two reviewers: ts and js
BREAD
[js]
Worth a mention: the green olive tapenade they served with the bread was very, very good.
[ts]
The dinner rolls were OK. They weren't heated. (Why is nobody warming up bread anymore?!!) One had to use MAN-HANDS force to break the rolls apart. As JS mentioned, the tapenade was good. We also asked for balsamic vinegar and olive oil for the bread.
Of course, in keeping w eatingclub tradition, I had the MOST EXPENSIVE DINNER once again. I opted to order from their a la carte menu (instead of the Dine-Out prix fixe). Reasons to follow.
Appetizer:
HEARTS OF ROMAINE SALAD. CRISP PANCETTA, GRANA PADANO, CAESAR VINAIGRETTE
[js]
The caesar vinaigrette was very lemon-y, which I liked, because of the tartness. Didn't care much for the crisp pancetta because it wasn't that crispy at all. It was more paper-like, onion-skin paperlike. The cheese, the cheese, the cheese I love. If there's anything I can complain about, it was I felt that my salad was overdressed. I liked it a little dryer and not that drenched. Score: 8.5
[ts]
I tasted this. I don't think I got to taste all the components of the dish, but I must agree that the dressing was very nice. I really liked the tartness.
SEPPIE ALLA SICILIANA $14.50
GRILLED SQUID ‘SICILIAN LIFEGUARD STYLE’ RICH TOMATO SAUCE WITH CHORIZO, CAPERS, GARLIC, RAISINS CHILLI AND YOUNG LETTUCES
[ts]
(What I actually ordered.) As you can see, just this appetizer alone was $14.50!!!
Anyway, this was pretty good. Although, when the dish was placed in front of me, it sort of smelled "fishy." But eating it was fine. I'm a fan of chorizo, so I was happy with that. The "young lettuces" were actually also very nice. The squid itself was "ok." (Although, good that it was cooked just right; not tough at all.) 7/10
Entree:
WOOD OVEN ROASTED STEELHEAD TROUT. CRUSHED POTATO, SPINACH, SAUCE VIERGE
[js]
This was an excellent dish: trout was delicate and perfectly cooked, with a little bit of crust on the bottom. The potato and spinach dressing was also good: again, with the combination of soft and crunchy (the potatos were crushed and crusty). The virgin sauce, with tomatoes and parsley, added the bright notes to the dish. Score: 9
POLLO $32.50
FREE RANGE CHICKEN, DIJON RUBBED AND BAKED UNDER CLAY BRICKS, BRAISED RAPINI, MASHED POTATO, DRAGONCELLO SAUCE
[ts]
The reason I chose items a la carte: a former Bishop's co-worker who used to work at CinCin raved about this chicken. (She was a kitchen person, fyi.) So since it came highly recommended from a "chef" or cook, I thought I should give it a try, seeing as we don't know if we would be back at CinCin... or at least, back anytime soon. When I decided to get the chicken, I was actually WORRIED that the dish may be too much, because I assumed that it was a WHOLE chicken. Why, you ask. Look at the price! Besides, what's so special about a piece of breast being baked under clay bricks that would warrant $30 (if not the size)!?
The chicken was actually quite good. (Although, it wasn't a whole chicken as I thought.) But basically it tasted like fried chicken (the skin was very crisp and tasty). Mashed potato tasted like mashed potatoes. I've never had rapini (broccoli rabe) before, so this was a nice way to try it. My God, it's a little bitter (understatement). But I believe my threshold for bitterness has increased... must be getting old. ;)
All in all, the chicken dish was good, but not spectacular. And charging $32.50 is highway robbery!
6.5/10 (considering VALUE for the price)
Dessert:
PEAR TART. VANILLA ICE CREAM, CARAMEL SAUCE
[js]
I'm a sucker for tart or any kind of pastry with fruit and ice cream, so I liked this as well. I probably would have liked the pears to be softer/more cooked and the ice cream creamier. Score: 7.5
HAZELNUT CRÈME BRULEE $12.50
SERVED WITH CHESTNUT GELATO AND HAZELNUT FINANCIER
[ts]
The dessert = $12.50!!!
(You now understand the horror that was my food bill. I also had pineapple juice too!)
This was nice. You have to make a special effort to ruin creme brulee. 7.5/10
[ts]
It *was* a nice meal, but nothing spectacular. And for the price (at least, of *my* meal), it's kind of not worth it. (The dine-out prix fixe would be "worth it.")
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