Spiaggia

05/26/2008 Posted by enjoy2max

I took out of town friends intending the evening to be special. The waiter was generous in his suggestions, helpful in choosing among the wines that caught my interest. We ate 3 course from the a la carte menu. You're free to mix: some can eat a la carte while others choose the fixed price menu and they'll match courses for you. The reviews here of the truffle gnocchi are uniformly raves. Our waiter's modest opinion: best pasta in the universe. It was fantastic. All pastas can be served as main courses, but this one is too rich for that. Be prepared for smaller portions than usual. The shrimp appetizer was outstanding. And yes, as others have pointed out, it is two shrimp for $15. They're perfect, though. All three of us chose the herb crusted filet as our entree. We all agreed it was the best filet we'd ever eaten. I'm mostly a vegetarian yet I found myself restraining my knife so as not to leave my guests in the dust. Perfectly pink center, crusty outside, flavorful, moist, yum. The pastry with browned butter and herbs was fantastic. The lemon vodka cream desert with a polenta cookie and chunks of Meyer lemon was divine. Just right to share. We enjoyed sharing three different desserts. Of the three, the gelato selection was my least favorite, the lemon cream above and the chocolate carmel concoction left us licking the plates. We left satisfied yet not stuffed. The waiter didn't bring our coffees till after we'd finished dessert (like they do in Europe, he informed us when we wondered if he'd forgotten). So if you like yours with dessert, ask. The 2003 Brunello di Montalcino ($155) he recommended was perfect with our filets,and he decanted it. The only service glitch:some of that wine I had been looking forward to drinking was cleared away for desert! Service was great, atmosphere was special, food was outstanding. Bill before tip was $535 for three of us.

Pros: best ever herb crusted filet mignon, extensive wine list, truffle gnocchi is divine, validated parking.

Cons: very expensive.

03/18/2008 Posted by margolis

This is an upscale, award-winning establishment meant for the sophisticated palate. If you don't mind forking over big money for a great meal, read on. The valet was efficient and very reasonable for Chicago at $14. The host was friendly. We were promptly seated, honoring our reservation. Our waiter was informed, efficient, friendly, and helpful. The other wait staff was equally as wonderful. The decor is a bit outdated, but the atmosphere is clean and upscale. We had a romantic table with a view of Michigan Ave and Lake Shore Dr. Our booth was comfortable and roomy. We chose the prix fixe menu, a DOP (Denominazione di Origine Protetta) tasting menu. Every one of the eight courses was magnificent. Yes, the portions are small, but when you eat eight of them, you leave full. If you want to stuff yourself until you're uncomfortable, this is not the place. This restaurant is geared toward gourmands, not gluttons. If you appreciate 100 year old balsamic vinegar and artisan produced ingredients, then this place is for you. The prix fixe tasting menu we enjoyed is comprised of protected designation of origin products. In other words, they are produced within the specified region using defined methods and satisfy a defined quality standard. A nice touch was the Moscato d'Asti they served with our dessert, compliments of the house, in honor of our anniversary. We also thoroughly enjoyed the complimentary bottled still water served with our meal. Our glass never got below half-full. The dolci they serve with dessert were very tasty and a highlight of our dining experience. Other highlights were the rabbit, which we substituted for the Dover sole, and the cheeses served throughout the meal from the appetizer to the cheese course. $500 for our meals, cocktails, valet parking, and tips. We feel it was priced a little high, but we will definitely return. Next time, we may trying dining a la carte. Definitely highly recommend for special occasions.

Pros: Service, Parking, Food Quality, Atmosphere

Cons: Decor Outdated, A Bit Pricey