Funny how everyone claims to be one of the first customers of the old store... I really was. Not customer #1, but within one month. We lived next door, so we went in all the time. The first wine dinner I ever went to anywhere was their first wine dinner.
Restaurants change. I still miss the original menu, all piadina and crescione sandwiches. I miss the new year's parties. Already long past were the days that you could just saunter in, hang out, and chat lazily with the owners. But that's good, because they were probably losing money hand over fist.
But the new restaurant is beautiful, the dishes that I've had have been excellent and new (ribs, duck breast), and old faces are still around. The building has a great story to tell, and their recycled interior, with touches like ambient wall heating, is marvelous. They're still (March 07) working out the kinks on service, which is why I don't give them 5 stars yet. I think the staff has quintupled from the old place, so give them some time to get it straight.
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