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Review content:
A night at Teatro ZinZanni's "Dinner and Dreams" was a gift given to me for my birthday. Having never heard of it before, I didn't know what to expect. All I was told was to "dress well".
When we arrived, we found an assortment of outfits, from dinner casual to vintage formal dresses, many accessorized with feather boas, plumed hats and sparkling masks. TZZ has an area in the main lobby where you can purchase accessories if you came unprepared, and we each bought a high-quality feather boa ($35). They also sold costume jewelry, men's top hats and vests, costume masks, and other miscellaneous items.
Onto the show: My friend and I entered the tent - the tent that doesn't feel like a tent but more like a regular restaurant but with a peaked ceiling - and were taken aback by the scene. The room was mostly filled already and quite crowded, arranged around a circular center stage and with a side stage with a band playing live music. Upon our seating, we found our appetizer ready and waiting for us. A mediterranean-inspired appetizer of dolmade, hummus and roasted red peppers, I was delighted with the quality of the food. Shortly after being seated, the show started. We were treated to an ecclectic, well-produced show with a wonderfully entertaining cast. A cross between Cirque de Soleil, Moulin Rouge, and a fabulous dinner, everyone from the cast to the staff serving the food was dressed in old-fashioned suits, corsets, short skirts and fishnets.
The show was captivating, drawing gasps, laughter, and wide-eyed stares from the crowd. Including the audience in the show made for a fun twist on an already fun show. The dinner courses were brought out between acts, giving you enough time between to avoid feeling "stuffed", but never allowing you enough time to feel hungry. Each new act began at the tail end of the course, but it was arranged perfectly so I didn't feel rushed to finish and I never had to wait around for something to happen.
The food was excellent; beside the aforementioned appetizer, we were treated to a cold cucumber soup with prawns and tzadziki and an egyptian inspired salad before the main course. I chose the pomegranate-marinated beef with a delicious, light, creamy yogurt sauce served with fruited barley and lightly steamed green beans. For dessert, we were brought "Passionfruit Pyramids", a passionfruit mousse atop a crust of crushed almonds, served in the shape of a pyramid. The food was delicious and satisfying and the service was excellent.
My first drink of choice was the ever-popular cosmopolitan. I was disappointed in the drink as it contained much more fruit juice than the cosmos I enjoy, but my next drink was an MacIntosh Martini that was just the right balance of high-quality vodka and sweet Apple Pucker.
Overall, Teatro ZinZanni was a combination of great entertainment and delicious food. My only complaint was how crowded the room felt when everyone was seated. It was difficult to move without being uncomfortably close to another guest. The cost of the food and drinks, while on the expensive side, was worth every penny as we left full from a delectable dinner and still excited from a sensational show.
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