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Reviewed
by Flavor-Gal
on 06/25/2008. Member since June 2008
In my view the best Italian restaurant in town, Garibaldi always exceeds my expectations in everything except the eponymous biscuit department. Its use of Italian seasonal ingredients is simply inspired; green and white asparagus, tomatoes, treviso, Sicilian citrus and white Alba truffles (but once a year) are all treated simply and respectfully. For starters this time, I went for the allo zafferano - Australian spanner crab, a bizarre looking creature I had only seen once before, in Japan, with avocado, orange and saffron sauce: light, refreshing and heady with the inimitable taste of saffron. My friend went for the moscardini in umido - baby Venetian octopus stewed with tomatoes and served on garlic bruschetta -, the octopus smooth as soft cheese, and the tomatoes rich and pulpy – a real bite of Italy. My main of pan-fried duck breast was served perfectly pink and well-rested with wonderful sweet, sticky and tart counterpoints provided by the balsamic vinegar and strawberries. The menu had nine desserts on that night — all of which prompted heavy breathing just upon reading— but I went for that ever-popular classic, the fondente al cioccolato - a molten chocolate fondant - paired with that great friend of chocolate, the hazelnut: in luscious, creamy gelato form. The practiced, attentive service left nothing to be desired, and the interesting Italian wine list had some wonderful Super Tuscans. If only they had served their namesake’s biscuits, it would have been perfect.
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Garibaldi Italian Restaurant & Bar
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