THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Julia

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Julia Restaurant Review:

There are no small plates to share at this bustling spot that includes a huge u-shaped bar, numerous cocktail tables and an intimate dining room appointed with oddly matched weathered Roman columns topped with tropical palm fronds, white washed walls and cherub light fixtures. Here, even though chef Julia McClaskey has moved on, the American menu focuses on hearty meats and juicy fish without forgetting the bounty of in-season fruits and vegetables. The accommodating staff will happily recite specials or omissions from the appealing menu, but don't miss the signature appetizer of skewered chicken livers wrapped in bacon and grilled to perfection and perched atop a salad of bitter greens and fresh cherries. Another salad of bitter greens spotted with tiny tomatoes, crumbled cheese and toasted nuts gets a kick from a warm vinaigrette. Entrées are substantial. Spit roasted leg of lamb comes bursting with juices atop a bed of fresh cannellini beans while a rib-eye steak matched with earthy mushrooms is topped with equally earthy bone marrow butter. Beautiful composition helps to elevate dishes that rely mostly on the intense heat of a wood burning oven and simple pan juices fortified by wine and reduction. A dense flourless chocolate cake or airy profiteroles with coffee ice cream and chocolate sauce stand up to the hearty classics.