THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Red Clay

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Red Clay Restaurant Review:

Red Clay has brought upscale and somewhat chic dining to the Atrium, the upscale, chic mall in Chestnut Hill. Owing to its lower level, shopping-mall location, the look is casual, but sort of sophisticated. The owners, Michaela Larson, Karen Densmore and Jody Adams, also own Rialto and this latest venture with chef Ruth Anne Adams (no relation to Jody) in charge is meant to be less structured and somewhat kid-friendly. The décor is lively and very colorful and the room is bigger than it looks as it’s deeply recessed. If you’re deep inside, you can see the big ovens and dishes being prepared. We certainly prefer that to being seated on the periphery where shoppers and strollers provide the view. Many of the dishes are baked in clay pots, hence the name. (About half of the entrées are red clay pot creations.) And what you get is a peasant-inspired one-dish meal containing protein, some starch and a few vegetables. There are plenty of appetizers including superb, thin-crust wood-grilled pizzas and big salads. Desserts such as a caramel-nut tart in a chocolate crust are quite good and are large enough to be shared. You can supplement all that with a house cocktail, the Simply Red, a blend of Absolut Citron, Triple Sec and orange juice and a good list of beers and serviceable wines including some nice by-the-glass offerings. With its big menu, good drinks, excellent pizzas, kid’s menu, a few pasta dishes and interesting clay pot dishes, this is what every upscale mall restaurant should aspire to be.