THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Trattoria Italienne

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Trattoria Italienne Restaurant Review:

About the restaurant & food: Sometimes a restaurant can’t quite make up its mind. Is it Italian or perhaps French? Happily, at Trattoria Italienne, guests don’t have to be completely “black and white” in their dining choices. Despite its name, the place is really a hybrid, offering delicious options that have their roots in several Mediterranean countries. In categories ranging from small to large, you can create a medley of dishes that are meant to be shared with your fellow diners. A must-order is the handmade Provençal bread called fougasse, an addictive blend of dough, slow-roasted tomatoes and taggiasca olives, served fancifully hanging from a hook. Starters like foie gras with Black Mission fig, port and Sarawak pepper; and polpo alla plancha sizzling with Spanish octopus are silky and savory. A choice of five pastas makes a fine second course, the precursor to one of the large family-style mains. For the hungriest among you, the 28-day dry-aged grilled côte de boeuf is 36 ounces of carnivore bliss. Non-meat eaters will be happy as well with dishes such as polenta with funghi trifolati or grilled ocean trout.

Likes: Creating a menu from varied and deftly prepared international plates.
Dislikes: None.

About the desserts & drinks: Desserts include a moist olive oil cake made with Black Splendor plum and sour cream sorbet, and gelati and sorbetti that you can top with crumbles and drizzles like dulce de leche or flaxseed streusel. A perfect accompaniment, a creative digestivo cart offers tasting portions of schnapps and a number of Italian dessert wines. Beer, wine and cocktails also trace a route through Europe with many selections.

About the décor: The two-room restaurant benefits from its lighting and attractive décor, allowing for a private dining experience despite its spaciousness.