Ardesia

Ardesia Restaurant Review:

Brightly lit and sleek, Ardesia is serious about wine---and the food that complements it. If the bottles displayed in glass cases stretching along the front wall of the bar aren't enough to convince you, then the huge blackboard dominating the side wall scribbled over with vintages on offer certainly should. The minimalist but comfortable setting invites the oenophile and the wine novice alike to sit and linger over flights, glasses and bottles paired with a menu of small plates. The house-selected charcuterie plate, which includes a mortadella, braised pork shoulder, pork fat and pistachios, is an exercise in decadence. Pair this dish with the Châteaux Greysac Bordeaux. The cheese plate offers selections ranging from stinky German limburger to Jersey blue and is an ideal sharable starter. Pair it with a dry Sancerre from the Loire Valley or an Italian Sauvignon Blanc. Heartier fare include the duck banh mi, Ardesia's take on the traditional Vietnamese sandwich, and the Cuban, with braised pork, morilla, pickled vegetable and Swiss cheese (choose an Italian Brunello to complement these items).