L'Ufficio

L'Ufficio Restaurant Review:

L’Ufficio, which means “office” in Italian, was originally meant to be just that for the chef-owner of its next-door sibling, La Quercia. Chef Adam Pegg squeezed in a couple of shelves for office paraphernalia before the space morphed into a 20-seat postage stamp-size wine bar --- much to the delight of La Quercia regulars. The enoteca's wine list is exclusively Italian, except for three fine French Champagnes. A dozen wines are available by the glass and make first-rate accompaniments to antipasti, Italian cheese (Parmigiano Reggiano is often chipped from a huge wheel in full view), and charcuterie selections. The chalkboard menu lists daily starters such as speck with juniper butter, a knee-knocking double-baked Parmesan soufflé, and culatello di Zibello (a special ham from Emilia-Romagna). Mains have included a crisp rabbit shoulder, ruby trout, tagliatelle monzo and Florentine steak. A chef's three-course menu ($36 per person) is available, and may offer pork rillette and pancetta, fusiuatta all 'Amatriciana, and pork and sweetbread pie. End this feast with a selection of Italian cheeses plated with dried fruit and fresh honeycomb. Service is low key, confident and friendly.