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| - Went to Chinato for a casual workday lunch. Walked-in and got a table a little bit before noon, which was a plus. I liked the design of the restaurant--a simple and clean layout that feels intimate without being cramped.
The Tomato and Bread Soup was very good, with just the right amount of bread in it to give it the right body and texture. For a lunch entree I had the Col Buco with Slow Roasted Pork Shoulder, Tomato, and White Wine. I was a little less enthused with this dish. The pork shoulder, while of good quality, did not seem to me to make the dish any greater than the sum of its parts. Still, not to be too harsh, the dish was a grade higher than the Pesto Omar I had at La Strada across the street.
I noticed only two somewhat-minor faults. First, the bread--which is brought around continuously from a server carrying a basket of bread--was below expectations. Second, when I asked the server what was the "signature dish" of the restaurant, he just fumbled and responded with what he personally liked from the menu.
Overall, however, Chinato was an enjoyable experience and a welcome addition to the growing East Fourth selection of restaurants.
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