| rev:text
| - There are murmurings of inner house "readjustments" about to take place at Rancho Pinot, but if the end result of whatever is about to happen manages to maintain itself through the process, I think I've found a new favorite spot in the valley.
I have to admit, the name had no draw for me...Rancho Pinot, I imagined a cowboy mascot sucking wine from the bottle, with gaudy faux western decor. But what I found was not quite as such. Rancho Pinot hidden in the recessed back end of the borgata strip mall was hands down a great experience. The decor was in fact a little old school with sporadically placed cow skulls on the walls and the occasional lasso or bit and harness, as is obligatory with any location that contains the name Rancho in it, but as my lady (as picky as she is) exclaimed, it was very tastefully done, and I'd have to agree...it was oddly, an almost artistically appointed room...yes, they had a stuffed jackalope...but no, I'm not going to retract what I've said...it may not be hip decor, or stylish...but it is certainly tasteful.
The service was top notch professional by what seemed to be mostly career servers, reserved enough to be elegant, casual enough to be fun... and you know your dealing with a rare breed, when you ask for recommendations and they don't in fact recommend the most expensive thing on the menu.
I started with the house cured duck prociutto, which was to die for, and finished off with the Nonni's Sunday Chicken...something of a house specialty as I understand it, passed down through the family, into the hands of Chef Chrissa (sp?) for your dining pleasure....and hot damn was it delicious, succulent, and memorable. The menu itself was contemporary, fresh, and locally realized...which I love...not at all the refried bean southwestern fair I half feared walking into. Everything we had was, in short, inspired.
Their wine list though not for those on a budget, is well appointed and not surprisingly ripe with some mighty fine Pinots.
All restaurants want to be the place that receives the terrific review from the towns hot critics...I couldn't help but think that Rancho Pinot might be one of the places they go when they AREN'T working, as I noticed one of them sitting at the bar enjoying herself with friends....and in my book that's worth ten times more than any great one time review.
*Jackalope = Mythical North American "Critter". A Jack rabbit with the antlers of a deer or antelope. Strange.
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