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| - We ventured out to Highland Park to try E2, and I was so excited to try this place! Previous visitors questioned the staff, but the hostess and waiters we encountered were absolutely lovely- no attitude there! E2 doesn't take reservations, but on a Friday night at 730, we only waited for 30 minutes before being seated. We were able to crack open the bottle of wine we brought at the downstairs "bar" while we waited, so the 30 minutes certainly went by quickly. We started with the grilled proscuitto, stuffed with mozzarella and garnished with a fresh tomato sauce and parsley. Although I loved the crispy smokey flavor, there wasn't nearly enough tomato sauce (for my taste) to cut the saltiness (-1). The parsley garnish was a fresh and unexpected addition to these very traditional Italian flavors (+1), but not enough to save the dish for me. We then moved on to the campanelle (with corn and pancetta) and one of the evening's specials, the gemelli (with fresh greens, pancetta, and sausage). Both pasta dishes were actually absolutely delicious. The homemade sausage, flavored with fennel and grilled to a crispy perfection, along with the greens, added a great textural dimension to the dish. (And who doesn't love bacon or pancetta in their pasta?) The pasta itself was wonderfully cooked (aldente) and the serving size was definitely enough for 2 meals! We'll definitely be back.
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