Immediately after walking in the front door, I wanted to hate it here.
A crowd made up of soccer moms. On their weekend hall pass. Lining up just to get in the door. Ghosted images of the food network burned into their retinas.
I had my doubts.
Sure, it's a monument to narcissism. Giada (who I admittedly have no idea who she is or what she does) seems to be "the leader" to a throng of rabid followers. Her image is plastered over every element of the space. It's over the top and obscene. So no, we didn't splurge for the autographed photo-menu of Giada.
But you have to give the place credit. The room is absolutely beautiful. In a town full of amazing interior design, it's truly a pinnacle of excellence. Every item in the space is so well thought out. Colors are magnificent. Views are awesome.
Also, the food is truly fantastic. Everything is fresh, well portioned and presented immaculately. The pastas are particularly delicious and perfect for sharing.
The shining star here though is the service. Our server for the evening, Radoslav, truly helped make our evening feel special. He went above and beyond to add his wonderful warm personality to what would otherwise be an immensely impersonal restaurant.
All in all, a surprisingly good evening.