I love a packed restaurant - you know it's going to be good right from the get go and Cucci delivered in spades.
We started at the bar with cocktails as our table was turning over, the martinis were excellent and bang on to our particular (and persnickity) order. We sat beside the piano and player and that too was appealing and not at all corny.
My buddies and I started with a dozen oysters as we finished off our marts and ordered a 2008 Zinfandel (Tin Roof) in time to open nicely for our mains.
We then ordered two salads to be split into thirds; the roasted beet and goat cheese and the caesar with house pancetta, confit garlic & capers. Both were excellent and portioned and presented perfectly.
Oddly enough we were all attracted to the same main course the Wild Boar Ragout - Rough house cut pasta with tomato & olives. Again, it was portioned perfectly (meaning we all got the exact same portion) and it was without doubt one of the best pastas I have had in a while (I don't eat pasta that often but we were all scheduled for a cycling event the next day so we thought carbs).
This pasta was meaty and the starch and protein were perfectly balanced. I would order it again and it would be the perfect choice with a glass of red at the bar after a work out, on the way home or if you're heading home late from work and don't feel like cooking (I wonder if they do take out?)
Service was outstanding, we ordered another bottle of wine and took the balance of a bottle home corked and bagged. It was a $400 + night and I felt we got all that value and more.