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| - I've now eaten twice at Vin Santo. Both times the waitstaff has been professional, helpful, and speedy. The music is at an appropriate level, the atmosphere is cozy, the decor tasteful. The wine list is extensive, and many dishes on the menu seem appetizing and imaginative at first glance. With all of these elements going for it, I have high expectations for the food. Although some of it is delicious, some significant problems have arisen when I've dined there.
I have had both the bruschetta and the mussels as appetizers. The bruschetta portion was a bit smaller than I expected, but it packs a large amount of flavor into the bites. The tomatoes tasted fresh and sweet, and balanced well against the (presumably) homemade pesto. The fresh bread served at the table is similarly warm, with a crisp crust and toothsome interior. The mussels are flavorful and delicious, but they don't come with any bread to sop up the flavorful broth that remains after the mussels have been eaten. Our plate was whisked away before we had a chance to ask for any bread to go with the sauce.
Two of my companions ordered the Ravioli al Vin Santo; both liked and finished the dish. It is one of four vegetarian options (the Fettucini alla Putenesca does not list meat, but I've never heard of a putanesca sauce made without anchovies), which was a welcome surprise for the vegetarian with whom I dined. One companion ordered the Insalata di Caesare (which also has unlisted anchovies in the dressing), and found it flavorful, if unimaginative. A fourth companion ordered the Lasagna del Giorno (that day it was with roasted chicken), and savored every bite. A fifth companion ordered the Fettucini alla Putenesca, of which I tried a bite. The spinach fettucini was fresh and delicious, and the sauce was perfectly salty. My entree, the Campenelli il Diavolillo, was pretty awful. The combination of meat and seafood in a dish can be done artfully, but this felt like a clumsy mishmash of shrimp, chicken, and Italian sausage. The sausage was very sweet and seemed to lack enough oregano, basil, and garlic. It clashed notably with the rest of the dish. The shrimp and chicken were both cooked well, and were tender and juicy. The pasta was fresh and tasty. It was really a shame that the "spicy garlic broth" as described by the menu translated into nearly an inch of oil at the bottom of the dish, making the entire dish almost inedible. All portions were huge.
The desserts are delicious. The tiramisu, which I sampled on my first visit, is fluffy and sweet. I tried to order it on my return visit, but the waitress told me she had sold the last piece to a table that came in after us. Since we arrived at 5 p.m., this came as quite a shock. It seems unlikely that they started the evening's service with more than one piece of tiramisu, and seems like profoundly poor planning. The bread pudding, while not much to look at, is also delicious, though it is so rich that by the time we finished one portion (between three people) it almost felt like i was eating a stick of butter rolled in cinnamon.
I can't say I'll be back anytime soon. I have to disagree with Zenide R.'s assertion that it's "easily the best Italian food in the Madison area." For the price, both Lombardino's and Tutto Pasta make better Italian food, and I shall stick to those restaurants in the future.
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