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| - Last night, I celebrated the birthday of a good friend at Lucio Ristorante at her suggestion. I had not heard of it and was willing to try. I can tend to be a little "meh" about Italian cuisine, but it was her birthday, so....
Driving on Sahara, I wasn't sure where it was, but it was nestled in a shopping area adjacent to an Outback Steakhouse. As I walked in, the lights were dimmed, the decor contemporary, yet warm and inviting, and the staff was welcoming. After sitting down and making my wine choice, everything told me that this place is a hidden gem. I liked that it was patronized by people that seemed to know what they had found, and it was quiet enough to have an intimate conversation.
While perusing the menu, I asked a few questions and was told that the chef is authentically Italian. Good sign....My friend and I split a Ceasar salad, which was fresh and delicious. The dressing had that slight peppery tang that sets my taste buds a-dance :) Going traditional, she ordered the lasagna which was a mighty portion with layers upon layers of noodles, cheese and meat sauce which looked both hearty and delicate at the same time. I decided upon the Frutti de Mar.... a generous base of linguine tossed with a slightly spicy, garlicky red sauce acting as a cushion for shrimp, scallops and mussels. It really was wonderful. For dessert, we went all out. Birthday, ya know.... We chose the Tiramisu, which was decadent, light and melted on the tongue, and a chocolate tartuffo al ciccolato, a tempting ball of lightly frozen chocolate mousse surrounding a center of vanilla and amaretto ice cream, then dusted with cocoa powder. The sensation of the dry powder along with the creamy, cold chocolate was phenomenal. Mmmmm.
The prices on this menu would fall in the high-medium range (though they are often featured on restaurant.com, so you can make it cheaper that way). I found the selections to be ample enough to give a thorough meander through authentic Italian fare, but not so much that you are overwhelmed by the menu. The staff also have an aire of familiarity and friendliness that makes me think that if you wanted something that you didn't see listed, they might just whip it up for you.
I would definitely visit this little place again. A perfect place to impress a date or go with a girlfriend to catch up. I love finds like this one. Check it out, and Buon Appetito !!
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