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| - More like 3.4 stars.
I expected a LOT better from Mario Batali. I also expected a LOT better for our $100 per person meal. I'm not saying that any aspect of it was bad, but I think it could have been a lot more pwnage than it was.
The one thing that really stood out to me was the pork fat spread that they give you with bread. It blew my mind and my taste buds away. When the waiter introduced it to us as pork fat I kind of cringed, but once it went in my mouth, I wanted more!! (that's what she said)
Since Batali is known for his Italian food, we had to get some kind of pasta. The BF and I ordered the gnocchi bolognese to start, and it was good. For $16 I wouldn't get it again, but it was tasty. Our friends shared the ricotta and egg raviolo because they had heard a lot about it, and they thought it was just "interesting." I took that as a, "Won't get it again."
Now, on to the carne! [note: my friend did order some vino, but I'm no sommelier so I wouldn't know good wine from bad wine.] My BF and I ordered the rib-eye for two, and it was EPIC (refer to photo). They have a guy come out with a huge cutting board and knife, and he slices it for you. Trust me, it is necessary. This thing was the size of my thorax. It was very simply seasoned, but it was quality beef so there was enough flavor there to satisfy me. I know that they want you to really savor the natural flavors of the beef, but it would have been a solid 4 stars with a teeny tiny bit more flavor.
My friends LOVED their lamb. They are both hardcore lamb eaters, and they said that this was the best lamb they have EVER eaten. If you like lamb at all, I would definitely suggest ordering that. We also tried the potato and parmesan zeppole side order, and I thought those were really good. I've never had anything like it, so I enjoyed them a lot.
I'll probably come back again to try more stuff when I'm ballin', but that won't be for at least a couple of years. Damn you grad. school!
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