I am really trying hard not to give Enoteca a 3 - 3.5. It felt like when people tell you to go see a certain movie because it was sooo good, and when you finally stop being a loser 3 months later and see it, it's just not as good.
I've been waiting to try this place forever and we finally managed to get a reservation at a decent hour on a Friday night (mind you, we made the reservation nearly a month ahead). I was really excited. What a zoo it was! I couldn't believe how jam-packed the place was. Service was wonderful from the second we set foot in the store right to the end.
We tried the grilled octopus and the cauliflower three-ways. Honestly, I was not too impressed. The octopus was indeed cooked very well, but flavour wise? I'm not too sure. I simply wasn't a fan of the cauliflower. I was hoping they could really redeem cauliflower's name from being a second-rate cooking ingredient, but not much success there. The flavour was just not entertaining. It wasn't one of those dishes where you begin thinking about the next bite of it as you enjoy the current bite.
The pastas were redeeming. I got the Bucatini and my date got the Pappardelle. Flavours were excellent and the pasta was cooked well. I really enjoyed the spicy tomato sauce on my bucatini, but what dampened the dish for me was the guanciale. My bad though, I didn't know it would taste so so fatty. Bah.
Highlight of the night was the server's recommendation of wine. It was delicious. I don't think I would return for a while - it wasn't a place to write home about... and my wallet really can't afford.
Atmosphere - 4/5
Service - 5/5
Food - 3.5/5
Price - 2/5