| rev:text
| - I came here with high expectations, and Dante has met all of them.
As expected of a pricey restaurant, service was amazing and quick. With that out of the way, here are the comments on the food.
You can opt to order individual dishes on the menu, or go for a 5-course or 7-course meal. Many of the à la carte options seemed to have Asian influences. We chose the 5-course, which featured off-menu dishes, so cannot comment. I expect these dishes to change (or at least rotate) over time:
1. For starters, there was a tuna tartare over cucumbers, lightly flavored with soy sauce and sesame oil. It had an amazing texture, although the fish could be ever-so-slightly fresher.
2. To follow, there was a lemon/squid spaghetti. In my opinion, this is where the meal started getting interesting. Every bite was a slightly different flavor. Artichokes would make one bite more acidic; it would be followed by a bite where the squid would provide a stronger grilled flavor. I was very impressed.
3. Third was the grilled scallop. This was perhaps the least memorable dish of the bunch, but still tasted great!
4. If my memory serves me correctly, this was small cuts of either a New York strip or ribeye. Regardless, the meat was cooked perfectly, with three sauces to complement. Again, this combination (along with the fingerling potatoes and peas) made every bite slightly different in flavor, which made the dish an absolute delight.
5. Two desserts were available: a chocolate cake and a cherry shortcake. Both were excellent and gave a satisfying end to the meal. My only critique would be that the dessert portions were HUGE. I would've preferred to have smaller dessert portions and a slightly larger main course.
Overall, if you're looking for super-fine-dining in Cleveland, Dante is it. Your wallet won't be happy, but if you're treating someone out or celebrating an occasion, the food will make a great impression and a lasting memory.
|