| rev:text
| - Came here on Sunday night. Started with drinks at V Bar (happy hour until 7 - well drinks $6) almost next door to B&B and I was glad I did because reviewing the mark up of approximately 300% of wine at B&B I decided against wine with dinner. This was by no means an easy decision as Italian food begs for wine to accompany it but nonetheless I just didn't want to pay $20 a glass. Although had I been in a different mood I probably would have.
As to the ambiance - it was more casual than other Batali restaurants I have been to. We were sat next to an open window overlooking the thoroughfare outside the restaurants where tourists walked to and fro. I would have preferred something a little more intimate and well in my experience these type of spots out in the open are generally reserved for people without reservations. The restaurant was about 1/3-1/2 full. The acoustics made it so it was louder than I would have liked. They were playing AC/DC while we ate. While I appreciate rock music I would have preferred a more Sinatra experience. We were dressed up however there were a number of people wearing jeans.
We ordered two appetizers - the straciatella, which I always adore. I was recently told by Due Forni that they were the only place in town that imported and served this but maybe they meant the only non-strip restaurant? Either way the straciatella was $16 and came with two pieces of bread, we asked for more. The cheese is creamy and has a mild almost nutty flavor to me. We also ordered the calamari, it was grilled and was delicious although it was approx. $20 and only had three larger tentacle pieces. We then ordered the bone marrow ravioli, they brought it out on two plates for sharing. While it was good, I don't think I would order it again - the bone marrow must have melted upon cooking it because there really wasn't any within the raviolis although there was a taste of bone marrow. Again around the $20 range. For the secondi I ordered the veal saltimbocca with arugula salad. The arugula had a light vinaigrette on it and as plentiful and the veal also came with two larger pieces, although the veal was a little tough. We think it would have been better if we just ordered a few appetizers to share.
The service was not impeccable. We were sat at a two top. They let the menus and wine list pile up and brought out plates before they took the order and brought out the amuse bouche of bruschetta (which was two small toasts with a chickpea compote on top). Instead of taking our orders and taking the menus they sat the menus next to me on the booth side of the table. Also, we had to ask for drink refills. They didn't place the napkin on my lap (yes I realize that is knit picky but that is what reviews are for right). I also overhead the waitress, our waitress, tell another table that a slow roasted meat was tougher because it was cooked longer - really?! Obviously untrue and I couldn't believe she said that and that they patrons believed it but I restrained myself and didn't interject. I asked for bread with olive oil/vinegar - the waiter forgot the olive oil and I had to ask a second time. Also, waited forever to bring the check and then forever once we gave her money for the change. I watched the waitress walk around the restaurant and take two more table's orders prior to retrieving our change. We were even more ancy as service was slow and the chairs were not the most comfortable and we were anxious to leave.
Also, I found the Mario Batali cookbooks lining the bar area to be obnoxious - like a cheap advertising ploy. So I think next time I will pick another Batali venue. We still love Carnavino and I would go back there over B&B.
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