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| - I like it here!
After hearing how great this place was, I had to see for myself. Happy Hour? I'm in!
Upon arrival, the first thing I noticed was the open and inviting decor - bamboo floors, high ceilings, a beautiful outdoor patio... what's not to like? Oh, and ladies, the bar had purse hooks!
While Calistro serves "healthy cuisine", please do not translate that to mean "cardboard-esque and tasteless". Each item we tried was delicious, full of richness and flavor. I learned that 80% of the ingredients used are organic, and most are from local vendors. They even have organic vodka. Did you know that organic vodka existed? I didn't.
It was a very happy HH, indeed.
Flatbread - a wood-fired combination of tomatoes, pesto, basil and fresh mozzarella. It was much larger than I expected, and the flatbread crust was perfect - even the cheese-less edges which I usually don't eat...
Wood Roasted Ravioli - from the Shared Plates section of the dinner menu. I had never tried a "baked" ravioli and these, prepared in the wood-fired oven, were outstanding! The filling was a sweet and savory combination that I really enjoyed.
Short Rib Panini Sliders - were it not for the bread (which was toasted just right), you would not need to chew. The braised short ribs are that tender. Beautiful!
Angeline Pinot Noir - a pleasant taste of California wine country (blend of Sonoma, Mendocino & Santa Barbara grapes). I like Calistro's presentation - the wine is first poured into a small individual carafe and then a portion is poured into your glass - you pour the rest when you are ready. Maybe it is for aeration, but visually this makes me think I am getting more than one glass - yum!
I did make my typical mistake of not leaving any room for dessert (when, oh when will I learn?). The Chocolate Soufflé Cake the couple next to me had looked amazing. Darn!
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