I have been dreaming of going to Del Posto for about a year now and finally, on Thanksgiving-Eve, my friend Tom & I went for dinner. An experience? Yes. Met my expectations? Definitely. Most delicious food ever ever ever? Not quite, but it was high up there in the more memorable food experiences I've had.
Now I don't consider myself a full on foodie. I can't talk in a sophisticated manner regarding food. But I can tell you that I'm particular about my food and could easily tell you if it's good or not, but who isn't like that? I suppose I had no excuse to go to Del Posto other than the fact that I wanted to experience the restaurant and to experience the food. After securing a hard-to-get reservation, I studied the menu for weeks trying to decide on the tasting menu or the five course. Either sounded fine, though the price tag was something to think about. Now I don't care about spending money on food because I really really really like food. And if it's going to be amazing, mind blowing food, then I really don't mind spending the money. The issue for me was more if my stomach would handle the tasting menu since it tends to be on the cranky side. Also the other issue was if Tom wanted the tasting menu since the entire table needs to do the tasting menu.
We decided on the five course and I was pretty happy with that because the stomach was not easily cooperating unfortunately. I eat pretty bland so the richer foods sometimes aren't the wisest decisions on my part. But anyway, back to the food. For the five course you each decide on an appetizer, then share a two course pasta course, then an entree of your choice, then dessert of your choice. I had:
Appetizer: Bitter Herbs, Chicories, and Lettuces with a chopped truffles dressing
Pasta (shared): Yesterdays 100 Layer Lasagne & Rissotto
Entree: Broiled Veal Chop
Dessert: Sfera with Celery Sorbet
Second Dessert (compliments of the house): Assorted desserts served on a cheese grater box
Everything that I had was nothing short of amazing. If I ever returned, I wouldn't have the Veal Chop again because I wasn't feeling like it was the best thing I ever had - definitely good, but nothing I would specifically return for. Tom had a chicken dish and enjoyed it so I would probably try that.
Let's talk about the dessert, since it's always my favorite part of the meal. Celery. Yes celery. The dessert was celery sorbet that was surrounded with goat cheese that was rolled in celery chips that were baked. The cheese was drizzled with balsamic vinegar. Weird dessert flavors? I think so. But honestly, I picked well. After such a heavy meal (um lasagna AND risotto - - Tom's idea, not mine!), I needed something that was going to help me digest, not add to my troubled digestive system. That dessert was beyond words. The celery flavor was so immediate, but then gone as if you were just thinking of celery. Amazing. The complimentary second dessert could've stayed in the kitchen. We weren't thrilled with all of it, just like 2 out of the 6 desserts (mini desserts I should say). There was some donut that was rolled in sugar that was of course amazing. I think donuts are always amazing so it really shouldn't count. And there was a caramel that had an edible plastic wrapping that was crazy delicious. But the other desserts were nothing to write home about - how unfortunate!
The entire experience at Del Posto was really just that: an experience. I don't know how else to describe it. Fancy isn't even the right adjective for that place. We felt like we were on the Titanic - not destined for an iceberg, but just the ambiance of what that ship has been described as. The staircase in the restaurant is what probably made us feel like we were on the Titanic. It was completely candlelit! It was an incredible atmosphere, nothing short of amazing for sure. While we certainly felt out of place, I quickly adjusted just by looking around at other patrons. We were dressed better than most of them there despite a strict dress code! Nothing irks me more than being told upon making a reservation that "jackets are required" to only find men wearing khakis and a polo shirt. Or women wearing casual slacks and a pull over dress top. Seriously people?! We were definitely nervous about not acting properly enough, Tom commented that we should've went to finishing school, but I think we did a fine job at our normal table manners. It was definitely different than anything either of us are used to. I mean everything was thought out, down to a warm face cloth that was brought out after every single thing we ate to "refresh" our fingers and hands. I mean really? Nice, but is it really necessary to wash your fingertips all the time? There was a part of me that felt bad for spending so much money on a meal that came with such a show, but then another part of me that said "when will something like this ever happen again?" It's nice to experience things like that every once in awhile or just once in your life. I don't think we'd go back every month that's for sure! But it was nice to go, expand our stomachs for Thanksgiving Day, and to be very very grateful for being lucky enough to be able to go to such a nice restaurant and each such well thought out fresh food.
