…… worth another shot DISCLAIMER:
Before I begin this review, I would like to mention an incident that happened during my meal (between the dessert amoushe boushe and the real dessert course) that may have had an effect on my overall opinion of Scalini Fedeli. Whenever I eat at a fine dining establishment, I’m oddly curious of the bathroom situation. Don’t ask me why. A good indicator to me, it’s a nicely furnished bathroom, obviously has to be clean and provides a refreshing break from the meal. Unfortunately, Scalini Fedeli has not been reading the J Spot, because the bathroom was disgusting. Wet paper towels everywhere, blood on the toilet seat, mud on the floor, etc. After I saw that and came back to the table it put a really bad taste in my mouth. This place has the nerve to charge over $100 per person and not have a clean bathroom? I would love to see what Gordon Ramsey would have to say about this.
Now onto the food….
Scalini Fedeli is quietly one of the top restaurants in NYC. The upscale décor is evident by the concaving ceiling with its unique ridges left by its original owner, Daniel Bouley (of Bouley restaurant). The service is what you would expect from a top notch restaurant; properly trained waiters, who are passionate about the menu and willing to offer helpful suggestions. The food contained top notch ingredients such as truffle oil, exotic pastas and only the best seasonal ingredients. Scalini Fedeli is a price fix menu ($65) where you have your choice of an appetizer, entrée and dessert. Appetizers offered include fresh pasta dishes and salads; while entrees are split up by fish, chicken and meat dishes. The possibilities are endless because the menu has something for everyone, as I had an extremely difficult time deciding what to get.
APPETIZERS
Soft Egg Yolk Ravioli with ricotta and spinach covered with truffle butter
The presentation on this was flawless. One huge ravioli stuffed with fresh ricotta cheese and spinach (J Spotters know I love spinach), encased in a soft egg yolk shell. This was one of those dishes that you just wanna stare at and feel weird ruining the perfection in front of your eyes. My fork easily cut through the ravioli, while the ricotta filling stayed intact so I could scoop it up with some truffle butter that was the base of this dish. If I had to pick out one flaw of this dish, it would be the overuse of truffle butter as each bite had an oily aftertaste that replaced the great flavors of the ravioli.
Pappardelle in a Game Sauce with venison and hare finished with barolo wine and bitter chocolate
MUST ORDER DISH. I must admit, I have never had or heard of Papperdelle pasta, but something tells me I will not forget it after last Friday night. You have to be a true foodie to venture to order a dish that comes in a Barolo wine and bitter chocolate sauce. I was not disappointed. The plate came out steaming hot and my eagerness to try this dish caused me to burn a few taste buds; However, there were enough left to truly appreciate this dish. The large flat noodles were cooked perfectly and the balance of the venison and hare ragout went well with the wine and chocolate sauce. The dish was not too gamey and every bite made my mouth salivate. I would recommend this dish to anyone who loves perfectly cooked, piping hot pasta blended with a meaty (but not too hearty) ragout and finished with a mouth watering sauce. Three out of the 5 people at the table ordered this dish and my date and I and another coupled shared-- everyone was able to enjoy this MUST ORDER dish.. I only wish I’d ordered my own.
Braised short ribs of beef with a cherry pepper and natural glaze, fennel-apple puree
I am still smacking myself for not ordering the short ribs. Thank god someone at the table let me try a bite of it. Phenomenal. Unfortunately, I got a braised pork loin, which I would recommend against and to order the short ribs instead. They were served with a cauliflower puree and steak fries cooked in truffle oil. The one bite I took was never-ending and the juicy flavor still lingers in my mind (yes, I have food dreams).
All in all, the meal was very impressive and met all my expectations. It’s a perfect place for anniversaries, birthdays or any other special occasion. It is unfortunate that I had to witness the bathroom that way, because it was disturbing and altered my true opinion of Scalini Fedeli. As a food blogger, objectivity is a must have trait, which is why I felt to need to disclose the “bathroom incident” as I like to call it. I feel a second visit to Scalini Fedeli is imminent, because I caught the chef on an “off night” and I’m pretty confident that Scalini Fedeli is capable of serving unforgettable meals.
212-528-0400
| | Restaurant Review Rating Scale | | ||
| | | | | |
| | | | Total Points Available | |
| Food | 8 | | 10 | |
| | | | | |
| Service | 8 | | 10 | |
| | | | | |
| Ambiance | 9.5 | | 10 | |
| | | | | |
| Bang for the Buck | 7 | | 10 | |
| | | | | |
| Overall | 7.5 | | 10 | |
| | | | | |
| | 40 | | 50 | |
