Taglio: We were trying to eat lunch at an unreasonably late hour (4:30), as usual, so we wandered in here. We held out hope for sustenance because there was a couple out front finishing up some food. Alas, we learned that the kitchen was closed until dinner. We learned this in Italian, because we must have blended sufficiently that the waiter started rattling off the drink and snack possibilities in his native tongue. It was aperitivo time, so we ordered wine. However, no food was not an option given how ravenous we were, so we asked to have a cheese and meat plate put together for us. And boy did they. Perhaps they guessed that we were prepared to gnaw off their appendages if our hunger was not slaked. Whatever the reason, I had so much cheese and wine that I was no longer hungry when dinner rolled around several hours later. Which is too bad because the Milanese schnitzel that B ordered – served with almond slivers and orange zest – seemed incredible. So much so that the next day, when we were in the neighborhood again, B asked if we should just go there, despite the abundant food options in the area. In sum, artisanal-seeming twists on Milanese classics with a kind staff. Recommended.
Alzaia 26: This was much the opposite of the Taglio experience. The food was straight off a tourist menu, but with no panache. The Milanese risotto I ordered tasted much like gruel, and I can’t even recall what B had. We briefly contemplated dessert, but the legion of mosquitoes attacking me – even while indoors, dissuaded us. Not recommended.
Mica: This is a hole-in-the-wall that could be a food truck in the Bay area. It served hoagies with varying types of pork products, and they looked pretty good. It was a good not-lunchtime-anymore option, and the guy behind the counter (potentially the owner?) was nice. Not many choices for vegetarians though.
Pane e Vino: This felt like a tourist trap even before we sat down, but it was open, which is clearly a theme here. I can’t remember at all what we ate, but it was decent enough.
Nerino Dieci Trattoria: B loved this dinner, and I was a pretty big fan too. It was an incredibly reasonably-priced meal that began at ten pm on a weeknight. We split grilled swordfish, grilled veggies, and something else: all were delicious. Then, they brought us free after-dinner limoncello and chocolate liqueur. And all of this for maybe $40. It was fun to be able to see into the kitchen, and they even had an expediter I watched for a bit. Recommended.
Gelateria Oasi: You’ll be shocked to learn that we had no gelato whatsoever. B had a cannoli, and I discovered the ‘macedonia,’ which is Italy’s word for ‘fruit cup.’ Oh boy!
as usual, so we wandered in here. We held out hope for sustenance because there was a couple out front finishing up some food. Alas, we learned that the kitchen was closed until dinner. We learned this in Italian, because we must have blended sufficiently that the waiter started rattling off the drink and snack possibilities in his native tongue. It was aperitivo time, so we ordered wine. However, no food was not an option given how ravenous we were, so we asked to have a cheese and meat plate put together for us. And boy did they. Perhaps they guessed that we were prepared to gnaw off their appendages if our hunger was not slaked. Whatever the reason, I had so much cheese and wine that I was no longer hungry when dinner rolled around several hours later. Which is too bad because the Milanese schnitzel that B ordered – served with almond slivers and orange zest – seemed incredible. So much so that the next day, when we were in the neighborhood again, B asked if we should just go there, despite the abundant food options in the area. In sum, artisanal-seeming twists on Milanese classics with a kind staff. Recommended.
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