By Six more paychecks until 2018 is here. That’s how I reference time frames when I’m looking forward to something in the future. Believe it or not, it actually makes it seem closer than it really is. Nevertheless, October is here. Or “Woptober” if you’re a Gucci fan like I am. (Rapper Reference) I was able to try this place out for brunch and dinner which is a first because it’s either one or the other for me. I decided to go back because they had Cockles and Braised Lamb Lasagna. Have you ever heard of Cockles? It’s similar to clams except “Cockles are small, edible, marine bivalves. They live in sandy beaches, and their shells are symmetrically round which appear heart shaped when viewed from the ends. Like clams and other mollusks, they also burrow and live in the sand and feed on plankton. Preparing them for cooking entails thorough washing to remove the sand, and they have to be cooked before they can be consumed, though, because raw cockles have been known to cause hepatitis. They are prepared through boiling, frying, or pickling.”
Tredici is located inside of the St. Gregory hotel which is absolutely gorgeous. Well, the restaurant part, I didn’t go into the rooms because I didn’t have a reason good enough to book a room for the night. The interior has beautiful lightening, spacious areas, and an overall clean look. I’m going to get right into the review on the food because there’s so much I have to talk about. I’ll discuss the brunch items first. The brunch items that were ordered were the Avocado Toast and the Chicken and Waffles. The avocado toast was some of the best version of a toast I’ve ever had. It consisted of a poached egg, breakfast radishes, and shallots. The avocado’s that were used were so fresh and so smooth that I instantly fell in love with the overall dish. Sometimes avocado’s have a mushy texture but you can absolutely tell that fresh avocado’s were used with preparing this dish. The shallots and radishes weren’t overwhelming either. I would’ve assumed that the shallots would give the dish an oniony flavor but it didn’t.
The second dish that was ordered was the Fried Chicken and Waffles. The waffle was made with rosemary and made with maple-sausage gravy. It was also served with breakfast potatoes. The Chicken and Waffles weren’t my favorite but was still good. I think what I didn’t like about the dish was the rosemary being mixed in with the waffle. It gave it more of a potent taste, and I believe waffles should have a buttery taste to it. The sausage gravy was good, but I don’t think I would ever order it on top of a waffle again. The chicken was juicy and seasoned well, and the waffle came with bourbon syrup, but where the hell will I put the syrup if the overall dish is covered in gravy?
Let’s fast forward 7 hours later and talk about what was ordered for dinner. Squid Ink Pasta, Lamb Lasagna, and Spaghetti Squash were all devoured for dinner. First let’s discuss the Squid Ink Tonarelli which consisted of cockles, shishito pepper, and a white wine garlic cream sauce. The cockles, which are very similar to clams, provided a good amount of flavor but the white wine garlic cream sauce stole the show. The one thing I wish this dish had more of was the cockles. I love clams and because these had a very similar taste, I knew I would love them. The peppers that were provided with this dish didn’t over-power anything but it did enhance the overall flavor that the wine garlic cream sauce gave.
The next dish that was ordered was the Lasagna. It consisted of braised lamb ragu, ricotta, and mint. This was my first time having Lamb Lasagna and it was nothing short of amazing. I thought that the lamb was going to have a different taste from the normal lasagna that I’ve eaten, but surprisingly the taste was very similar to hamburger meat. The dish is very hearty, and the mint was practically non-existent because I didn’t taste any at all. The dish is plenty for one person to eat and if you haven’t had lamb before than this is the perfect dish for you.
Last but not least we have the Spaghetti Squash. It was made with carrots, zucchini, pine nuts, crushed tomatoes, and melted provolone. The provolone is what stood out to me because I wanted more of it melted on top of the overall dish. If you’re a vegetarian, I’m not sure if this dish was made with vegan materials, but if you’re looking for the perfect meatless dish than this would be the one for you. The Spaghetti Squash was different but it wouldn’t be something I would order on a normal basis. One, I’m not a vegetarian, and two I’m not a vegetarian. Give me some meat dammit!
Oh, yeah, before I go I was able to get a drink made with Angels Envy Whiskey and Red Wine. My first time having the two combined together. I’m not a big drinker, but the bartender insisted that I try the drink. It wasn’t bad, but then again, I’m not sure how it was supposed to taste? Actually posting it because it looks nice.
Overall, this restaurant is a go to. If you’re looking for a nice date spot than this is the place for you. The prices are reasonable and Chef Nicholas Martino and team will make sure you’re taken care of.
SavoryTravels 