Delmonico's Italian Steakhouse

Our latest edible experience is a restaurant we are no strangers to.  Rianna has been eating at Delmonico's for over a decade and Nick is quite the enthusiast for this delicious Italian food as well! When we walked in, we were immediately greeted by the manager and taken to the bar for complimentary drinks.  After catching up, we headed to our table, stomachs ready to be filled.

The menu consists of traditional Northern Italian dishes with an emphasis on their variety of homemade pasta sauces.  The decor matches nicely with all of the Italian celebrities and sports figures you could imagine, including a particular room that prides itself on Syracuse and it's own Italian culture.

We started off the meal with a traditional antipasto salad, covered with all the essentials: provolone, salami, cappacola, black olives, anchovies, and hot peppers, just to name a few!

Between appetizers and entrees, we were greeted table-side by our favorite magian, Shaun Robinson. He prides himself in coming around to tables and amazing guests young and old.   His magical presence is noticed throughout the restaurant as there are playing cards on the ceiling in places from where he made a card "disappear" and then "reappear" like that!  It is a great way to pass the time waiting for entrees and serves as a conversation piece for the rest of your night!

For entrees, our table selected the time-honored classic pasta with marinara sauce.  On top were two jumbo meatballs.  You will not go hungry, that's for sure! Another specialty we decided on was the Delmonico Steak, and at a $19.99 price point for over a pound of well-seasoned steak, it's considered "The Best Deal In Town".  The steak also came with a side of penne with the sauce of your choice.  We are particular fans of Delmonico's vodka sauce so that was an easy choice.




















Overall, the meal was filling and satisfying and did not leave much room for sampling the wide array of desserts on the menu.  But that didn't stop us!

We went for a fresh fruit zabaglione which features raspberries, strawberries and blueberries in a martini glass with a homemade zabaglione sauce drizzled on top.  Yum!  The amaretto cheesecake was also a must, super creamy with the right balance of cheese and cake topped with a layer of amaretto creme, raspberry sauce and whipped creme.

Then we really were stuffed!

Delmonico's Website & Menu

SavorySawickys give this edible experience 4 truffles out of 5!

Mario's Italian Restaurant

Having our own flair for culture, we are huge lovers of Italian food.  We heard that Mario's was a lovely restaurant and decided to try it out as a romantic date night and birthday celebration.  While we did expect a high bill due to the online menu and the ambiance when we walked in, we also had high expectations of the food and service.

After being seated in a romantic booth, we were greeted by a friendly and knowledgable waiter who recommended a delicious bottle of wine, which we thoroughly enjoyed.  However, as soon as the food began to arrive, we were less than impressed.  For an appetizer, we decided to try the grilled calamari, which we generally love.  It was listed as their "specialty" so we wanted to see the "best" they had to offer.

When we began to dig in, the light breading peeled off into the a pool of grease and the calamari itself was overcooked and rubbery.

We thought it may be a fluke, so we moved on to the next course without any reservations.  For the salad course, we enjoyed a nicely grilled chilled caesar wedge and a special beet and goat cheese, both topped with fresh ingredients.  We were optimistic after this course, but when our entrees arrived, we began to doubt the freshness and abilities found in this kitchen.

We ordered "A Tour if Italy", which was comprised of chicken parmigaino, fettucine alfredo, and lasagna.  We also had an order of a special featured that evening, shrimp pescatore.  Both dishes had lovely presentation but when we bit into our choices, we were sadly disappointed.  Pasta was either overcooked, and seasoning was nonexistent.

We have both had many experiences with homemade and fine Italian dining, but this restaurant surely missed the point on both counts.  We were even more discouraged to come back to this restaurant when you take into account the high price for a meal we did not finish or care to take home with us.

For a menu and more information: Mario's

SavorySawickys give this edible experience 2 truffles out of 5.

Uncle Bill's Pancake House

For our first breakfast review, we take you into the Jersey shore tradition of the "best pancakes around"!  When you first arrive at Uncle Bill's Pancake house, newcomers might be leery of waiting in the long line to get in, however they have pancaking down to a science, turning tables over at record speeds.

We have never waited more than 15 minutes for a table even with as many as 30 people ahead of us!

Once seated, there are many breakfast options to note on the placemats, but pancakes are the highlight of your trip here.  With options like chocolate chips, blueberries, and banana nut, everyone can customize their perfect pancake.

We enjoyed the special, "Red, White & Blue" pancakes which consisted of 3 fluffy, airy cakes with blueberries and strawberries thrown in the batter as well as fresh on top with homemade whipped cream.  If you're a pancake lover, you may never find a better place to enjoy this traditional breakfast.  

Even more amazing is from the time you sit down until the time you leave, you are in the restaurant no more than 30 minutes.  Service is impeccable and you get the feel of a sit down breakfast with family and friends at your favorite beach town with plenty of time to get back out and enjoy the sun!

For nearby pancake locations on the Jersey shore: Uncle Bill's Pancake House

SavorySawickys give this edible experience 4.5 truffles out of 5.

Plum Garden

Nestled in the Pittsford Plaza on Monroe Avenue, is the original and best hibachi experience in the greater Rochester area.  Plum Garden has all of the flair that you would expect from a hibachi restaurant and the diverse menu options provide something for everyone.  Even the bar offers all the modern drinks one could want but still keeps a traditional sense of culture as well and is a great place to enjoy a cocktail while waiting for your table.

We both ordered from the hibachi menu, however there is a full sushi menu and an option to have your food cooked in the kitchen if there are any allergies or food restrictions to contend with.

After ordering, we were first presented with a light and delicious mushroom broth soup and a fresh salad with homemade ginger dressing.

While waiting for entrees, we were treated to an excellent fire show on the grill in front of us.  The molten lava onion volcano and rice ball catching were our favorites!

Once the show was over, we had a hot meal with plenty of flavor to enjoy in the company of friends around the table.  Portion sizes are generous with many people going home with lunch for the next day.  It was a well-balanced meal of our meat of choice, rice (fried or steamed option), shrimp samples, and a side of vegetables.

All in all the food was delicious, however, service does need some improvements.  It did seem as though the servers wanted to turn tables and were not as attentive as we would have preferred when it came to ordering more drinks or being offered a dessert menu.

SavorySawickys give this edible experience 4 truffles out of 5.

410 Bank Street

In our first review, we thought we would discuss our favorite new restaurant of the summer.  We dined at this small BYOB on our trip to historic Cape May, NJ.  We were warmly greeted and immediately took in the atmosphere of the New Orleans feel the restaurant had to offer.  If there is not something on the menu that jumps out at you, listen in for the freshly caught specials of the day!

Knowing that this restaurant specialized in fresh seafood, we were sure to sample the wide variety of their fresh selections, much of it caught locally that day.  We started off with appetizers of mako shark medallions and a sautéed medley of fresh mushrooms containing all the usual suspects.

For our entrees, we enjoyed diver sea scallops and a fresh lobster tail stuffed with blue claw crab meat, as well as a famous blackened Cape May yellow fin tuna steak in the chef's signature black bean sauce.

As if we were not stuffed enough from delicious fresh food, we saved room in our secret compartments for a delectable dessert, baked fresh earlier in the afternoon.  A savory white chocolate cheesecake drizzled with a light chocolate sauce.  Wonderful way to finish up the evening at a wonderful restaurant.

We would highly recommend this dining experience to others and will be sure to return when we are back in the area!

For more information along with their menu, check out their website: 410 Bank Street

SavorySawickys give this edible experience 4.5 truffles out of 5!