Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Pane Vino

This Edible Experience builds off the two classic Italian staples : Bread & Wine, or Pane Vino for the Italians out there!  Nestled in the heart of downtown Rochester, this cozy restaurant is a hidden gem.


As soon as we walked in, we were overcome with the delicious aromas of traditional Italian cuisine.  Diners are treated to a waterfront view of the Genesee River, which is viewable from outdoors during the warmer months.  After placing our orders, we were able to indulge in the warm atmosphere with feelings of old-world Italy meets Modern with exposed brick walls, hand-painted designs and candelabras on the walls for an intimate feel.

For appetizers we sampled the Artichoke French, spicy Sicilian calamari, lobster bisque, and the homemade bread with choices of homemade herb butter, an oil mixture, grated cheese and crushed red pepper.  We have heard reviews on the Artichoke French and rumors are true: Best in the city!  The lobster bisque arrived and was consumed in several moments as it was creamy and delicious; it was impossible to put the spoon down. The calamari on the other hand, was intriguing on paper, but after trying a few bites, water was a must.  The flavor was enjoyable but salt was too prominent in this dish.  Not likely to order this next time.



After enjoying several glasses chianti, we moved on to our dinners.  Our table ordered a variety of options including Seafood Fra Diavolo, Veal Anthony, Pan-seared scallops in a brandy cream sauce over rice pilaf, and a special dish of the evening that included Filet Mignon & Wild Boar with a mint risotta and poached pears.  




The special was just that.  Indeed Special.  The choices of sauces on this plate alone was vast and were perfectly paired with the items on the plate.  Each sauce and food combo was a savory bite to enjoy.  





The scallops were perfectly cooked in a light but creamy sauce.  







The veal dish was fresh with artichokes, peppers, prosciutto, peas in a garlic wine sauce with asiago cheese.  This plate was cleaned in a hurry! 






Lastly, the medley of shrimp, mussels, and clams in a surprisingly fresh and chunky sauce.  The only complaint was that it wasn't spicy enough!




While there wasn't much room left, the tray of desserts show to us by our server tempted us to try a few of the delectable options for the last course.  We selected homemade cannoli made with Frangelico and a white chocolate, pistachio cheesecake.  The cheesecake was indeed a great choice but was very rich.  After a few bites, we couldn't eat anymore!  The cannoli were agreeably some of the best we had ever tasted.  And with an Italian heritage behind our dining table, we have tasted quite a few cannoli in our day!






















SavorySawickys gives this Edible Experience 4 truffles out of 5!



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