It's true; I found my new favorite date spot...with the girls, of course. I had heard raving reviews from my peers of the European kitchen's elegant yet eclectic dining experience, so I immediately reached out to Fabi + Rosi in hopes of booking a table for my roommates and me. We were mesmerized by the romanticism of the space, draped with metallic wallpaper and glowing crystal chandeliers. I was even more impressed with the menu -- rarely do I glance over a list of dishes without being adverse to at least one entreé choice. However, I found myself swooning over every dish. I truly think I would have been content with anything placed in front of me!
After a bottle of a beautiful, bold pinot gris was poured by our genteel server, we ordered a few appetizers to share. I'm a huge artichoke fan, so the steamed choke with lemon aioli sounded divine. We worked up our jaw muscles due to the vegetable being fairly undercooked, but a dunk in the aioli reestablished our pleased tastebuds. Never before have I ordered potato leek soup, but Ashley's was light enough to showcase the tender combination of starch and veggies rather than just heavy cream.
The entreé course was a clear home run across the table. My house made linguine with bechemel, foraged mushroom & crispy poached egg (further above) was rich but delightful. I could only bear to eat half, but luckily my girlfriends picked up the last few swirls of pasta left on the plate. Not pictured were some other favorites that I snuck a bite of: gilt-head bream (a flaky, mild Mediterranean white fish) with sweet potato gnocchi & kale, and the classic European dish of perfectly seasoned steak & frites. I usually push aside french fries unless they're from Hopdoddy or Clark's, but this restaurant's approach to the steak fry -- with truffle -- blew me away.
The unexpected, unanimous favorite was Mel's crepinette of a delicate Dewberry Hills chicken stuffed with chicken sausage (above). The airy potato puree riddled well with the poultry, and the sweet, colorful rotkraut truly put the bird on a whole new level.
We didn't have room for dessert, but we managed to order it anyway...typical. The crack pie with hooch cream was a funky take on a Momokuku inspiration. The oatmeal-based cookie pie was nutty and fantastically sweet. The sugarless whipping cream helped balance the sweetness of the pie. I wanted one to-go!
Ladies and gents, Fabi + Rosi should be your next destination for any occasion; but I will stress that this restaurant would be the perfect backdrop for this upcoming Valentine's Day. The entire menu will be available with walk-ins only, so dress up and head over there for a guaranteed fabulous meal!