I went to Tavolata last week and was left wanting for more. First, we were told to wait an hour, while there were open tables in the restaurant. OK, don't take reservations. But we felt that there was no reason or explanation for why we couldn't sit at the open tables (if you don't take reservations, the open tables are truly open, no?, or upstairs. Anyway, I went with a few friends and we shared quite a few dishes. Few made the mark that they aimed for. Underseasoned antipasti fell flat. Pastas were too aldente (I've done my time in Italy and know the toothy goal but this was underdone). Anglotti was so underdone, with thick pasta, and over lemoned, it proved a low point, instead of a high point, which I personally wanted it to be. Their carbonara is tragic. The pork lays limp, boiled, not crisp and nice, and the sauce pools at the bottom of the plate. Too much pasta water? The dusting of pecorino was but a whisper, not enough to account for the underseasoned pasta. I really liked the ricotta gnocchi, all around. Nice olives, califlower, very tasty.
Cons: Longish wait for tables
more