RW-RIALTO

[Nancy White]

We went to Rialto last night for Restaurant Week. The restaurant was crowded with other RW diners. We had a 6:00 reservation and were back in our car heading home by 7:15. A little too speedy for me.

The service was swift and efficient and the food was OK, but with very small portions. I had the gnocchi with bolognese sauce, which was probably the best part of the meal--but so small that my husband said he didn't even want to ask for a taste. He had the truffled mushroom risotto which looked bland. For entrees, I had the kingfish, which was not as flavorful as I like mackeral to be, but OK. My husband had the cod in clam chowder, again, bland. Both servings were small. We had the chocolate torte for desrvt--again OK. The wine pairings were nice.

Interestingly, they didn't bring us a regular menu, in case we wanted to order off it. I had been telling my husband how interesting it looked.

When I came home, I was still hungry and snacked on the Chinese takeout my daughter had ordered.

I like Restaurant Week because it gives me the opportunity to explore new places and to see if I would like to go back. In this case the answer is "no."

[ChinaCat]

Is there a bar area at Rialto? do they serve dinner at the bar? I'm thinking of going by myself late on Friday, and wondering if it will be too crowded to squeeze in at the bar. What do you think?

[austinbostin]

Myself and two friends also went to Rialto last night for RW. Here is my take.

Do I recomend it? Yes
What we ate/how it rates:

Greens with caciotta cheese, walnuts and balsamic - bland - the dressing was so light that it tasted like just a plate of plane greens
Pea soup with speck and grated pasta - good - just straght up peas in an excelent flavorful broth that reminded me a bit of hot and sour soup.
Truffled mushroom and mascarpone risotto - excelent - I did like this quite a bit. Very rich with a strong truffle flavor.
Floppy tomato lasagna in farro pasta - excelent - definitly a highlight. The pasta just kind of melts in your mouth
Roasted pork loin with fava puree - good - for pork loin, that is. Cooked just right, but this is just a standard porkloin dish. Flavor-wise, nothing really stood out about it or the sides.
Roasted cod in clam chowder and potato-basil puree - excelent - the online menu says fluke but the menu from last night was cod instead. Just like the pork loin, the fish was cooked perfectly, but the chowder and puree were a nice balance and blend of flavors that took it to another level.

All three dessert were excelent - especially the chocolate espresso torta

I agree with the original poster that the portions are on the small side. And yes, they do seem to rush you through the courses and send you on your way, but that seems pretty normal for restaurant week no matter where you go.

[Joanie]

I'm not sure about all restaurants rushing you thru your courses during Rest. Week. I definitely haven't felt that at either Om or Copia this week. And I do remember my Rialto meal two years ago being a quick one.

[Spike]

Aren't Rialto dishes always tiny and expensive, even on the regular menu? That's why I've never hit it...I'm not into tiny/pretty/expensive appetizer-sized entrees :-)