Osteria Mozza...nothing to write home about

[countrygirl]

With so much hype, they can hardly be blamed for not living up to it but still it disappoints. First of all, the restaurant looks like a Pottery Barn catalogue - clean lines, almost antiseptic, and no imagination. There is no sense of place. I could have been sitting in a showroom. The food was simply 'there'. Had the antipasti burrata from Puglia, the gnocchi, the much touted pork. None of it raised my heartbeat. Well, I tried it...NEXT!

[Frank_Santa_Monica]

I wish the prices at OsMo were similar to that of PiMo, then I'd be more willing to schlep over there from SM.

[foodieqt]

I completely agree...I went last night with high hopes and I left feeling "eh." There is nothing particularly wrong or negative about Osteria, it really is just "nothing to write home about." I have nothing to really write here about it either. The Pizzeria?? Well, now...that's a completely different story. The Pizzeria is beyond fabulous.

[Woolsey]

I beg to differ!

It's definitely more Restoration Hardware than Pottery Barn.

[Adsvino]

At least it isn't Z Gallery!

[Diana]

Could be worse. Look at Pinkberry. It's all Ikea.

[Woolsey]

Wrong on that, too! Stinkberry is Design With Reach (the flooring, the lighting, the stools).

[hrhboo]

Would you care to elaborate further? What in particular did you find so disappointing? Flavors, execution, service?

[countrygirl]

I guess I would say there were no WOW flavors. It all just tasted average. The ingredients were fine, of course, the portions were more than enough. I've had terrific meals at La Terza - not all but some, Il Grano is fabulous. The disappointment is that the place didn't sing. Wait, the grilled bread in olive oil was outstanding and so was the whole grain bread - eating it plain or dipped in olive oil...taste, texture, crust was perfection. I would have been happy with this for my whole meal and a couple of glasses of wine. This is probably not much help.

[hrhboo]

It is, thanks for the detail!