428576 Mon Aug 06 15:16:54 -0700 2007 2 16 Mid-Atlantic 0 2819106 Since my Mom wanted to have an early dinner, we had to pass on the wonderful recommendations everyone here provided and find a restaurant that served dinner before 5PM. We ended up at Ristorante da Benito on Galloping Hill Rd. in Union and had an absolutely stellar meal. At 2PM there were just a few other diners...needless to say we received very attentive service! :) Our server brought a basket of freshly baked hot breads, one of which was an amazing rosemary bread, and a bowl of basil dipping oil...heaven. We devoured the contents and were immediately given another. The appetizers were fabulous...crab cakes with a carrot-apple salad with orange vinaigrette, and a grilled eggplant rollatini stuffed with goat cheese and served with a tomato and black olive salsa. Salads were equally good...a Caesar salad prepared tableside, an asparagus and goat cheese salad with roasted beets, and a baby arugula salad with tomatoes and marinated fennel. The veal scallopine stuffed with prosciutto and parmesan was sauteed with mushrooms and served atop a bed of sauteed spinach...amazing. The osso bucco was also very good, although the saffron risotto didn't exactly blow my skirt up...the flavor somehow didn't complement the tender, fall-off-the-bone veal shank. I'd have preferred a polenta with a touch of gremolata instead. Desserts were excellent: warm molten chocolate cake with homemade vanilla bean ice cream and a strawberry napoleon were the perfect ending, followed by icy glasses of grappa, espresso and cappucino. The wine list is extensive, covering every type from nearly every corner of the globe. I asked for a tour of their wine cellar after dinner and they were more than happy to oblige...I could have spent all day in there. My Mom had a wonderful birthday dinner! http://www.dabenito.com/index.html Mon Aug 06 15:16:54 -0700 2007 51540 MartiniQueen 1 2819344 Sounds lovely. Mon Aug 06 16:34:23 -0700 2007 2819106 100033 soigne 1 2819689 Yes, I agree, this is a pretty cool place. My former team took me there for my farewell party when I left my old job. It was a pretty memorable dinner. Almost everything was excellent: great, innovative, refined, tasty food, outstanding friendly, caring and professional service, great atmosphere and a huge wine selection. It is a bit on the pricy side in particular for the area and from the outside it doesn't look like real high-end Italian dining. Unfortunately, the lunch menu is also quite expensive (Same dishes just a few dollars less than dinner). I wish they had a more typical lunch menu and I would go there more often with my coworkers. Even David Drake has a reasonably priced lunch menu. Still, if you are looking for a real upscale dining experience around Union, you can't get around Da Benito. Mon Aug 06 18:36:34 -0700 2007 2819106 101374 FoodFetish