452832 Sun Oct 21 16:28:41 -0700 2007 12 12 Boston Area 0 3054665 Just went to Alfresco tonight - the new restaurant in Davis in the space formerly occupied briefly by Alex pizza and before that by Out of the Blue. It just opened 8 days ago so I am guessing people don't really know about them yet - as we were the only people in there for most of our meal. The food was really good - I got Shrimp Scampi and my boyfriend got Chicken Parm (which he really liked). I think I actually liked the Shrimp Scampi better than the one at Antonia's - and I really like Antonia's. The server was really nice, and the food came up fast. I would definitely eat there again. Anyone else tried it yet? Sun Oct 21 16:28:42 -0700 2007 48601 DJDiva 1 3055683 Another Italian place in Davis? So that's Antonia, Sagra, La Spina and arguably Mike's? Did Sicily open up a trade mission there? Mon Oct 22 06:26:38 -0700 2007 3054665 11172 Bob Dobalina 2 3055694 They want to compete with the Burrito gang. I'm waiting for an Italian Burrito joint next - mmm chicken parm burrito. Mon Oct 22 06:30:06 -0700 2007 3055683 123329 ChocolateMilkshake 3 3055825 You are a genius! Or does it now degrade to just a wrap? Not to resurrect dead threads, but I recalled this one... http://www.chowhound.com/topics/341727 Mon Oct 22 07:21:00 -0700 2007 3055694 11172 Bob Dobalina 4 3056209 LOL - it could be true there are too many Italian restaurants in Davis, but I really liked it as much as Sagra or Antonia's. I don't like Mike's - so it's definitely a big step up from Mike's. I haven't tried La Spina - I have heard mixed reviews of that place. I think it's a BYOB - like Out of the Blue was when they were in that location. I forgot to add - when we were done our dinner - the server (owner I'm guessing?) brought us a plate of cut fruit that was really fresh and tasty. I like nice touches like that and it was a perfect ending to the meal. They were really nice to us, and I liked the food. I hope they don't suffer the same fate as Alex Pizza did. Mon Oct 22 09:14:54 -0700 2007 3055825 48601 DJDiva 5 3056233 Cool - I will check it out, although I have to admit, I am scared by your praise of Antonia's, for which I have reserved a special place in you know where... Granted, I ate there only once, but it was some seriously bad Italian - and others here have echoed my feelings. :) Mon Oct 22 09:21:05 -0700 2007 3056209 11172 Bob Dobalina 6 3056293 Yea Antonia's is a mixed bag. I have really liked a few things I've eaten there and thought other things I tried were very average (if not bland). Mon Oct 22 09:37:21 -0700 2007 3056233 48601 DJDiva 1 3065575 My gf and I checked this place out last night - To quote her when the check came with a sweet note to come back and please tell our friends (smiley face), "it's like a good ending to a bad book. You can't really say anything bad about it." Well, dear friends, that's never stopped me ;) j/k - I of course wanted to like the place and was not expecting 3 star Michelin, so I will refrain from a list of comments, but I will mention a couple of things: First, my entree of chicken, broccoli and ziti in a white wine and garlic sauce (The first time I've ever ordered this, I felt like comfort food). The chicken was boneless breast that had been grilled (?), cut into bite-size pieces, a few pieces of broccoli, penne pasta al dente, all fine - but the sauce needed to be reduced down badly ... it was a soupy, watery puddle at the bottom of the bowl that you would run your fork through to moisten the pasta. Second, a nice touch - complimentary dessert of some sliced fruit (orange, apple, pear, banana) with whipped cream topped with chopped pistachios. But the skin of the pear was unattractively bruised and brown (although the flesh was not ... you know what I mean - you know, of course, I ATE it!). So basically, the meal was fine - but these are a couple of examples of the overall lack of basic cooking technique and presentation eitquette. I don't damn them to hell like Antonia's and I'll probably go back at some later point to see if they have progressed. Everyone seemed very friendly and they were definitely trying to put their best foot forward, so I kinda wanted to chat with the chef about the watery sauce (broth really), but not being a chef or a cook, maybe my impressions were wrong and far be it from me to tell him how to run his business. Thu Oct 25 05:48:20 -0700 2007 3054665 11172 Bob Dobalina 2 3072576 that's a bummer about the sauce. :( I liked their red sauce because it had a decent amount of garlic in it - which I like. I do hope they can iron out the kinks a bit because they seemed like they were really trying to do a good job. sounds like next time I will stick to the red sauce though. Sat Oct 27 12:33:03 -0700 2007 3065575 48601 DJDiva 1 3089634 Checked it out for lunch -- I got the impression they don't do a lot of take-out but I needed to get back to the office so I asked and they obliged. Ordered the grilled lamb wrap which was delicious. It is served in very thin pita bread that sort of fell apart but the lamb was tasty, the greens tomatoes and cukes inside were very fresh. And it came with a small salad in a very garlicky vinaigrette which I loved. I didn't like the room very much -- it's a tiny space and they've crammed about 20 tables in, including a few big enough for large parties. It felt crowded and too busy for me ... and it was empty. Can't imagine when it's full. Nice people, and they tried very hard for me. I appreciate that. Fri Nov 02 11:42:18 -0700 2007 3054665 10232 yumyum 2 3089720 Do you happen to remember if the seating is appreciably different from when Out of the Blue was there? Can't remember - but you make a good point - when I was there for dinner, the server had to squeeeze past some empty chairs to get to my table - full would be a real problem... That is another small example of how these folks just seem to be a little unknowledgeable about the restaurant biz. Agree though that they are super nice and tried hard... Fri Nov 02 12:00:27 -0700 2007 3089634 11172 Bob Dobalina 1 3094109 Went to Alfresco today for lunch. Originally we were going for brunch but the lunch menu seemed more interesting. I had the calamari apetizer and the chicken parm. The calamari was quite good. The Chix was OK, not great. And yes, the sauce was a bit watery. DC had the mussels and a salad, which she pronounced good. The tables are crowded and if the place was full there would clearly be a problem. The extended family of the owner was in and out during the time we were there, which actually was quite entertaining. We were offered a desert but were too full. The most interesting part is that the first part of this thread had been printed out, framed and posted in the window for passers-by to read. Even the comment about a chicken parm burrito. Evidently the Hounds are a draw. Sun Nov 04 12:35:38 -0800 2007 3054665 11052 BBHound 1 3694455 Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but Alfresco recently got one of the two liquor licenses up for grabs in Somerville. Tip Top Thai in Teele was the other one. Sadly Ten Tables will not be moving into the Antonia's space. Shame, I think it would have been a nice fit. Fri May 16 13:36:55 -0700 2008 3054665 10232 yumyum