We have sadly neglected Varanese once the Winter months descended upon us.
We live a few blocks from Club Grotto and Cafe Lou Lou Highlands and between work, early sunsets, and weather it was just too easy to grab a great meal at Club Grotto or many times delivery from Lou Lou. Had a hankering for something different and we visited Varanese for our first time since closing the dining room off from the elements. Varanese is always one of our default choices when the glass doors are open, but we found a nice crowd tonight, the same great food, and the jazz duo that you can't take for granted in setting a very relaxing mood.
Started off the evening with a special app of the evening, a beef quesadilla with homemade salsa and a fried stuffed jalapeno. Enough for the 3 of us to share it was a nice start to dinner. I had a special spinach salad, the flat iron steak with the potato gratin and sauteed winter vegetables, and a couple of glasses of Septima Malbec that made for a great match. Daughter had beef tips with tortellini in a gorgonzola sauce that she enjoyed thoroughly despite sore wisdom teeth. My wife and I might have gotten an extra bite or two of this entree as well given her soon to be resolved dental issues. My wife had the V Burger which is one of her favorite burgers in town and it never disappoints.
Highlight of the evening though followed shortly with the complimentary flambe prepared by Chef John at a station in the dining room. My daughter, having never had flambe was not terribly excited about the idea. Our waiter highly recommended the Bananas Foster and it was phenomenal. Served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream my daughter met her perfect dish in her dentally challenged state and was hard pressed to share any of this at all. Fortunately I ordered the same for dessert and the entire table was more than satisfied with the last course.
Chef John made a couple of visits to the table and we had a most enjoyable conversation with him. Lesson learned, it is well worth the short trip to Varanese even if the patio is closed off from the elements. We'll do it again soon.