Thanks to all that gave me recommendations in my "Best Italian?" thread. Some names came up that I had completely forgotten about in Louisville.
Le Gallo Rossa was booked for the night, but I'm ok with that. We've been to Tuscany many times and enjoy it even if the atmoshpere is unconventional.
Ok....So we went to Porcini for my bday dinner. I was wanting Italian, and then decided I wanted to go to the movies (don't laugh! With three small kids at home, we rarely get to go on such a "normal" date). Porcinit was perfect. Good food, great atmoshpere, and not overly stuffy.
We arrived about 8pm. The dining room was extremely full, but we were assured it would be no more than a 30 min wait. I had called ahead but was informed that they don't take reservations for less than four people on a weekend night, so we thought 30 mins was certainly reasonable. We settled at the bar. I love reds and try to find new ones that I like as often as possible. The bartender recommended a Banfi Centine that was lovely. In less than 1/2 a glass of wine (about 20 mins), we were shown to our table.
I was really in the mood for scallops, but the appetizer wasn't on the menu. I asked Chris, our waiter, and he said he'd see what he could do. Out came a large bowl/plate with a serving of soft polenta flavored with plenty of herbs and cheese topped with four large pan seared scallopes that was then topped with a sweet onion-apple chutney. It was delicous and certainly enough for the two of us to share. The bread basket was full of large slices of warm, crusty bread that was perfect to accompany the scallops.
We skipped salads. The bf is a HUGE lover of mussels. He chose the linguine with mussels (and garlic, onions, tomatoes....it was Cozze or something close to the name). It was fantastic! He must have had over two dozen mussels atop a mound of pasta with the most amazing simple sauce possible. The mussels were large and meaty. He was a VERY happy man.
I ordered, since it was my bday and I felt like having something special, raviolis stuffed with eggplant (and I think fontina) in a saffron broth with lobster and parm. It was very nice looking plate of about 8 raviolis with much lobster sprinkled over and one lovely whole lobster claw piece topping it. It was wonderful!
We, of course, HAD to have dessert since we had no bday cake (have to rationalize it the best way possible, you know). He had tiramisu, and I had the expresso chocolate creme brulee. Both were fantastic. He said that he would say it was in the top 3 if not the top 1 of any tira he's had in Louisville. The creme brulee was HUGE. I only ate a portion of it before I passed it over to him to nibble on.
The price certainly wasn't unreasonable. Wine, appetizer, entrees, desserts, coffee, and another beverage was only right at $80. The service was spot on. We will certainly go back again soon.