a delightful evening. trattoria aroma had been on my restaurant wish-list for a while, and so when i got a free thursday night, i decided “tonight is the night!” and headed to the elmwood location. when i got there, it was around 7:00 and i could see a few large tables already full, which was a reassuring sign that the weekday business was very popular too. i walked in, asked the barman where to go to arrange for a table and was very cordially directed to the back past the bar. there, the hostess asked me how many. i said table for one and she was able to seat me immediately after a brief check with the schedule. it was refreshing that i was not tucked in back near the kitchen or in a drafty corner, but rather in a very good location with a view to the street. too often single women are pushed off to the side. thank you, trattoria aroma! you had me at my seat.
i was very pleased with the speed, both with which i was seated and the table was set with water, bread and a menu with specials. my waiter was attentive and friendly, but allowed me my space, and this gave the dining experience an authentic italian feeling from the start. i go abroad every summer, and i think very fondly of my italian trattoria experiences; that this restaurant reflected that european no-rush feel was fantastic. i had the notion this waiter had been in the business a long time, and knew how to be both respectful and gregarious, and the balance was very welcome. so! on to the food!
to start i ordered the “italian 75” apéritif cocktail, which turned out to be more lemony than prosecco than i thought, but was certainly delightful and served in a wineglass with a fresh lemon peel and real squeezed lemon. my appetizer i ordered from the specials menu of the night, the bruschetta special, which purported to have poached egg, pancetta, arugula, grape tomatoes, and a fantastic aioli. i expected a traditional assortment of bruschette for each (or two of each) of these ingredients, but instead, all of them are combined into a beautiful and fresh layered bruschetta. the toasted bread is thicker, and the aioli spread on the bottom, and the experience was absolutely delightful. the balance between spicy arugula, bursts of halved grape tomatoes, the crunch of the pancetta and the smooth egg was wonderful. you must try this! a great modern take on a traditional dish, demonstrating the chef’s versatility and respect for the ingredients.
for the main course, i selected something more familiar to me – rabbit. i’ve had rabbit most often in red sauces, meaty ragus and stews. this version was braised in riesling, with goat cheese, mushrooms, carrots and put with pappardelle. here was where my waiter shone. i asked him for a wine recommendation, and he confirmed my own thoughts – that a white would go best, but not another riesling. he recommended two possibilities, a chardonnay and a sauvignon blanc (both italian) and gave me a bit of the blanc to try (i had concerns that the citrus would be too strong and was right – chardonnay was the right choice – something softer went far better with the meal than the sharp, bright citrus of a sauvignon blanc). the rabbit was tender, utterly delectable. the goat cheese gave the dish the comfort food feeling of a stroganoff, but it was so delicately done and balanced with rosemary, that this was by no means a heavy-cream pasta. i was delighted, truly. i will order it again! and again, and again! this is on the regular menu, so please, do try it. rabbit is an underappreciated meat in the united states. if you've never had it before, ignore the name and taste the meat and you’ll understand why it is such a treat, especially at trattoria aroma.
well-fed and happy, my waiter cleared my plates and gave me a dessert and liquor menu. the vin santo caught my eye immediately, bringing back memories of more than one late-night meal where that was the ultimate finish to a dinner with friends. the dessert selection had both traditional selections like crème brulee and italian selections like cannoli, tiramisu, and an italian cookie plate. i do intend to come back and try them all, but for tonight i really was only in the mood for a sweet and a glass of vin santo. i asked my waiter, who was absolutely stellar, how big the cookie plate was. i was told it had about eight cookies on it and i knew it was too big for what room i had left, and found myself explaining what i was really hoping for – just a couple of biscotti. “i know exactly what you mean” he said with a nod, and seconds later emerged with two perfect biscotti and vin santo for me! i was over the moon.
my evening finished with an espresso. trattoria aroma, your reputation is well-earned. i will be back again and again in the future, with my friends and colleagues.