ULIVO
I’ve walked by this place so many times, but first time eating there, and only because we needed a group to be accommodated at the last minute and they could. Turns out they are very popular for groups – the whole back seemed filled with groups of various sizes. It’s a nice room, and a central location, so not that surprising.
Food varied from very good to so-so.
Fried zucchini came out as skinny sticks, light and crisp, with plenty of lemon to squeeze over, just perfect. Fritto misto was a mixed bag, with awful shrimp, but well-fried fish – that was in oddly large pieces (calamari was meh). And a very good caprese salad despite the season. Generous, shareable portions.
The pastas were a mixed bag – trapanese pesto was fine, but the busiate was overcooked, cannelloni were very good (though I found the short rib ragu a bit salty), squid ink tagliatelle was the weak link of the night, and a daily special beet and truffle ravioli was the surprise winner, absolutely delicious.
Desserts were okay, but I’m not usually a dessert person anyway – decent tiramisu, a good chocolate budino, and a perplexing special that was supposed to be a napoleon of puff pastry and custard, but was chunks of puff pastry with pastry cream that was hard to eat (especially to share).
Very nice service – friendly, attentive, and patient, despite a full room.
I’d go back with a group again, they made it so easy, and the food was more good than not.
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