Nonna

Where:  4115 Lomo Alto Drive, Dallas, TX 75219

Menu:  It changes, but:  http://www.nonnadallas.com/images/menu.pdf

What:  Ladies' Night (and the feel is right)

The Scene:  Understated class.  Soft lighting, spare furnishings, warm brick walls, and high ceilings, great acoustics.  A zen by way of Tuscany feel.

The Drinks:  The sommelier is your friend here.  He has fabulous wines at every price, and he's more than happy to walk you through the menu.  We had a good Pinot Nero from Puglia (three bottles, actually!) and an absolutely lovely quartino of Barolo.  Mmmmm....

The Food:  Largely delicious.  We began with a mixed plate:  Crostino, carmelized criminis, porcetta, and burrata.  I want to lay on a bed of burrata. It's a buttery, creamy style of mozzerella that they make in house.  It will rock your socks, promise.  We also had a salad of grilled romaine with avocado, pancetta, and parmigiano.  It was pleasantly salty and creamy, although it could have stood a bit of bite...maybe some pepper? 

Then, we split a white truffle pasta.  The pasta is made in house, and had an unmistakable, delightful, homemade toothsomeness.  Sadly, the chef was a bit timid with the spices.  I think his instincts -- to showcase the fresh truffles -- were fantastic, but it needed salt, pepper, and a bit of nutmeg.  But...BUT.  Then we had the Waygu short ribs.  If short ribs have a Socratic form, it was here.  They were gently falling apart, and perfectly flavored.  Meaty and earthy, but sophisticated.   I would eat them weekly, if my pocketbook allowed.

Bonus:  The service.  Our waiter was charming, knowledgeable, and magically kept everything perfectly filled.  A true delight.

Extra Bonus:  Chef Julian.  He was making the rounds, and he spent some time with our table.  The man knows his food, and his wine, and he's charmingly humble...and talented.

Overall:  This is worth saving up for.

Ciao,

the U.E.

Top of the Hill (The U.E. on the Road)

Where:  100 West Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, NC

Menu:  http://www.topofthehillrestaurant.com/LunchMenu.pdf

What:  Late lunch / football weekend kick-off

The Scene:  Blue Heaven!   

They call the Carolina Inn the University of Chapel Hill's "living room."  If this is true, then Top O' is the University's swingin' cabana.  It's also the de facto alumni club.  I can't be in the Hill for more than a few hours without heading over.

This second story restaurant has the best view of Franklin Street, the best homemade beer, the best outdoor seating, and the best crab dip in all of Chapel Hill.  (Listed in declining order of importance.) 

The Drinks:  Oh, the drinks.  The beer is fresh-brewed and delicious.  The Old Well White is the menu stalwart--you can always count on it.  Most of the beers selections rotate though.  Last trip, we tasted the Blue Ridge Blueberry Wheat, which was perfect.  Crisp, slightly sweet, great mouth feel.  But the beer is only the start!  The order of the day at this particular lunch was mimosas.  Boat loads, actually.

The Food:  It's so much better than it has to be.  That sounds like a back-handed compliment, but I don't mean it that way.  Here's the thing:  People would go to Top O' even if they served two week old Mc D's.  And they know it.  But they consistently put out really good fare.  We had the aforementioned crab dip (mmmmm...actual, giant hunks of crab, nice herby notes), and I had L'Oeuf Royale.  For the non-French speakers, that's a damn good egg sandwich.  Is any of it ground-breaking?  No, but it'll fit you like a glove.  And that's the secret to Top of the Hill:  No matter where you've been or how long you've been gone, you get there and you feel like home.

Bonus:  The view.  The waitstaff (nice, patient, and cute!).  The view.

Double Bonus:  Hit it up after 10 for a great bar scene.

Overall:  Need I say more?

XO from the road,

The U.E.