The whole restaurant has an open feeling to it....great lighting, exposed brick and classic fixtures provided a nice atmosphere that is not trying to hard to be something chic or trendy...at Decarli it is all about the food ...and to say the food was good would be an understatement. I went for the whole deal....caesar salad, soup, entree and several shared desserts. The key for me with a caesar is the dressing, and Decarli nailed it, just a bit tart with fresh, cool romaine lettuce. Enough to split with a friend. I trailed this with the tomato soup, which was spicy and excellent. In the brief time that Decarli has been open, the short ribs have been getting some high marks from friends who recommended the place....so for the entree I had to go for it. They came with prunes, which I was a bit leery of when I first ordered, but these roasted gems mash up to make a kind of paste, which when matched with the tender ribs and spatzel made the whole thing simply outstanding. For dessert we had chocolate / bourbon gelato that was out of this world, as was the chocolate / pear tart. I was floored at how good the food was. As mentioned in other reviews, our server was very, very attentive...but only because he cared a great deal. Definitely better than an inattentive waiter....and once this place gets rolling, (I get the feeling it is bound to) the wait staff will need all the attention they can muster...so its probably a good sigh they try so hard now. If you are planning on going out for a big dinner over the holidays with a group of friends or with family, and you're looking for great food and a new dining experience, this is an excellent option, as it has not been open long and word has not gotten out. I highly recommend Decarli.....the next time we go out I know I'm going back!
more