Amazing space! Tall ceilings, exposed brick walls, creative lighting, beautiful bar and clean, open kitchen. Luckily, the food and service live up to the high expectations set by the space. I was there with my girlfriend, who is Italian by heritage and upbringing and a graduate of CIA in NYC. We were promptly greeted at the door and then at the bar where we enjoyed happy hour appetizers and then dinner. \r
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We started with the papatas with a spicy aioli. A simple dish where execution matters, here DeCarli?s delivers. The fingerling potatoes were perfectly fried and crispy on the outside and aioli was the perfect accompaniment. We moved on to the mussels appetizer which was flavorful and aromatic. I love fresh fennel and it was complemented nicely with saffron and pernod. Very fresh mussels ... nicely opened and solid. \r
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Next, we enjoyed the Caesar and beet salads. The Caesar was amazing with crisp whole leaves of romaine appropriately dressed with a garlic bite and suggestion of whole grain mustard. The croutons were delicate and crunchy and the shaved grana padano melted in my mouth. I also enjoyed my taste of the beet salad that had a nice citrus flavor. \r
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For dinner, I ordered a classic bolognese over homemade linguini. The pasta was cooked perfectly and had a pleasing al-dente consistency. The bolognese was rich and meaty without being too oily or rich. I cleaned every bit of the sauce with my bread. \r
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The wine selection was solid with good pricing and glassware. The overly energy of the space was positive. The lighting, acoustics and ambiance work for both a romantic dinner for two or a group of friends. The happy hour selections are nice, but don't overlook the dinner menu just because you're there during happy hour. We live in NE Portland, but will still make the effort to get to Beaverton for DeCarlis!\r
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Cheers,\r
Duke\r
Pros: Food, ambience, staff, bar
Cons: Beaverton location
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