We were regulars at the prior FS restaurant and were disappointed when they changed it and so waited a while before checking out the new restaurant, Culina. What a mistake! The room is gorgeous. I was worried when I saw that it was modern with hard surfaces and less carpet that it would be noisy but it was not. The outdoor patio is spacious and stunning with unusually pretty outdoor wood floors. Overall, the service was to die for. While the hostesses were cold and kind of unwelcoming ( to be fair we walked in without a reservation but there were plenty of tables) a waiter took it upon himself to walk us in and show us around with great pride. While we were deciding what to order we were introduced to the chef, Vic Casanova, who is a very down to earth guy with an incredible culinary resume. He proceeded to dazzle us with an array of dishes. Highlights were the butternut mascarpone stuff ed ravioli ( which may in fact be the best pasta dish I have ever eaten)extremely delectable fig and chopped salads, scallops with carmelized shallots, and a hearty roasted chicken dish. He was excited and proud of his menu and genuinely wanted us to enjoy everything. This was a level of fine dining you normally see in a destination restaurant as opposed to a hotel. The ingredients especially oils, vinegars and cheeses were of the highest quality. I look forward to making this a regular destination.
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