Osteria di Tramonto

outside of Osteria di TramontoThis is way overdue but while my wife was enjoying her 10th anniversary homecoming, I decided I would eat at Rick Tramonto's restaurant. I've not been able to make it over to Tru in Chicago just yet but he and Gale Gand opened up this temple to Italian cuisine in the 'burbs and thought it was worth a trip. Plus, his new restaurants were featured in last season's "Top Chef" and you know what a sucker I am for that TV show.

On a side note: eating alone is something that I don't mind doing. However, I've found that lunch is easier to pull off without looking too awfully sad. Plus, if you bring a book or a few manila folders, you look busy and most people don't make a fuss.

So, I went out to Osteria di Tramonto for an unforgettable lunch experience. The price was right and it wasn't all that busy. The restaurant is huge and beautiful... take a look...

the main dining room of Osteria di Tramonto
Rick Tramonto's steakhouse kitchen -- as seen on "Top Chef"
Rick Tramonto's steakhouse dining room -- as seen on "Top Chef"
the amazing wine collection at Tramonto's
another view of the amazing wine collection at Tramonto's OK, enough pics of the place. Now on to the food! For my first course, I enjoyed Beef Carpaccio, olive tapenade, garlic aioli, sea salt and I paired it with a glass of Cesarini Sforza Trentino NV Brut Rose. This starter is probably constructed for 3 or 4 people. However, I skipped breakfast for this meal. I was able to polish this off with no trouble. The beef was razor thin and the salad on top of it seemed a bit fussy at first, but it paired well with the beef. A good decision to start the meal, I thought.


For my entree, I enjoyed the Papardelle with Meat Sauce (veal, pork and pork ragu, fresh ricotta) which I paired with the Cesari "Mari" Valpolicella Ripasso Veneto 2006.
This entree was just genius. The pasta was so fresh and prepared at a perfect al dente. The fresh ricotta was a perfect counterpoint to the bold meat sauce ... anytime veal and pork are paired together, just count me in! The wine that I had with this entree (billed as a baby Amarone) was a great accompaniment -- it just went together perfectly!

I finished up the lunch with a mini apple tartlet. I forgot to take a picture of it because it looked too delicious to let it just sit there. It didn't last long.

This place is definitely worth a trip back the next time I'm in the area.