There are just those times when you try a new restaurant and you come away thinking how perfect it was. That was Sorellina in Boston a week ago.
I met some customers/friends (is there any other kind?) at Sorellina for dinner at 6:00 on Sunday night. The restaurant was gorgeous upon walking in, very quiet, and very unpopulated. Within a couple of hours the place was at full tilt - each table occupied with stylish diners. Of particular note were the acoustics: I never heard another table’s conversation, never had to lean forward to talk with my table-mates, never had to strain to hear the waiter. We were never rushed or pressured, with the waiter and the sommelier appearing when we needed them, but never intruding on our conversation. We stayed for 4 hours and never felt we were being asked to go.
The food was excellent. My burrata with prociutto and figs was nicely prepared as a starter, and my short ribs with celery root puree were delicious. But the real story was our mid-course, which was one of the best things I have ever eaten: Maccheroncelli. This was some sort chunky pasta tubes with an American Wagyu meatball perched atop, in a delicious brown/wine reduction sauce, and a shaving of parmesan. Simple and amazingly good, the whole table agreed.
The wine service was good, but I never did see what my host ordered and had poured for us with our main course. But I like my reds warmer than cellar temperature, and this was too cold for me. We started with a Patz & Hall Dutton Ranch 2010 Chardonnay, which was a nice opener, moved to the Italian bottle, and finished a 1/2 bottle of Spring Mountain 2007 Cabernet with our cheese course. I would swear there is more Cab Franc in the wine than the 3% listed.
Prices were steep but not out of line for high end Boston dining. I’d go back in a heartbeat.