Letter to Arrivederci Ristorante

April 16, 2009

Antonio Mastellone
Owner
Arrivederci Ristorante
3845 Fourth Avenue
San Diego, California 92103

Phone: (619) 299-6282

Dear Mr. Mastellone:

Let me start by saying what a true pleasure it is to review your restaurant after so many wonderful dining experiences at Arrivederci. My dining partner and I had lunch at your restaurant today. We chose our usual seat on the patio and were happy to see our favorite server (the Italian gentleman with glasses) greet us with a broad smile as he always does.

We didn’t have time to be hungry because we had bread, fresh out of the oven, at the table within a few minutes. We looked at both the lunch and Specials menu, knowing from previous experience that both menus offered great dishes. I ordered a $6 glass of Riesling. I’ve had $10 glasses of wine at other restaurants that were not nearly as good.

We’ve eaten at Arrivederci together many times, for lunch and dinner. At lunch, I often order the spinach salad with grilled chicken, gorgonzola and pine nuts from the Specials menu. This is unusual for me because I generally don’t like salad. For the most part, I have come to regard salad as a waste of my time, probably because salad is an afterthought in most restaurants. However, your spinach and grilled chicken salad is one of my favorite dishes at any restaurant, salad or otherwise.

My dining companion ordered the D’Anatra salad from your lunch menu. We have never tasted duck that flavorful and juicy. The duck crowned a salad of fresh, tender spinach that was perfectly dressed in a warm bacon dressing accompanied by fresh golden raisins. While my dish was very good (I ordered the Gnocchi Gratinati off the lunch menu), the D’Anatra salad was amazing. Most restaurants serve duck in large medallions and even then it is very often overcooked and dry. The duck was beautifully carved and so delicate that it didn’t overpower any of the other ingredients, though it was the star of the show. The marriage of all of the ingredients made for a perfect balance and made me wish I had ordered it as well. We both commented that it was the best salad and duck that either of us had ever had and, amazingly, only $7.75.

The Gnocchi Gratinati was perfectly cooked as the pasta always is at your restaurant. As usual, the portion was substantial but not obese. I liked the cream sauce, which was not too heavy and complemented the texture and flavor of the gnocchi. I especially appreciated the slightly burnt cheese and cream sauce on top.

We’ve tried many items on the menu and have liked all of them. Even the Minestrone Genovese is special and possibly the best soup in the city. The standouts for us, though, are the salmon ravioli and pork osso buco (both under $20).

Your salmon ravioli with leeks and caviar in cream sauce (Specials menu) is exceptional. The large pieces of ravioli, which seem hand-made, are delicate and tender. The salmon is always perfectly cooked. The thinly sliced leeks atop the dish provide a wonderful textural contrast to the ravioli and cream sauce and brighten the dish’s overall flavor. The snap of the caviar that garnishes brings not only texture but an amazing luxuriousness and depth of flavor. The dish is all of the things that food should be: visually beautiful, complex but delicate in flavor, comforting and delicious. It makes us feel like no one on Earth is eating a better meal than we are.

The pork osso buco with mushroom risotto and port wine reduction is easily the best pork dish I have ever had. I am from the pork Mecca of the United States, the Midwest, so I don’t say that lightly. The pork shoulder falls off the bone. It is tender, savory and set off perfectly by the earthy, creamy mushroom risotto and port wine reduction. The best part is that I always have enough left over for the next day.

Your food is consistently elegant and beautiful and we always feel like we have had a fine dining experience without fine dining prices. The wait staff always treats us warmly. We have never had a glass of water go half empty and your espresso is the only espresso worth drinking in San Diego. The service is the best in the city and is never overbearing or pretentious.

We noticed you are expanding and are looking forward to eating at your new restaurant in Rancho San Diego as well as your new Pizzeria on 4th in Hillcrest. We expect the food will be just as good there.

Yours Very Truly,

San Diego Restaurant Review


http://ristorante-arrivederci.com/