Italian Post On An Irish Day- Oops!

Ok, I feel a little weird writing about an Italian restaurant on the most Irish day of the year- but oh well. I'll drink a green beer later and make up for it! Saturday night, "R" and I headed out for a belated birthday celebration at Ponte Vecchio. The restaurant has been on my list to try for quite a while now- it even made my New Year's Resolution list of 10 Restaurants to try in 2010. I guess that I can cross it off now- one down, nine to go.

When we walked in, I was a little surprised at how warm and casual it was. I was under the impression that it was a little more stuffy and formal than it really is. I was instantly pleased. Light wood accents, interesting granite table tops, comfy booths, large windows, and a partially open kitchen welcomed us. Even though it was a rainy night in Cleveland, the view was still fabulous. The restaurant is nestled on the west bank of the flats at bridge-level, and the windows directly face downtown and several of our gorgeous bridges. At night, with all of the buildings lit up- it was truly special to see.

We started with the Crab-stuffed Artichoke Bottoms with prosecco hollandaise sauce ($11)- suggested by our server. The dish arrived slightly cooler than I would have wanted, but this didn't stop us from awarding this antipasti course as our "favorite" of the meal. An artichoke heart supported a large pile of crab pieces, and the rich sauce was poured on top. The combination of flavors was well-balanced. Then we shared a Poached Pear Salad with hazelnuts and gorgonzola ($8). The salad was good, but nothing special. It could have used a little more cheese and balsamic dressing. Selecting an entree was very difficult! Several options jumped out at us, so we finally settled on two that we both wanted to try. This meant that I would get to have at least a few bites of his, because he'd want mine as well!

"R" ordered the Lobster Cioppinno with scallops, clams, mussels, and lobster ravioli ($28). The dish arrived with a heap of fresh seafood- including a small lobster tail. Under the seafood rested two ravioli, which were good but one or two more would have made for a more substantial dish. It was prepared in a traditional marinara sauce. "R" stated that he loved the dish, but I felt that the marinara dominated the flavor. I am such a seafood freak that I don't like it when it is overpowered. I happily ate my Pan Roasted Jumbo Scallops with lobster mashers, saffron butter, and spinach ($23) instead. Three seared scallops accompanied a generous pile of lobster mashers, which included several large pieces of lobster. The saffron butter sauce is what brought the dish together. It was buttery with just a hint of citrus, and I barely left any on the plate.

As if we weren't full enough, we ordered Tiramisu and Chocolate Mousse- both served in a fun martini glass. The tiramisu was interesting and nontraditional, and the mousse included fresh sliced strawberries which was nice. I was so full that I took most of it home with me. The night turned out even better than we had anticipated, and we will certainly be back. The food was very good, but the view alone is worth experiencing at least once. It really makes you realize how beautiful our city truly is...

Ponte Vecchio

2100 Superior Viaduct

Cleveland, OH 44113

(216) 556-8200