Forget about that restaurant known as Ago at the Shore Club on 19th and Collins. It's gone. Now you'll find Terrazza, another Italian eatery featuring the chophouse styles of executive chef Stefano Riccioletti.
Walking into the Shore Club, you're greeted with a pleasant smell of potpourri -- or something that leaves you smelling nice for the rest of the night, so skip the perfume.
Cross straight through the lobby and step into a dark
porch area, proceed up a a few
steps, continue down a long dark corridor of trees and dim lanterns and
you'll emerge into civilization once again when you see lounge chairs
and an outdoor bar to your right. The ocean breeze is a good indicator
you're getting close. A few more brisk steps forward and you're inside
Terrazza.
This journey might be vaguely familiar with some of
you -- familiar because the details are always a bit fuzzy
after a few drinks. The Red Room bar might evoke some memories.
Terrazza is a patio dining place overlooking a blue
pool surrounded by couches and bali beds. You have the choice of dining inside
too, but if the place is not packed, then the patio is the way to go
and you can sit at a table or on a couch if total dining relaxation is
your thing.
The ambiance is serene and chill, no loud music, and
most of the wait staff wears Vans sneakers, even the manager. The
service was exceptional (Brynn thanks for everything, you're awesome).
Everything on the menu is straight up Italian, but the dishes include descriptions
written in English. The menu has appetizers ranging from $10 to 18, brick-oven fired pizza from $16-20, pasta dishes from $18 to 28, and meat dishes from $2 to 45, with a selection
of organic chicken, locally-caught fish filets, pork chops, veal, strip
steak and lamb.
The produce is locally-grown, the seafood is local, the pastas are homemade, and the chops are aged and wood-fired, if you fancy those type of things.
All desserts are $8, the menu include pumpkin flan, a light and fluffy ricotta cheesecake and cannoli chips with cream dipping sauce--their take on the classic Italian tube
pastry.
Everything is cooked in the upstairs kitchen, the pasta, meats, desserts and pizza, but the prepping is conducted in the downstairs kitchen that services the hotel. Basically just a bunch of guys rolling dough.
A wine menu accompanies the dinner menu, you can order by the glass or the bottle, the prices range from $9 for a red 2009 Vermentino Rocca di Montemassi ($35/bottle) to $20 for a French Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut NV $90/bottle). Imported bottled beer, and one domestic, are available too for $6. Signature cocktails, like the Terrazza Ginger Tea, at $14 are
available as well.
Dress casual, but bring a fat wallet. A dinner for two can easily run close to $100. Hey guys, or girls, looking to impress your mate on Valentine's Day? Here's a hint: take them here.
The crab panzanella for appetizer ($18), to the right Insalante Caprese (local burrata, Homestead tomatoes, basil, $18), to the right a bowl of vegetable minestrone (not on the menu), glass of La Marca Proseco di Valdobbiadene NV spumante ($12, $50/bottle), and a glass of J. Hoffstatter Pinot Nero ($14, $60/bottle).
Bowl of Chitarra al Pomodoro (house-made rustic spaghetti, fresh tomato sauce, parmigiano, basil), $18.
Cannoli chips with cream dipping sauce, $8 (a staff favorite). The chips are very delicate, approach with caution.
The ricotta cheesecake, $8. Again, approach with caution.
The Terrazza upstairs kitchen, where the magic is made! Brick oven to the left, currently out of commission.
The inside dining area, better to sit on the patio.
The serene view of the blue pool while dining on the patio.
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