From Tulsa World-August 29, 2003 SPOT Section-Restaurant Review
Bellissimo!
Dining at fabulous new Ciao restaurant is a beautiful experience
E AT, D R I N K & B E
C H E R R Y
By SCOTT CHERRY
Tulsa World Staff Writer
8/29/2003
Food * * * * atmosphere * * *1/2 service * * * *
Ciao!, baby!
That was my reaction, exclamation points and all, when my wife offered me one of the lobster raviolis off her dinner plate at the fabulous new Ciao restaurant at the north end of Brookside.
The three raviolis, shaped like extra-large fried eggs, had a wondrous mellow lobster flavor that blended well with a lemon-butter sauce and the perfectly cooked al dente pasta. They were the highlight of the evening.
Stacked on top of the raviolis was a small serving of beef tenderloin medallions, cooked a perfect medium-rare and melt-in-your-mouth tender. Three crunchy asparagus spears and three grape tomatoes gave the dish, held in a triangular white plate, some color.
The dish is called Italian Surf 'N' Turf on the menu. It also is the most expensive dish ($22) and worth every penny.
My fascination with this dish does not belittle the others we tried. Everything had substance and style.
A gorgonzola-and-roasted walnut pizza ($6) was a memorable appetizer. The rich gorgonzola -- a pungent cow's milk cheese -- and roasted walnuts were balanced with a little garlic, olive oil, fresh basil and mozzarella on a thin, crisp crust slightly charred on the edges.
Another appetizer, two pieces of broiled Parmesan bruschetta ($3), featured a simple but effective combination of roma tomatoes, olives and artichoke hearts. It was served on a triangular, brick-colored dish.
Caesar salad ($2 with entree) was prepared with a light, lemony touch, with neither anchovy nor garlic flavors overriding one another.
Rao's Chicken ($14) is made from a recipe adapted from a dish at Rao's restaurant in New York City. A seared crust held in the juices of a fork-tender half chicken that derived much of its flavor from a peppery marinade and lemon-garlic sauce.
Another chicken dish, Pollo Cotto ($14), consisted of a grilled chicken breast covered with sauteed zucchini, carrots and yellow squash. This combo sat in a pool of mild tomato-and-white wine sauce.
Pasta alla Bistecca ($14) was like a rich beef stroganoff, featuring tenderloin tips, a butterfly pasta, sauteed mushrooms and onions in a white wine sauce. This dish was spicy but not hot and filled a man-sized bowl.
The menu is not lengthy but has a nice assortment of offerings. In addition to the above dishes, Ciao has five more pastas, three steaks, a pork chop, a veal and a salmon dish. Halibut was the daily special when we were there.
Desserts are made in-house, and it shows. A warm chocolate-and-hazelnut tort ($6) with Frangelico caramel sauce was rich and decadent. The chocolate-orange creme brulee with Grand Marnier sauce ($5) was a big orangy for my taste, but that isn't to say someone else wouldn't find it exquisite. Bananas Foster ($7) covers a large dish and is centered with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream.
I counted 28 wines, including six Italian, on the wine list, divided equally with a nice selection of reds and whites. The bar offers more than 30 beers, including some Italian imports, as well as a full line of specialty drinks.
Some nonalcholic drinks, ice tea for instance, are served in tall Pilsner glasses with lemon wedge and straw.
Our server, Jonathan, was exceptional, not too chatty, on the spot when needed and invisible when not. All the servers used towels to keep their hands from touching water pitchers and glasses.
One long wall is almost all brick with black-and-white photos of Italian street scenes, and another wall is almost all mirrors, which makes the room seem a bit more spacious than it is. Fourteen tables seat 36 diners. Three tables are stationed at a window seating area that includes a comfort touch of more than 20 colorful pillows.
Twelve more dining spots are available at the handsome bar covered in red leather.
Black tablecloths are partially covered with a strip of brown butcher paper, and chairs are 1950s-type molded fiberglass.
Small, red pendant lights hang over the tables. Other lighting includes white round globes on chrome fans and a large, silver Sputnik-style fixture, but overall the room stays fairly dim.
To reach the bathrooms, one goes through a doorway covered with strings of heavy silver beads. And, my oh my, the bathrooms. We were celebrating my mom's birthday, and we wondered what took dear ol' Dad so long to return from the men's room.
We learned why. The walls of the men's room are covered with a montage of pictures -- many from chic magazine ads -- of scantily clad females that fall just short of an R rating. I can't speak for the women's room, but I am told the picture of the man in a boat is worth a look for you gals.
Ciao, which opened June 26, does not take reservations, so you might want to go early or late to avoid a wait.
CIAO 3308 S. Peoria Ave. 293-9333
Food: Steaks/Italian
Price: entrees, $10 (fettuccini Alfredo) to $22 (tenderloin medallions and lobster ravioli)
Smoking policy: No smoking
Credit cards: All major
Hours: 5:30-10:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 5:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Friday-Saturday
Food * * * * atmosphere * * *1/2 service * * * * (Ratings reflect the quality of the food, setting and service. One is fair, two good, three very good and four excellent.)
From on-line source-Tulsa.tv-user reviews
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