Day 43 food recap - Great Expectations

Expectations are a curious thing.  When set low enough, there is opportunity to be surprised and/or rewarded.  If set too high, there is almost always disappointment. 

The latter is a none too familiar scenario in BK's world.

All week, I've been as giddy as a school boy, ready to hit the town for Cleveland Restaurant Week.  I setup a reservation last night at Ponte Vecchio, which resides over by the Superior Viaduct, near the West Bank of the awesome Flat's, essentially attached to that Stonebridge condo complex.

I've been looking forward to dining at Ponte Vecchio for some time now.  It's just one of those places that I never quite made it out to.  I mean, it's Italian food.  North America has become COMPLETELY saturated with Italian food.  It's almost NEVER my first choice for dining. 

Alas, this particular restaurant does boast one of the best dining views in the city.  In that regard, it did not disappoint.  The picture to the right depicts a typical view from their parking lot.  For my money, the best angle of my fine, fine city.

Anyway, on to the grubbing experience.  PV offered a 4 course prix fixe menu.  My dining partner and I chose to order all different, and share in the goodness.  Here is a down and dirty list of the good, the bad, and the ugly:

The GOOD:
1. the bread and oil
2. the view of Cleveland

The BAD/UGLY:
1. everything else

I mean....out of 9 total food offerings, the bread and olive oil stood out on top.  Sad, really.  I don't want to go through EVERY SINGLE course and tell you what failed.  In a nutshell, everything just felt like it was prepared at 2:00 that afternoon (just sitting around)....and everything was DRAMATICALLY underseasoned.

I'm no Iron Chef (though I guarantee i could beat Cat Cora), but COME ON.  Salt, pepper, rosemary, thyme, lemon, lime....SOMETHING.....ANYTHING.

Needless to say, I/we were very disappointed.  I haven't even mentioned the service, which was absolutely awful as well.  Nice guy, but TOTALLY over matched, and in the weeds.

I walked away salty (pun!), and I'm still kind of pissed while typing this out.  I work hard for my moneeey...sooo haaard for ma' money!

In conclusion, don't go there.  Go to the parking lot, take a few picures, hop back in your car, and drive over to Lola.  I really should've known better....it's restaurant week, and all of these chefs/cooks are just trying to stay ahead of the potential crowds....bleh.

The silver lining here is that I didn't really stuff my face.  My daily food intake was moderated.

Daytime:
apple nutrigrain cereal bar = 130 calories
strawberry yogurt (damn giant eagle and their bush league fat free yogurt) = 80 cal.
fat free Pringles = 75 cal.
quizno's side salad w/ caesar dressing = 150 cal.

Dinner at Ponte Vecchio:
bread and oil (the best part of the entire experience) = 150 cal.
Kobe Beef carpaccio (beef pierogi, essentially) = 150 cal.
house salad (soooo horrible that i had one bite, and then mumbled several Hail Mary's) = 0
zucchini crusted Cod over orzo (yeah, i know, bad choice; i hate half) = 150 cal.?
pumpkin filled ravioli w/ chicken chunks/shanks (i had like 1 piece of each) = 125 cal.
creme brulee (actually not bad, but served room temperature??) = 200 cal.?
2 glasses pinot noir = 150 calories
Amstel Light = 96 cal.

Thursday Grand Total = 1450 calories

Not too bad, considering I didn't have a chance to workout.  Hell, I was hitting it hard earlier this week and needed a day off.

   * - I also want to note, for the record, that BK is NOT a picky eater.  He eats everything, and gives all food its' equal opportunity.  This meal was just BAD.

out