Once Upon a Tine

Here's the week end and I have not offered much in the way of culinary inspiration this entire week. And again today, I have nothing. It was our intention to pop in to Sportsman's Winery for a quick and inexpensive sandwich. This is one of Pepe's favorite lunch spots. However, our hopes were squashed (like a grape) when we realized the restaurant was closed in lieu of a wine tasting this afternoon. So, a new plan had to be hatched. Directly across the street in the upscale AJ's shopping center is a restaurant proclaiming themselves to all passing traffic to be called, NoRTH (little O). So we precariously decide to try this new place......

Trying a new restaurant in my family is quite intimidating! We have our tried and true favorites and getting the finicky French men in this family to venture forth into the unknown is never pretty. But bravado and hunger won them over. And so we go.

Taking its cue from an Italian trattoria, NoRTH offers a contemporary approach to Modern Italian Cuisine. The atmosphere was casual meets Crate and Barrel. They have, what I considered an intimidating menu. They boast it to be "well thought out". I think it was the impressive wine list that won us over. And so we are seated. In the best table of the house in our opinion!! We were an odd number of 5, so we commanded the round table (the only one) in the corner overlooking the entire sexy atmosphere. Yet the pièce de résistance, was the light fixture of 500 15 watt bulbs hanging in a big round blob in their raw form just above our table. It was just short of mesmerizing.

We ordered wine.............. needless to say, and calamari. We ALWAYS order calamari. I think of myself as a bit of a calamari connoisseurer. I have tasted different squid concoctions from every restaurant that I visit. No one has yet topped the calamari offered at Papadeaux' on I-17 near Metro Center. But this runs a close second! And it's 5 minutes from my home. So I am hopeful for the meal ahead.

The chicken parmesan was tremendous! And the mahi mahi, chicken salad and flattend chicken with mushrooms were our selections. Everything got a nod from everyone. We will put this restaurant on our ever growing list of regulars - now up to 4. But it's a welcome relief from out old standby Cheesecake Factory.