As you all know, I LOVE food…not just eating it but the entire experience that comes with dining out.  And this is something that Vishnu also enjoys. You should hear us talk about the decor/ambiance, the service, and each dish as it comes out!  Two amateur restaurant critics over here. 🙂

With that being said, something I’ve wanted to do for a while now is review restaurants on the blog.  I keep saying I’ll start when we move to Chicago, but after an amazing birthday dinner this past weekend, I came to realize that there’s no time like the present.

To be fair, Kacy’s restaurant reviews are what really pushed me to incorporate this into MIS.  Even though she lives in a different city and doesn’t follow a 100% vegetarian diet, I really look forward to reading about her foodie adventures.  And now when I visit DC, I’ll know exactly where to go!

I know these kinds of posts aren’t for everyone.  But I absolutely love reading and writing about food, so I hope you’ll join me as I explore new-to-me restaurants and try some [hopefully] delicious dishes!

And as always, all opinions will be two things – honest and my own (and sometimes Vishnu’s)!

Il Ritorno – St. Petersburg, Florida

If you’re looking for the kind of meal that will transport you to Italy, look no further than Il Ritorno in downtown St. Petersburg.

After walking by this particular restaurant several times, Vishnu and I decided to eat here this past Saturday for my birthday.  And I’m so glad we made that decision.  This elegant restaurant serves some amazing Italian comfort food – perfect for a celebratory meal.

Ambiance

Il Ritorno is a small yet cozy restaurant in the heart of downtown St. Pete. The overall ambiance is romantic but slightly rustic at the same time. The dim lighting, candles and imperfect brick walls give the whole space an edgy yet attractive glow.  We loved it!

Service

In terms of service, Il Ritorno really delivered.  Our waiter was knowledgeable about the menu and made several recommendations based on our personal preferences.  He stopped by to ask us how our meal was a few times but otherwise let us be.  And he kept our water glasses full (it irritates me when this doesn’t happen!).  I could tell that the whole staff strives to deliver a special dining experience for their customers.

Food

We started our meal with drinks – a delicious Malbec (Primus Malbec, Mendoza, Agentina) for me and a chocolate stout beer for Vishnu.

After perusing the incredibly creative menu for a few minutes, we narrowed down our choices and were ready to order.

For our appetizer, we decided to go with the Warmed Burrata.  This dish was more complex than it sounds, as it was topped with caramelized fennel and citrus oil.  The toasted baguette pieces added a buttery/salty element which paired well with the light and creamy texture of the cheese.

For my main course, I ordered the Tallegio Cappelletti – a ravioli like pasta stuffed with a thick creamy cheese and topped with mushrooms, charred leaks, and black pepper.  I found this dish to be satisfying on so many levels!  The house made pasta was perfectly al dente.  The mushrooms and cheese played well together and added depth to an otherwise simple (yet delicious) dish.

For his main entree, Vishnu also ordered a pasta dish – the Pepper Cavatelli.  Obviously, I didn’t try his food, but from what he told me it was very good.  There were steamed mussels, caramelized onions, lemon, breadcrumbs, and spicy chili.  Vishnu prefers his pasta super well cooked and not al dente, so that was the only aspect he didn’t enjoy.  Otherwise, he said the seafood was fresh, the sauce was hearty, and the spice level was on point.

And of course, we couldn’t leave without sneaking a peak at the dessert menu.  I wasn’t feeling a heavy dessert after all of that pasta and cheese, so instead we opted for the Nutella house gelato.  It was incredible and unlike any restaurant ice cream I’ve ever tasted.  It had a light, whipped consistency that reminded me of a milkshake!

Overall, we really enjoyed our meal at Il Ritorno.  The fresh, simple ingredients and innovative flavors were the stars of the show.  We look forward to eating another celebratory meal here before we move to Chicago!

Do you have a favorite Italian restaurant where you live?