Coming Down From a Dining High
After the food at French Laundry, it’s hard to figure out what to eat anymore. We don’t want to cook, or go out, or do anything but go back.
But, you have to eat, and on Sunday we ordered from our favorite local Italian: Gambardella’s in Menlo Park. The food isn’t gourmet fancy, some items on the menu are occassionaly dissapointing, but they have a few things going for them that make them one of my favorite local restaurants.
- The Fettucini Testarossa is to die for. A spicy white sauce over fettucini with chicken. You can’t go wrong, and I love this dish with somewhat unhealthy feelings.
- A good selection of wood-oven pizzas
- THE BEST MOLTON CHOCOLATE SOUFFLE CAKE I HAVE EVER HAD.
yes, that deserves the all caps. After trying this dish at numerous restaurants, I’ve basically given up. It’s just that good at Gambardella’s. The marscapone, the touch of fruit, it’s all heaven.
They don’t have a web page(!), but you can call them up at or visit Opentable to Make a Reservation
Address:
(650) 323-6730
1165 Merrill St
Menlo Park, CA 94025
olivias said,
May 11, 2005 @ 10:25 pm
So true! With the number of times in the last few days that I have contemplated just calling French Laundry to see if there have been any cancellations and the countless laps I did around Whole Foods yesterday, it’s a good thing there are still some tasty and affordable restaurants close to home.
Another truly standout dish at Gambardella’s: the Penne con Melanzane Arrosta, a dish of eggplant roasted until it has a slightly caramelized flavor in a spicy red sauce with shaved ricotta salata. The pizzas aren’t my favorite (mmm, Cheese Board…), but the molten chocolate cake really is the best around. (Make sure to order it with your entree.) Definitely a fitting “official” birthday meal.
Teich.Net :: All In » Blue Plate said,
December 11, 2005 @ 10:56 pm
[...] The appetizers, entrees, and sides are all stellar, but save room for dessert. The sugar pie pumkin bread pudding with crème anglaise and pomegranate is the best dessert I’ve had anywhere in a long time. The Guiness stout ginger cake with Meyer lemon custard and candied ginger was a close second. Although the warm chocolate baby cake with cold foamy sauce tasted like some salt might have been spilled in the pan before baking, it might be worth trying again, even though Gambardella’s has set my molten chocolate cake standard is pretty high. [...]
Teich.Net :: All In » Restaurant Guide said,
July 16, 2006 @ 4:20 pm
[...] Gambardella’s Dinner (5/05) [...]