Laurel Street in San Carlos, only a block off El Camino is a world away in its concentration of trendy restaurants, bistros, and wine bars that range from the highly acclaimed (and highly priced) “Town” to low cost pizza and Chinese spots. After a couple of great lunches and a very well done LiteScape Christmas party at Piacere, we decided to give dinner a try. We could hardly have been more pleased!
There are certainly no shortages of Mediterranean restaurants with an Italian-lean in the Bay area, but Piacere raises the bar a notch in most all categories – ambiance, food quality, and service – without going crazy with the prices. Piacere is a large place with a wide range of seating choices, from a large and well heated outdoor patio (lots of folks eating outside for a January night), to bar seating, and a large and sophisticated main dining room. There is also a table in the well-stocked wine room – I suspect seating can be arranged in there ahead of time for a special event.
We started with a mix of appetizers that ran the range from standard – oysters on the half shell and beef carpaccio – to an unusual white fish spread served with crackers. But the hit was the polenta, served in layers with mushrooms and veggies done just right - crisp on the outside, soft and delicious inside.
The entrees – definitely among the top of the past few months. The best – a toss up between Belle’s skirt steak, wood-grilled Meyer beef with a marinade that wasn’t highlighted but certainly was terrific. A real close second – and it was really hard picking the winner – was the osso bucco – melt-in-your-mouth tender and served on a bed of paparadelle – a real treat. And while osso bucco can tend to be overwhelming, the portion was perfect. But here’s the best part. Bill was debating over the buffalo medallions or the osso bucco, and the waitress, who was terrific, suggested the buffalo since it was different. And it was, but very dry. We mentioned that to the waitress, who immediately and graciously offered to replace it with the osso bucco – without a hassle and apologetically. The kind of touch that results in unshakable loyalty and for sure, many positive recommendations.
Deserts – Belle and I split a decadent chocolate bread pudding, topped with blood orange sorbet (which I got in trouble for – again – for eating more than my share). Bill and Lorie went with the Meyer Lemon tart – another winner.
The wine, and here’s another point that raises Piacere above the crowd: they have an actual sommelier who is excellent – the kind of guy you typically only find in restaurants with second mortgage-class price tags. He immediately took the red – a 1996 Turley Zin that we were afraid may be past due, decanted it and, unsolicited, tasted it, making sure that indeed it was OK. And it was – smooth, fruity, definitely ripe, definitely zin. Same service for the champagne – got the ice bucket going, and even set up a special side table to hold the wines for easy access during dinner. The Champagne: out of the world! A Deutz from Ay in Champagne, crisp and light, and definitely one of the best we’ve had (in a long list of awesome Champagnes and sparklings). But this is one we’d definitely go for again – and again.
Bottom line: Definitely a four star and definitely the kind of place to make a regular. -- GG
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