"For the Relaxed, Celebratory Client Lunch"
March 30, 2012
- Food: Upscale Italian
- Decor: Very comfortable, well styled, good window exposures
- Service: Helpful and genuine; first rate
- Cost: $$$
- Wine / Cocktails: Power Lunch enthusiasts always wait until after work.
Overview:
The recurring theme of my Power Lunch reviews: always understand your guest(s) first and then select the restaurant accordingly. Coco Pazzo is ideal for a multi-course relaxed celebratory lunch. Think 90 minutes on a Friday. Don't choose CP if your guest is a clock watcher. That's not because the service is slow; on the contrary, it's attentive and excellent. But doing CP right takes a little time.
When you walk in the door, you will notice a glorious table of fresh meats, cheeses and vegetables. When you get to the table, be bold and, before your guest even picks up a menu, tell the server: "Please prepare fresh antipasti for the table." The server will adjust the portion size to match the number of diners. Trust me, just do this.
On entrees, the wood oven pizzas are worth the wait, but you can't go wrong with the lamb or fresh seafood selection. I'm typically a pasta guy when it comes to Italian restaurants; see below accordingly for my recommended dish.
Recommended Dishes:
Tagliatelle ai Funghi; fresh pasta with roasted mushrooms, brussel sprout leaves, pancetta and chestnuts. Fabulous.
