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I went to 25 Forty Bistro and Bakehouse (2540 Congress Street) for “Trattoria Thursday” last night and I was served one of the biggest meals I’ve had in a while. Eight courses, without dessert, came out of the kitchen. Service was “family style” for a mere $25 per person. Without further ado, here’s a brief list:
1st Sliced beef tongue with parsley sauce and a small green salad. It was novel and more entertaining than yet another carpaccio.
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jan/25/39006/
2nd Stuffed peppers. Probably the weakest dish of the entire meal as the bread and veggies stuffing just didn’t come together in the right way. Still far from bad.
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jan/25/39007/
3rd Lemoncello shrimp. Not particularly lemony, but tender and well-paired with sauteed spinach and savory, black peppery sauce.
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jan/25/39008/
4th Fried cheese sandwich. Yup, a whole grilled cheese, breaded, fried, and served like a giant mozzarella stick floating in a light marinara sauce. Practically a meal in itself and a fun mix of crunchy and gooey.
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jan/25/39009/
5th Pecorino and cracked pepper pasta that had been salted with a bit too much zeal in light of the already salty cheese. Perfectly cooked noodles.
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jan/25/39010/
6th Spinach tagliatelle with lamb. It was lighter than expected (a boon as the protein dishes had yet to arrive) but still studded with toothsome chunks of braised lamb in a light sauce.
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jan/25/39011/
7th Fish and potatoes! I didn’t catch the particular variety of fish (it was cod-like), but the preparation of hot. mashed potatoes and tomato sauce brought me back to my teen years working in a Greek restaurant and the Sunday family meal of baked fish and potatoes in tomato and onion sauce.
8th Beef cacciatore for the final course. Not a home run as the frozen/canned peas in the sauce distracted from the tasty chunks of, I think, flank steak.
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jan/25/39012/
Now that is what I call a smoking hot deal! I have to go check out “Tasty Tuesday” sometime, when the restaurant has a free buffet on the patio and all you have to do is buy wine. I strongly urge anyone and everyone to get out to Old Town and pay 25 Forty a visit for one of these ridiculous deals. The place is cozy and the food is usually above average.
I went to 25 Forty Bistro and Bakehouse (2540 Congress Street) for “Trattoria Thursday” last night and I was served one of the biggest meals I’ve had in a while. Eight courses, without dessert, came out of the kitchen. Service was “family style” for a mere $25 per person. Without further ado, here’s a brief list:
1st Sliced beef tongue with parsley sauce and a small green salad. It was novel and more entertaining than yet another carpaccio.
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jan/25/39006/
2nd Stuffed peppers. Probably the weakest dish of the entire meal as the bread and veggies stuffing just didn’t come together in the right way. Still far from bad.
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jan/25/39007/
3rd Lemoncello shrimp. Not particularly lemony, but tender and well-paired with sauteed spinach and savory, black peppery sauce.
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jan/25/39008/
4th Fried cheese sandwich. Yup, a whole grilled cheese, breaded, fried, and served like a giant mozzarella stick floating in a light marinara sauce. Practically a meal in itself and a fun mix of crunchy and gooey.
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jan/25/39009/
5th Pecorino and cracked pepper pasta that had been salted with a bit too much zeal in light of the already salty cheese. Perfectly cooked noodles.
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jan/25/39010/
6th Spinach tagliatelle with lamb. It was lighter than expected (a boon as the protein dishes had yet to arrive) but still studded with toothsome chunks of braised lamb in a light sauce.
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jan/25/39011/
7th Fish and potatoes! I didn’t catch the particular variety of fish (it was cod-like), but the preparation of hot. mashed potatoes and tomato sauce brought me back to my teen years working in a Greek restaurant and the Sunday family meal of baked fish and potatoes in tomato and onion sauce.
8th Beef cacciatore for the final course. Not a home run as the frozen/canned peas in the sauce distracted from the tasty chunks of, I think, flank steak.
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jan/25/39012/
Now that is what I call a smoking hot deal! I have to go check out “Tasty Tuesday” sometime, when the restaurant has a free buffet on the patio and all you have to do is buy wine. I strongly urge anyone and everyone to get out to Old Town and pay 25 Forty a visit for one of these ridiculous deals. The place is cozy and the food is usually above average.