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Zio Ristorante: At Zio, the passion for food, drink and life itself oozes from the ristorante’s every pore. The menu is clearly Italian, or “nouveau Italiano,” perhaps, but rest assured that this ain’t no tired ol’ “family style” joint. The sleek lounge space pumps party music loud enough to have patrons craning their necks for a view of the guilty DJ (they'll never find him, though—that's just a badass playlist they hear). Fascinating apps such as bone marrow risotto ($13) and duck leg confit ($16) set the mood for food, and hearty, reasonably-priced entrees such as red beet and potato gnocci ($18) are easily found. High rollers can treat themselves to pricier plates like sirloin steak in a vanilla-scented sauce ($32) and roasted veal chops ($36). The wine list is impressive ($8-18 a glass), recommendations for food pairings are savvy, and adventurous cocktails ($13) round out the boozehound’s options. You’ll think there’s no room for dessert, but try to get it down anyhow—the Bailey’s creme-filled crepes and the tiramisu ($8) are worth it. Service is impeccable, hospitality is over-the-top friendly and the atmosphere is a blast—even with a slightly contradicting scene, Zio has an excellent complexion.
Reviewed 9/27/11 |