Food and Drink Aug 23, 2012 at 4:00 am

Carpaccio Trattoria: Less Than Meets the Eye

Comments

1
*Written by a white person on a newspaper staff full of white people
3
Chris Onstad reviews a restaurant named Carpaccio and does not try the carpaccio.
4
What's with the passive voice? Onstad is simply insufferable.
5
Not to be rude but I think you may have not found your "audience" writing for the Mercury. I have been following your column from the get-go and it seems your demographic is more Food and Wine Magazine.

How many readers would realistically eat soupy risottos and pay $15.00 for a crappy appetizer? Let alone dig a fork into something with "offal richness"? I am confident that you will figure out who reads the Mercury, and maybe do some reviews for readers who are on a tighter budget. Not tater tots, but somewhere in-between.

Just one other catty note, what exactly would make fava beans a dish that you would feel sexy eating? I'm thinking maybe if they were prepared by Hannibal Lecter, while he sautes brains and you are drugged. Just a thought. Bon appetit!
6
Bravo Chris! I ate here two months ago and had a very similar experience. Thank you for bringing back honest and educated reviews that we haven't seen since the Karen Brooks days.
PS. to C'mon Dude. There is no carpaccio on the menu at Carpaccio Trattoria.
7
Agree-- good honest review. I don't see anything wrong with describing the typical scene* and detailed disappointment of the food. And as to k47's snarky generalization on the "audience"-- hey, I would eat a good risotto and pay $15 for a filling appetizer every once in a wile. Most reviews *are* of reasonably priced restaurants, if you look back. Meanwhile, I'll know to avoid this one. Unless they start serving sauteed drug-brains, or whatever you're into.
8
Could not agree more. I ate there a few weeks ago and the best thing about my meal was the fact that I got to use a Groupon, so I didn't pay full price. I hope they course correct soon, otherwise I see them going the way of Terroir and Belly.
9
Has anybody noticed that he mostly only reviews restaurants in one tiny strip of the city? Either he can't drive and is afraid of public transit, or he's got an ankle bracelet and can only go within ten blocks of his house. Somebody drive the man someplace else.
10
Try again, GDub. Have you ever tried asking about their carpaccio? It's one of their specials (written on the BIG wall) that's often offered on the weekends and it's awesome!
11
Kimmy 47, there are apt critiques of Onstad's food reviews to be made, your's is not one of them. I'd say this is one of his better pieces. It's almost like the Mercury put it through an editorial process.
12
I have had several meals there and totally enjoyed the food and the service. Maybe I am not a young, hip, foodie but I've been in restaurants all over the US and Europe for many years and this is an extremely pleasant, relaxed place to dine.The food tastes good and the flavors are subtle and crisp. The staff and owner are friendly and ready to make changes and suggestions on both choice combinations, delivery and explanation. But not overbearing or condescending like so many know-it-all waitstaff jerks who get their ideas of suave style from the movies. The prices are not inflated and the whole atmosphere is relaxed. Our visit (with a different dining companion ) earlier this week was excellent and we sat outside in this balmy Indian summer at 8 p.m. enjoying the whole meal, MLK sirens and Fremont bicycle cluster traffic adding to the ambiance.

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