Home          
     
 

Zucca Ristorante (Mediterranean cuisine)  $$$

 8
JaT Rating

186 Castro Street, Mountain View, 94041  (Directions)


650.864.9940


Website  Menu  vCard

            
Elegant restaurant offering a wide range of dishes from Mediterreanean area


Reviewer: Jason
Total Reviews: 992
Reviewed: 2/21/2006
Rating: 8
My photo gallery 		Met up with friends at Zucca Ristorante off Castro street in Mountain View for dinner. Zuccas not really a hidden jewel as its a popular spot with the locals. The restaurant is swanky and not your walk up counter service jatbar light on the wallet type of place. I dont have anything against higher end restaurants, I just hate using my camera in low lighting situations. I never use a flash and it pretty much guarantees subpar shots. I couldnt even use my shots and had to rely on Jennies mad photography skills.

Enough about camera stuff and onward to food. The service was friendly and attentive. Waters were topped off and bread brought out quickly...twice. The bread was good but I resisted getting thirds. For my appetizer, started off with crabcakes and main dish was the Butternut Squash Risotto with Roasted Garlic, Gorgonzola, Cinnamon, and Sausage.

crabcakes - for $9.95, you get 3 smaller sized deep fried crab cakes with tabiko and mayo or a yogurt sauce. In the center of the plate is a fancy mustard sauce topped with mixed greens. Crunchy on the outside and filled with crab on the inside. Super good....nothing like Old Ebbitt Grill in DC but worth ordering.

the risotto with sausage - small cubes of butternut squash scattered throughout the risotto. Squash was firm and almost looked like mango. I could not tell what kind of sausage and abstract playdo shape was a bit odd. The dish had interesting flavors to it and not something Ive had at any italian restaurant...maybe its a creaminess of the Gorgonzola mixed with squash and cinnamon. I think I liked it but I cannot decide if its a must order.

After looking around the table, the winning dish would probably be the lamb shank. Although I didnt taste it, the lamb looked the most appealing and portion size was much greater than the others. The serving bowls were ridiculously large but portions were euro sized. Prices will run $20-30 with a shared appetizer and with a modern dining atmosphere, I dont think anyone was complaining about the prices. The plating of the dishes were above average and I think everyone at dinner enjoyed their meal. I know I did, visit Zucca Ristorante for an appealing array of dishes originating from bordering countries along the Mediterranean Sea.
 
Disclaimer
User submitted quickies (help)

Login to write a quickie.