So Saturday night, Steve and I went out with a few friends of ours. We met up with one of them who was performing in a play downtown so we found ourselves on 8th and West 15th. Right around the corner we found a place called Chelsea Ristorante. We were immediately seated and our waiter was so warm and inviting. No sooner did we sit down, they brought out garlicky focaccia and bread with little bowls of balsamic vinegar and EVOO. The focaccia was amazing.
The ambiance was very nice. Low lighting and warm tones on the wall created a very relaxed romantic feel. They had a full bar and a brick oven pizza station in the back that was exposed.
Once our waiter discovered that Steve speaks some italian, he began speaking italian to all of us, mixed in with a few english words in response to our blank stares as he was speaking to us. It was almost theatrical, our waiters entertaining skills. He made us laugh, but also knew when to back away so that we could enjoy each others company.
The food and drink were fantastic. I got my signature dirty martini to start and then switched to wine during the meal. Even though there was about 9 of us, we were all served at the same time. Steve and I started out with a baked clam dish that was awesome. For dinner, I got a rigatoni dish with broccoli rabe and sausage. I forget what Steve got, but everyone was thoroughly impressed with their dishes. The waiter made clear to us, that pretty much any of the dishes on the menu could be made with whatever sauce was preferred. I thought that was pretty neat. For dessert we shared a few different things ranging from cheesecake, tiramisu, and homemade peach ice cream in a carved out peach!
Steve and I are definitely going back for more. It was an awesome experience, with a decently priced menu with entree dishes ranging from $14 to $20. The service alone was fantastic. A great place to go with friends, or to just have a romantic night out. A + for this one.
