Ciao's

For all local Reno-ites, if you haven't checked out "Ciao's" lately, I would highly recommend it. In fact, this is the first time I have been inspired to write a restaurant review on this blog! We had a fantastic dinner with great friends their last night.

The dining area is elegant and subdued-the tables spaced out far enough to allow initimate conversation with our friends. We all agreed that from the mojitos on, the entire meal was delectable.

Items we tried included a mushroom and cream soup topped with fontina cheese, after which one of our companions remarked "I am balanced and in harmony with the world." Every bite was to be savored... The most interesting of the salads we ordererd was one with succulent heirloom tomatoes, festooned with caramelized watermelon slices, and fresh mozarella-- drizzled with a balsalmic reduction. For the entrees, we had eroasted escalade with a basil chiffonade and ricotta stuffed pascilla pepper, halibut with zucchini flowerettes, and filet mignon with olive oil shipped potatoes and calabria chile demi glace--all elegantly presented and perfectly prepared. The desserts were a flourless chocolate torte (which my wife orders every time we dine here) and a savory dessert consisting of heirloom tomatoes and some minimally sweet cherries in a pie crust accompanied by a basil and mint sorbet.

Overall it was a wonderful time shared with our friends in a charming and intimate setting, whilst enjoying exquisitely prepared cuisine. Not only was great detail evident in the preparation of each component of the meal, but our waiter was attentive and actually quite entertaining in an "English or perhaps it was "Welsh" sort of way...

Give it a try. There is also a quaint outdoor patio to enjoy our pleasant summer evenings and an extensive Italian wine list!