After the movie at Newport on the Levee last night, my friend and I went to Brio’s for dinner. It was one of the early restaurants opened there, all of which are packed on Saturday evening. So we bought tickets for the early movie, and made reservations for dinner.
I had been there when it first opened, and all I really remembered was that it was way too noisy – and that the food seemed interesting. I guess I’ve gotten used to deliberately noisy restaurants (so we’ll know we’re some place that’s really happening!), because the noise wasn’t as offensive. Still absurd, but not quite as bad.
Now, the food just seems like high end mass produced American food, pretending to be from Tuscany. So it’s Applebee’s on a more expensive scale. Very fast service, food right out on the table, gluey tomato bisque. The field greens salad was very good – would have liked a goat cheese choice. The mashed potatoes – one of the test dishes I get to see what’s up in a restaurant – were very good – and enough for a family of 3 or 4. Which is one way to know this is a mass produced American place. The mushroom ravioli with winter squash was interesting – but not enough so to entice me back. All told, $30, without wine.
I had the rest of the garlicky mashed potatoes for breakfast, plenty left over even after my friend shared them with me. I heated up the rest of the soup, too – but it was much less appetizing.
To me – Brio’s is boredom central. Good food made with love is what I’m after. Didn’t find it here.