Providence Cicero joins in the chorus of praise for the tripe at Artusi. If you haven't tried it before. "consider surrendering your virginity here." Jason Stratton's new spot is "the high-styled modern flip-side to Spinasse's sepia old-world charm" and stands out "for the quality of its food and drink, and for an original, contemporary Italian menu rooted in historical context." As others have noted, this is a place for "an aperitivo or a casual meal" rather than a full-on dining experience. Other favorites "fresh ricotta on a golden semolina cracker" and the zucchini alla parmigiana, which is "lighter than anything dipped in béchamel has a right to be." [Seattle Times]
Hanna Raskin's name check makes Eater giddy as a schoolgirl; she too ponders what it means when two critics review the same restaurant in one week. And, says Raskin, "that's too bad, because I think it enriches local culinary conversations when readers have multiple perspectives to consider." Like, say, whether Bar del Corso's pizza is wildly oversalted or pleasantly complex. The upshot: "Bar del Corso is a restaurant deserving of attention, and it's more likely to receive it from a general audience when two critics tackle it in the same week." [Seattle Weekly]
Jess Voelker also does a little review-capping, reminding everyone that reviewing a restaurant a split second after it opens can be an incomplete picture. Case in point: Hanna Raskin's "terrible, take-no-prisoners" review of Stopsky's Delicatessen, followed by a more positive visit from Seattle Met critic Kathryn Robinson: "Patiently we waited for the snazzy deli to get its organizational act together...rarely has patience been so amply rewarded." Voelker notes that Raskin's review "likely lit a fire under the owners of Stopsky’s," but it does take weeks, even months, for a restaurant to hit its proverbial stride (see also: Ba Bar). It's a nice reminder that "If you believe in a restaurant concept and the people behind it, don’t take early mishaps as an indication that it’s forever doomed." [Seattle Met]
