Sophistication

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Last week, after a few Wednesday lunches at "lower" end restaurants,  we decided to get a little more sophisticated. Today we went downtown to the Bistro Bella Vita a restaurant listed on Google as a place for a  high-end lunch. 
As we entered we noticed many tables filled with 'sophisticated ' office groups out for lunch. Definitely a good sign, I thought.
The menu offerings also seemed on the 'sophisticated ' side.
I chose the meatball sub-sandwich with a side of fries and while that doesn't sound terribly sophisticated the description of the meatballs sounded pretty exciting.  


Rose chose the gnocchi with squash, cranberry, kale and some lovely sauces.


Our review?? ( I am much more critical than Rose.) 
She enjoyed the dish of gnocchi but did mention that it was too mushy. From my one bite, I agreed but also thought it needed more salt. In a 'sophisticated ' place there never are salt and pepper shakers on the table. We didn't care to ask.
My meatball sub with fries on the side looked delicious and it was tasty. Unfortunately the fries were very salty and very chewy...so disappointing. 
While both dishes were a step up from the earlier places we have visited they were both much too cold!

All was redeemed by the delicious...perhaps even decadent... dessert!  
Chèvre Cheesecake with a cranberry jam, salted apple cider caramel and a crunchy streusel.



Beautiful food, a lovely, articulate friendly waitress, and clean bathrooms -- all good reasons to return BUT parking downtown is difficult and expensive $12.00!! So ¿should we go back?




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