Restaurant: Vincenzo’s Italian Restaurant, Louisville, Kentucky
It was the weekend before Christmas and one thing was missing from my life. Nope, not a gift. A fine dining experience. And getting in somewhere in Louisville, Kentucky on the last Saturday before the Christmas holiday is no easy task. I had actually tried a different restaurant first but they were booked (no surprise). So, the great fine dining restaurant quest began and I ended up hitting the jackpot in the end.
The place – Vincenzo’s Italian Restaurant in downtown Louisville, Kentucky.
The atmosphere – Classic, Renaissance-style, high ceilings, low lights, stunning.
And it doesn’t stop there. The staff is done up to the nines here. While there were plenty of diners dressed in jeans, I would have felt out of place had I not dressed up for my dining experience. The hostesses are dressed all in black and keep watch over the bar, letting patrons know if there will be a wait and that they will be seated in just a few moments. The waiters and waitresses…all adorned in tuxedos.
We were seated after a very short wait at a small table near the back. The menus were laid out before us and we were asked if we would like some wine with our meal. We politely declined and opted for water. And then…the difficult task of choosing something from the menu began. It all sounded so good. And despite being a vegetarian with a gluten intolerance, there was plenty for me to choose from at Vincenzo’s. How about that? Fine dining, Italian…and I am not limited to just a salad. That was a nice treat indeed.
And so, I ended up ordering the Insalatina Caprese ($9.95), which was a simply a salad made by layering slices of fresh mozzarella cheese between a tomato, topped with olive oil, cracked pepper, and fresh basil. A light drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette finished off the plate. I must admit, this was the first time my caprese salad ever was stacked. The plate looked fantastic. I delicately picked up my fork and knife and began to carve my way through the stacked tomato and cheese, touching it off with a gentle tap into the drizzled dressing. The flavors were astounding. The cheese was melt-in-your-mouth delicious. The basil was a nice touch, instead of the normal greens. Herbs add so much to a salad. I wish they were used more. And the tomato was at the perfect level of ripeness so that when it was sliced, juices didn’t run everywhere. It won me over with presentation, but it totally blew away every past caprese salad I ever had with flavor. This salad was loaded with it. Something so simple…and yet…so amazing on the palate. I knew I was in for a treat that night.
Since I am a gluten-intolerant vegetarian, the normal go-to for vegetarians (pastas!) were not an option for me. What I ended up ordering was exactly what I wanted, however. The Risottino Con Funghi ($22.95), which consists of Arborio rice with saffron, tossed with wild mushrooms and adorned with freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. The risottos are on the menu as an appetizer, but the waitress said it could be prepared at an entrée size. I was quite pleased with this. I was even more surprised when, after a wait and some good conversation, our waitress and waiter (he was training) came to our table with pans and a cart. The burners were lit, and the food was finished off table side. What a treat. I got to see the risotto get tossed, warmed, and then plated right in front of me. My roommate’s ravioli prepped the same way. I love this stuff! The risotto was placed in front of me and then dusted with a nice helping of freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese (only the best!). We were then left to our food.
This risotto was perfectly prepared. It was the perfect level of al dente, so that the rice was at the right level of starchiness without being undercooked and hard or overcooked and mushy. It was full of rich flavors. The saffron was a nice touch to the dish. And the mushrooms were complimented by everything in there. The entree size was perfect for me as my meal. And I savored every flavorful bite. Honestly, I’ve had risottos in other establishments before, but this one was fantastic. There was just a hint of spice to each bite and the different textures kept it interesting. Who needs pasta at an Italian restaurant? Give me a vegetarian risotto any day. Especially if it is this one.
Our waiter inquired with us after we finished out dessert. We did say we would love to look at the menu. The dessert menu, mind you, is a tray that is plated with the desserts being offered that evening. This consisted of a variety of cakes and pies as well as a trio of cannoli. Not much there for someone with my food allergies. And yet, when this was mentioned, our waiter immediately said that ice cream and sorbets were available as well. I was pleased with this choice and while my roommate opted for cannoli, I treated myself to a sorbet ($8.50). The waiter gave me a flavor choice of lemon or orange. I almost chose lemon, but opted for orange. After the dessert order was placed, the waiter returned a moment later to apologize, letting me know that they did not have orange sorbet that evening, but it was raspberry. Fine by me…I was quite happy to go with raspberry instead.
The sorbet, mind you, was delivered to me in a wine glass. It looked fantastic. Very vibrant color and a healthy portion too. I was expecting a beautiful scoop in a bowl, but I most certainly to Vincenzo’s fine dining flair. The sorbet was delicious. The raspberry was just the right level of sweet, and each scoop was soft and easy to wrangle in the glass. Sometimes sorbets can get too frozen, but this one was creamy, smooth, and flooded with flavor.
We finished off the evening with a bit of light conversation at the table and some hot tea ($4.95). And when we were done, our waitress delivered the bill. We paid, lingered a moment more to take in the atmosphere, and then reluctantly put on our coats and went to retrieve our vehicle from the free valet parking.
Vincenzo’s Italian Restaurant is classic fine dining at its best. Tuxedos, table side food prep, and fantastic service. So many fine dining establishments these days make a name for themselves by giving food a twist. But, Vincenzo’s is all about the classics. Why mess with something that is already good? I was blown away by not only the food, but the atmosphere and service at Vincenzo’s. If you are looking for great Italian food while in the Louisville area, I encourage you to step away from the chain restaurants, dress up, and treat yourself to an unforgettable evening of classic Italian dishes done right. Have a taste of Italy right in the heart of Louisville, Kentucky. You owe it to yourself to dine at this restaurant.
The Celiathlete 