Sunday, September 2, 2007

Panevino, San Diego, USA

722 Fifth Avenue
Phone 619-595-7959

Located in the somewhat crowded “Gaslamp Quarter” of San Diego ("this is where the singles and tourists go out"), Panevino offers a variety of Italian, Osteria-style dishes, mostly from Tuscany.

The menu features classics such as lasagna bolognese and even bistecca fiorentina, as well as dishes with a more modern twist, for example their Fettucine Michelangelo (fettucine with artichokes, prosciutto and Shitake mushrooms). In addition to a quite extensive menu, Panevino features an impressive wine list, including 13 different champagnes, 14 Chardonnays from the US, and a number of great Italian wines (Sassicaias, Solaias, Gajas). The fettucine - a giant 1/2 order for USD 10- were excellent, and the Shitake added a nice exotic touch to it. The second dish I tasted were Strozzapreti with fava beans, dried tomatoes, chopped fillet mignon and goat cheese, in a veal reduction (USD 21). Pasta with slices of beef has often the tendency to be less full-bodied in taste. This was also the case with the strozzapreti, even though the veal reduction was great. My colleague Ming was happy with his Seabass (USD 31, the biggest we had seen so far), and after the giant portions we were ready to head for the San Diego nightlife.

The service was authentic Italian, friendly and only once forgot to bring us additional water. Altogether, Panevino is a slightly pricy but nevertheless nice Italian experience.



Visited: August 2007

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