24/03/2024: I decided to recommend this place to my parents for their wedding anniversary, I had seen the restaurant on Instagram and as a Masterchef fan I didn't miss the opportunity to try chef Amelia Falco's cuisine which seemed so precise and truthful during the program.
The impact with Zest was very positive, we immediately found parking in a reserved slot in Zest and we went up discovering a modern place but with a welcoming atmosphere which is supported by the wooden furnishing elements, the combination of colors but above all of many small "fancy" details scattered here and there that left me suspended between sparkle and comfort.
They made us sit in the room where we met our waiter Alfred, as far as I'm concerned one of the highlights of the whole experience, he accompanied us throughout the evening guiding us through the menu with nods full of usefulness and spirit.
Coming to the dishes, we did not use the grill we had at the table, preferring to concentrate on tasting the meatballs and the à la carte menu which contained various options we had spotted.
From this moment our journey into the flavors of Zest began. All the dishes we had were excellent, many of them were surprising, some were brilliant; In my opinion, this is due to some key characteristics such as the presentation of a starred restaurant (the fassona tartare), the courageous combinations and the skilful use of citrus fruits (the risotto and the almond tartlet etc). Equally important is the exaltation of traditional Campania dishes with elements of haute cuisine (the omelette, the pacchero with broccoli etc), although there is no shortage of foreign inspired and quality dishes.
To all this I add that the aforementioned tartare, in addition to being made of good quality meat, has elements of different consistencies inside which make it even tastier, the desserts are delicious and not banal.
The cheese-pepper/orange-fig risotto was our favorite dish due to this specific contrast, the rhetorical figure of the simile comes to my aid to describe the contact with my palate: "it was like eating the wings of an angel". Highly recommended!
I found it so stimulating to rediscover these elements, because they made it possible for me to derive the philosophy of chef Falco who, having a very strong personality, inevitably ends up transferring it to her dishes. This is a factor that I believe is fundamental for adding layers of depth to the gastronomic experience where eating well is the first fundamental level, the brain stimulation of the concept allows us to better place the experience within our experience. I feel like saying that they are on a good path as they are also taking care of the image and the "thematic" part of the place.
For the price nothing to say, it was honest for what we ate.
Finally, I want to sincerely thank all the staff for this special moment as my parents were enthusiastic about this evening and for me this was the main objective. Special thanks also to the chef who was very kind to find a moment to come and say hello.
We will definitely be back to try the grill option and we wish good luck to all the Zest staff. Compliments!
PS: I leave a very small note on the pasta and potato buttons which is intended to be a constructive comparison, as you can see in the photo the sauce is not uniform in the center of the dish as it was in the presentation we saw on Instagram, I don't know if that's how it was intended however, if it had been more uniform in the center it would have been even more aesthetically pleasing.
28/02/2024: Very nice place, tastefully furnished and with a quiet atmosphere. The cuisine, which offers delicious meat and vegetable dishes, has always satisfied our tastes. Excellent service, with friendly and knowledgeable staff who were able to advise us excellently. Outdoor table with integrated TOP burner.
I highly recommend it for a welcoming, quality dining experience.
Price in line with what is proposed.
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