There is an amazing new restaurant in downtown Beaverton that we finally tried last week called DeCarli. Sandra and I thought it would be the perfect place to take my Dad who came up last Wednesday for the first round of the NCAA basketball championship.
First off...the warm atmosphere with brick walls, dark wooden sideboards, an attractive bar and a shiny open kitchen sends fragrant steams from kitchen to table. We all sorta felt like we were in a trendy downtown eatery and not Beaverton.
Opened last fall and run by former Tuscany Grill and Fratelli chef Paul Decarli and his wife, Jana, who spent six years working the floor at Bluehour, DeCarli offers rich pasta dishes, pizzettas and a complex and satisfying assortment of specials (from chicken, pork chops and flat iron steaks). Our portion sizes were overwhelming and hearty and even though the menu is small (this is Beaverton), it left each of us with a strong desire to return again, soon!
We started with the Polenta Fries served with a side of Gorgonzola Butter - fighting for the last bite. Sandra and I felt like the drinks and appetizer menu would be very appealing during the week.
Sandra had the Penne Pasta alla vodka w/ housemade fennel sausage - rich, creamy and spicy!
Pop had a dozen Oysters on the half shell with champagne mignonnette and a whole romaine leaf Caesar salad with croutons and shaved grana padano.
Stacy had Oxtail Orecchiette Pasta (distinctive Puglian type of pasta shaped roughly like small ears, hence the name {orecchio, ear, orecchiette, little ears} topped also with the shaved grana padano
The food reached the table in a timely manner and was "pipping" hot!
The wine list was reasonable and filled with NW and California varieties. We loved the Calera Chardonnay from California and will add this to our list of creamy, oaky favorites!
The dessert menu was appealing. Our choice, the Vanilla bean creme brulee achieved an admirably silky texture but reached the table with an off-tasting burnt top (perhaps a little too done).
The dessert menu was appealing. Our choice, the Vanilla bean creme brulee achieved an admirably silky texture but reached the table with an off-tasting burnt top (perhaps a little too done).
Decarli is reasonably priced, with just about everything under $20 and appetizers under $10.
Check it out!
Enjoy!
Stacy
