Risotto

When I first heard the name Risotto, I thought, another run-of-the-mill Italian restaurant. I was pleasantly surprised to find that Risotto is anything but run of the mill!

We began with a table full of tapas, because they all sounded so good. The Artichoke Wontons were beyond amazing. I usually try to take only a few bites of each item ordered but this was the exception. Creamy spinach and artichoke, cheese, bell pepper and tomatoes all neatly wrapped in the crispy wontons, truly addictive, especially when dipped in the avocado sour cream! Next were the Steak Tips. Sounds simple enough, but these were marinated in ginger teriyaki, sliced thin, served on a grilled crostini topped with a caramelized onion puree and finished a drizzle of balsamic glaze. The meat was so tender it melted in your mouth and the portion size was so substantial it could have been a meal. The standard Shrimp and Grits was over the top with a lemongrass aioli. They really got the texture of the grits right and the cook on the shrimp was perfect. The last of the tapas, the GLC Chips House-made chips crowned with asiago cheese sauce and salsa, were just the right combination of salty and spicy.

My companion and I decided with all the food we ordered that we would split a salad. We chose the Strawberry Fields. The description said macerated berries, but they were actually sliced berries combined with toasted pecans, toasted coconut and goat cheese. This fairly sweet combination of ingredients was showcased by the slight bitterness of the arugula and perfected by the prosecco vinaigrette.

I noticed a couple of interesting things about Risotto. First, even though the restaurant is in a strip mall, the restaurant has a real neighborhood, almost communal feel. The second thing is, there are no salt shakers on the table, just pepper mills. Fine with me, since everything was perfectly seasoned. And last, instead of the traditional bread basket, our server presented us with seasoned pita bread with a well of olive oil mixed with roasted garlic. Perfect!

In keeping with the restaurant name, my companion ordered the Surf and Turf Risotto. If you eat first with your eyes, this dish was a feast. A mound of shrimp risotto is layered with a grilled New York strip steak and grilled asparagus. It was visually stunning, surpassed only by the flavors in both the risotto and the steak, finished with a seafood butter. My CK Stack was just as stunning and even more flavorful. It was a tower of–get this–chicken, bacon, grilled tomato, avocado and a fried egg. The entire dish was covered in a sriracha hollandaise sauce. I don’t know how they came up with this combination, but it was flavor delight in every bite. You couldn’t possibly get all the components in each bite, so each one was different.

This was a “girlfriend’s dessert” night. You know, you shouldn’t have dessert, but you and your friend decide to split one, the Peanut Butter Explosion! This is one serious dessert. It’s a brownie topped with peanut butter mousse, then chocolate cake, peanut butter chips and FUDGE. I’m glad we decided to split this dessert. I wouldn’t have wanted to miss it, but no way could I have eaten one by myself.

Risotto is a great place to go with a group. The menu is meant for sharing, and the more people you have, the more dishes you will be able to sample! HLM

Risotto is located at 320 Northern Boulevard in Albany, NY. Call 518-747-6886 or visit the website, 518risotto.com, for hours and to preview the menu.