Is this medium rare?

T and I have been trying to coordinate our schedules to see if we could go to RW. Lunch or dinner, weekend or weekday...it just seemed like we would never make it and then suddenly we were able to go today. But where to go? Whe wanted to go to a restaurant that hadn't been to before so we were limited. After going back and forth, we decided to go to Ecco across from The Lab. It is in an eco-friendly shopping area filled with restaurants and shops.

Calamari Fries



Bruschetta

When we walked in there were only three tables occupied. We chose to sit outside. The menu for RW changed slightly. We had the calamari fries and the bruschetta as the appetizers.  The calamari fries were surprisingly crispy with just enough breading on them.  The bruschetta were a bit bland and large.  It would have been better if they were four smaller pieces instead of two larger ones. 

The entrees were modified.  Instead of the white sea bass, Ecco substituted with the organic half chicken with swiss chard, cannellini beans and chicken jus.  I picked the chicken since I had the beef yesterday at Mastro's while T had the hanger steak medium rare with broccoli rabe and black olive vinaigrette.  I kept saying I wanted to get the mac and cheese but decided at the last minute to go for the wood fired roasted corn.  What we got was an experience in itself... 

The wood fired roasted corn was basically corn that was a bit dry and rolled in grated cheese, salt and chile.  I should have gone with my gut and ordered the mac and cheese BUT if the bruschetta was bland, maybe not...  T's hanger steak came out medium well not rare.  It was brown all the way through and dry.  The olive viniagrette looked like chocolate sauce. I've never seen someone have to send the food back but was the first time.  Mine was actually very moist.  The flavors were throughout the chicken and the breast didn't even taste like breast meat.  The only thing was that the beans were mushy.  Halfway through the meal, the manager came by and said that he would comp the dessert but we were thinking that the dessert is already included so why? 



Hanger Steak with Black Olive Viniagrette and Brocolli Rabe

Organic Chicken with Cannelli Beans and chicken jus

For dessert, T and I shared the tiramisu and zeppoles.  The tiramisu was a small square.  The other plate was three zeppoles that were hot cinnamon sugar donuts that you could dip into hot chocolate syrup or sweet cream.  The waitress gave T an extra serving of tiramisu to bring home.  Overall, this was an interesting meal of returns and service.  Although it wasn't a busy restaurant day, it certainly felt like it.

Zeppolis with Chocolate Sauce and Sweet Cream

Tiramisu