Never judge a restaurant by the decor.

This is why I like being surprised. Expectations were modest. The food, service and value blew right through them — and I still remember the meal years later.

The pasta. The piccata. The service. The value. More important, the whole experience exceeded what the room had led me to expect.

Very little worth dwelling on. If anything, the decor undersold what the kitchen was capable of.

Absolutely. A pleasant surprise can move an experience an entire letter grade — maybe even a star — because surprise makes the experience memorable.

Absofreakinlutely. I go for the experience, the flavors and the service. I don’t give a shit about a name.

Anyone willing to ignore the cover and judge the restaurant by what actually arrives at the table.

Order the pasta or piccata and let the food make the argument.