A Taste of Tuscany
“Where are we lunching today?” I asked Robin one day last week.
“Vicini,” she said. “It’s in the Lafayette Square area. A family run place that just opened several months ago. I’ve heard lots of good things.”
I paused. “Vicini?” I said. “Hmm . . . wasn’t that the name of the guy in Princess Bride who kept saying, ‘inconceivable’?”
“You’re right,” Robin laughed, “but the spelling and pronunciation are a bit different. The character in the film was ‘Vizzini.’ But connecting the two is a good way to recall the restaurant name.”
With that, we headed for Lafayette Square.
Hold onto Your Hats, My Fellow Foodies!
Approaching the restaurant, I felt like we were pulling up to a village bistro in Tuscany. The whimsical façade lures you into the petite dining area (18-seats), where attention to detail is apparent in every corner. Even the mismatched chairs and tables featuring the names of Italian vineyards conveys the Italian countryside theme. Right away, you get the idea that something special is happening in the tiny, open kitchen behind the counter.
Table top featuring wood from the crates of fine wines
The open kitchen allows diners to watch the impeccably crafted meals prepared by Chef Wilson.
Vicini is very much a family run restaurant. Chef/owner Dawn Wilson, her brother, and mother, Beth Crow, welcome diners as they would guests in their own home. The rustic Tuscan decor is the work of Mrs. Crow.
Don’t forget to look up at the stunning design in the dining room ceiling. The fixture is from a previous time when the space was an art gallery.
Heirloom, local Mightyvine and Campari tomatoes, fresh basil, creamy burrata cheese, Sogno Toscano balsamic di Modena, Partanna Sicilian extra virgin olive oil, black lava salt, house-made schiacciata bread (a Tuscan-style focaccia). Now that’s a lot of menu prose to wade through. So just trust the chef, it’s all good.
A Wow Fest!
The specialty of the day (shown below) is most certainly deserving of it’s own paragraph. Each time Robin took a bite, she said “Wow!” I lost track of the number of Wows she proclaimed, but each conveyed her feelings toward the dish.
Wild Ramp Culurgiones with Arugula-Almond Pesto. Ramp is a variety of wild leek much like a cross between roasted garlic and caramelized shallots.
The Classic Panini is one of several sandwiches on the menu. This one comes with Volpi prosciutto, house-made arugula-basil-almond pesto, fresh Mozzarella, Campari tomatoes, basil, arugula, aged balsamic, and olive oil.
Pici Cacio e Pepe is Vicini’s signature dish. The hand-rolled pici pasta. similar to a thick, rustic spaghetti, is sprinkled with Pecorino Romano cheese, cracked black pepper, and olive oil-toasted breadcrumbs.
House-marinated Castelvetrano and Cerignola olives were as good as any I’ve ever eaten.
If you close your eyes, you can imagine a meal in Tuscany. Vicini means “neighbors” in Italian.
Put this one on your dance card.
Vicini Pasteria, Cafe and Market. 1916 Park Ave. in Lafayette Square. Open: Fri–Mon 11:30a-5:30p. (Kitchen closes at 3p)
Sounds like this neighbor needs a few repeat visits. Would love to hear what else is on the menu. Robin’s eyes closed in bliss say it all.