Alberto Harari D.
Latest Reviews
A Casa do Porco Bar
Just to be clear, I'm giving this place a 3/5 mostly because my waiter was super cool and friendly, otherwise 2/5 is the proper rating.
A Casa do Porco in Sao Paulo is hyped in the Michelin and the 50 Best guides. But you know what? It left me feeling pretty let down. Out of like 10 dishes they served, only one was really above average.
I splurged on the R$290 tasting menu. We kicked off with cold cuts. The guanciale was kinda chewy, and the cassava crispy corn meal was alright but no better than your average Brazilian bolinho that you can snag for way less (R$3 in most places). Then there were three sandwiches—meh, they were just okay.
The pork tartare was a bit of a win, but nothing mind-blowing. Then came the BBQ part. The cut they served was tough and not very flavorful, unlike the chef's sausage (no pun intender, that’s the actual translation of the name), which was actually pretty good.
But oh boy, the ossobuco was a disaster. It should be fall-apart tender, but this one was as hard as a rock, and don't get me started on those undercooked onions in the soup.
The saving grace was the San Zé pork, served with classic Brazilian sides. It was the best part, but not good enough to save the whole experience. I wouldn’t come here to eat that, it’s not that special.
Dessert was decent, but honestly, I was here for the main course not to get an ice cream. Overall, I'm just not getting why it's so hyped despite this disappointing experience.
A Casa do Porco in Sao Paulo is hyped in the Michelin and the 50 Best guides. But you know what? It left me feeling pretty let down. Out of like 10 dishes they served, only one was really above average.
I splurged on the R$290 tasting menu. We kicked off with cold cuts. The guanciale was kinda chewy, and the cassava crispy corn meal was alright but no better than your average Brazilian bolinho that you can snag for way less (R$3 in most places). Then there were three sandwiches—meh, they were just okay.
The pork tartare was a bit of a win, but nothing mind-blowing. Then came the BBQ part. The cut they served was tough and not very flavorful, unlike the chef's sausage (no pun intender, that’s the actual translation of the name), which was actually pretty good.
But oh boy, the ossobuco was a disaster. It should be fall-apart tender, but this one was as hard as a rock, and don't get me started on those undercooked onions in the soup.
The saving grace was the San Zé pork, served with classic Brazilian sides. It was the best part, but not good enough to save the whole experience. I wouldn’t come here to eat that, it’s not that special.
Dessert was decent, but honestly, I was here for the main course not to get an ice cream. Overall, I'm just not getting why it's so hyped despite this disappointing experience.
Sartoria
I recently dined at Sartoria in Colonia Roma, CDMX, and have mixed feelings about the experience. The restaurant's ambiance is undoubtedly its highlight, with a welcoming atmosphere that encourages guests to linger. However, the service left much to be desired. The waitstaff's infrequent visits and somewhat cocky attitude were disappointing.
The real letdown was the food. While the ingredients were of high quality, the dishes fell short in terms of flavor. The pasta itself was delicious, but the sauces lacked the depth and richness one would expect from an Italian restaurant of this caliber. The high prices were hard to justify given the overall dining experience.
The appetizers were a brighter spot, with the beet salad and fried calamari with polenta being highlights. However, the portion sizes were surprisingly small, bordering on insulting. The raviolo, supposedly infused with truffle, failed to deliver on that promise, and the tagliatelle with mushrooms suffered from overly acidic mushrooms.
On a positive note, the gluten-free pasta option was impressive, delivering a taste remarkably close to traditional pasta. In summary, while Sartoria has its merits, it falls short of its hype and recognition, particularly in terms of value for the price. If you visit, consider focusing on the appetizers and more traditional pasta dishes, don’t be fooled by the fancy explanations on the menu.
The real letdown was the food. While the ingredients were of high quality, the dishes fell short in terms of flavor. The pasta itself was delicious, but the sauces lacked the depth and richness one would expect from an Italian restaurant of this caliber. The high prices were hard to justify given the overall dining experience.
The appetizers were a brighter spot, with the beet salad and fried calamari with polenta being highlights. However, the portion sizes were surprisingly small, bordering on insulting. The raviolo, supposedly infused with truffle, failed to deliver on that promise, and the tagliatelle with mushrooms suffered from overly acidic mushrooms.
On a positive note, the gluten-free pasta option was impressive, delivering a taste remarkably close to traditional pasta. In summary, while Sartoria has its merits, it falls short of its hype and recognition, particularly in terms of value for the price. If you visit, consider focusing on the appetizers and more traditional pasta dishes, don’t be fooled by the fancy explanations on the menu.