Stopped by Stoneground Italian Kitchen last night to check out their Farm-to-Glass cocktail entry and as usual, found a a lot of other stuff going on.
First of all, the entrance from the parking lot, which was always a bit awkward and unlovely, has been restyled into a charming lounge area. Unfortunately, you can’t eat or drink out there—pesky laws!—but it’s a comfortable place to sit and wait for your table in the upstairs restaurant which is increasingly booked up.
The Lavender Buzz, a shake of rum, lavender and lemon served in a stemmed glass, is a delicious drink—a touch of sweetness and fragrance rounding out the rum.
My companion ordered the Kale Caesar, a familiar favorite spiked with bottarga, and I noshed on the braciolo crudo, a gorgeous rose of super-thin Wagyu beef, centered with arugula and drizzled with oil.
We split an order of foccacino, a big bubble of thin bread like a giant pita only better, with pomodoro for dipping. The server brings it on a slate, then pops the bubble and slashes it into strips.
This Italian kitchen, headed by Justin Shifflet, just gets better and better.
Speaking of eats, there will be LOTS at this year’s Cocktail Contest Finale,—Creminelli, cupcakes, crudites—along with 24 different drinks to try. Tickets are only $25.00!!