Finally! A food review

Les has asked me a few times to consider writing a restaurant review, and I finally have my opportunity this weekend.

Because of my birthday last week, the boyfriend and I drove up to grand St. Louis just to get away from work and enjoy one another's company. But mostly, I wanted FAR away from work. Especially since I was taking off a whole week for my birthday.

If you are in the area, I highly recommend taking a trip to The Hill, St. Louis's famous Italian-based neighborhood. But the restaurant I'm suggesting isn't going to be serving pasta, salad, or pizza. My favorite place in the neighborhood is easily Modesto.

Modesto is a wine and tapas bar, and is both comfortable and lively. My boyfriend and I found the place last year on a trip to the city, and it was definitely a gold mine of a find! The food is always expertly prepared, with just the right amount of spice. It's presentation is clean, and the menu options are generally way above standard.

For those unfamiliar with tapas as a food genre, loosely, it translates as an appetizer. In most restaraunts who specialize in this type of cuisine, it refers to "little plates", consisting of appetizer portions, but instead of a single plate, diners typically order several options. In this visit and between the two of us, we were able to stuff ourselves with roughly five plates. By the last plate, though, we were feeling sluggish.

My boyfriend and I discovered a shared affection for asparagus early in our relationship. When we see the option available on a menu at a new place, we usually try to include it as a side for at least one of us. If at Modesto, try the ESPÁRRAGOS CON ROMESCO. Grilled to near-perfection, it comes drizzled with a superb red sauce.

We also ordered the ALBÓNDIGAS CASERAS, a veal and beef meatball, which comes with a tomato sauce, then is topped with Manchego cheese, a favorite we discovered in our first visit.

After already being mostly full, we decided we should order one more plate--just to be sure. We chose the EMPANADILLAS DE POLLO, a mini Eempanada, consisting of chicken and Ibérico ham, shaved on site. Incredibly tasty, but overly filling, this was a fantastic way to end our meal.

Don't forget to order drinks! While the boyfrined enjoyed a Sangria Roja (he actually passed up a regular glass of wine!), I relished in a glass of Glorioso Crianza. Their extensive list of options, ranging from mixed drinks to fantastic bottles of wine will be sure to satisfy anyone's tastes.

I do recommend making a reservation, if you are sure when you want to eat. We had no problem getting a table at about 8 p.m., but we had to be willing to eat inside on a really beautiful night. If you plan to take Modesto up on their sidewalk dining option, arrive early. Tables fill up quickly on beautiful days!

In case anyone is concerned, this is an incredibly friendly atmosphere. We had a couple of odd looks from other patrons, but the staff was more than hospitable. If you're in the area, give it a shot!