Benissimo: the best Italian food in Marin?!

Who knew that the little Italian restaurant on Tamalpais Drive in Corte Madera could be so good? I've driven and walked by Benissimo hundreds of times—it’s been there since 1987—but it only occurred to me to check it out for the first time this past Saturday.

 

It was nearing 8 pm by the time we approached the restaurant. It was so nice to be seated right away on a Saturday night—especially without a reservation. The host (probably one of the owners) was kind enough to offer us a bigger table near the back or a small table up front. I wanted the table near the front by the window.

The restaurant was bigger and more spacious than it looks from the street. About half the tables were occupied, so it wasn't very noisy (which was a relief).

We brought a bottle of 2006 Pine Ridge Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon to enjoy with dinner and put it on the table as we sat down. A server arrived a few short moments later with wine glasses—and not with attitude because we brought our own wine. He proceeded to open the bottle while he told us the specials.

The specials sounded amazing, but so did so many dishes on the menu (the four different kinds of risotto, the short ribs, the lamb, the pastas).

After tasting the Cab, I knew I had to order red meat. The wine was lush and jammy and full-bodied with silky tannins. It had sweet blackberry, black cherry, earth, and vanilla flavors and a long, rich finish.

The wine paired perfectly with the short ribs, polenta and sautéed veggies.

My boyfriend ordered the seafood risotto and it, too, was absolutely delicious.

The service was great without being intrusive—the server actually checked in a few minutes after we received our entrees (sadly, this has not been the norm recently) and cleared our plates shortly after we had finished. We were too full to consider dessert, but I bet they have a tasty tiramisu.

My only complaint was the portions are quite large; I overate because it was so good. But overall, it was a terrific experience and quite possibly the best Italian food in Marin!

P.S. Corkage was only $15 but it's waived on Tuesday nights. Cheers!

Oregon Pinot at its finest

Domaine Serene has been one of my favorite Oregon Pinot Noir producers for some time now. I became reacquainted with their delicious wines at Pinot Days last month.


The 2009 Domaine Serene Yamhill Cuvée Pinot Noir ($45/bottle) is a beautiful example of elegance and earthiness. Ruby-hued and transparent, this wine smells of cherry blossom and dried herbs. It greets your taste buds with flavors of black cherry and red currant. The mid-palate displays leather and earthy notes. The bright acidity is followed by a dry, long-lasting finish of red fruit.

This wine is a delight. It shows refinement and restraint, and the potential to cellar for many years. Delicious to drink on it own but would pair nicely with pork chops or any dish with mushrooms. 

The winery and sustainably farmed vineyards are located in Yamhill County in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. In addition to Pinot Noir, they produce small quantities of Chardonnay and Syrah. Their wines regularly receive 90-95 point scores from wine publications. I have yet to visit their tasting room, but I've heard many good things about the experience.

As I said above, I have been a fan of Domaine Serene wines for a while now. They are not a new establishment; in fact, the winery is celebrating their 20th anniversary this year.

The first time I had the opportunity to taste one of their wines was about six years ago; at the time, I worked at Wine Spectator Magazine and Harvey Steiman had just finished a tasting of more than 60 Oregon Pinot samples (meaning there were 60 almost-full bottles of Pinot Noir up for grabs). I was drawn to the elegant label of the Domaine Serene. It was--and still is--quite the memorable wine.

I received this bottle of the Yamhill Cuvée for review purposes. You can order it from their website and it's also available at K&L Wine Merchants. Cheers!