Happy One Year - Tavolino Westborough

For about a year now :-), I have been a supporter of Tavolino Italian Gourmet in Westborough.  Last week I was fortunate enough to enjoy one of the one year anniversary events and celebrate with the managers and staff.  I still stand by my original review of the food and experience at Tavolino.  I enjoy drinks with friends,  dinner with my family, or one of the many events Tavolino hosts.

The biggest things that impresses me about Tavolino I think comes back to the people in charge.  It is obvious that Anthony Valletta (Tavolino Westborough GM) and his staff really care about Westborough.  They are proud to be part of this community.  I know Anthony grew up in Westborough but his commitment to our community is obvious.  Every time I participated in a local community event, I find Tavolino.  Some of the great organizations in the local area benefit from Tavolino.  I am just proud to see this type of commitment to the local community.  Kudos to Anthony, and to the owners of Tavolino for showing Anthony the freedom to support he local community.

The anniversary celebration, was as expected, a wonderful evening.  Great food, great wine, and great local people.  I noticed editors from Westborough.com, representatives from the Boys & Girls club, and events staff from the Boroughs JCC.  I spent some time enjoying a Radeberger Beer with the local Radeberger reps and the reps from Boulder Beer who coincidentally have also been active local supporters of Boroughs events.

I look forward to more years and more events with Tavolino in Westborough.  If you are still one of the hold outs, I suggest you at least try Tavolino pizza for take out.  It doesn't kill the wallet and can definitely be something different.

Summer Cigar and Whiskey

As I have mentioned in the past I am definitely a fan of Tavolino.  Although potentially pricey, they have yet to let me down.  I am also a fan of Julio's, so when the two planned an event together I couldn't miss it.

On May 11th, Julio's sponsored an Ashton cigar dinner at Tavolino Italian Gourmet in Westborough.  What a great event...Although it was a little chilly to be eating and socializing outside for 3 hours in early May, I really enjoyed the evening.  And short of climate change I don't think Anthony (Tavolino GM), Ryan (Julio's Owner), or any of the other managers could have done anything else to make the event better.

Let's first review another win from Tavolino's head chef.  The evening menu included:
Aperitivo: crab salad in cucumber cups, seared Tuscan ahi tuna on crostinis, petit potatoes with herbed sour cream, and bruschetta
Entree: grilled delmonico
Dolce: spiced molten chocolate cake with gorgonzola

This menu was paired with three Ashton cigars (Ashton Cabinet, Heritage, and VSG), Tavolino house cocktail “Tavolino Tea” and three small-batch bourbons: Eagle Rare Single Barrel, Buffalo Trace and Rock Hill Farms Single Barrel.   The cigars were exquisite and very well paired with the meal.  After the three bourbons there was an additional bourbon announced that evening.

Overall, it was a really fun event.  Representatives from Ashton and Buffalo talked about the cigars and bourbon.  Julio's managers brought their own experience to the event describing how they select whiskeys and other select liquors.   It was more then just a meal and drinks, the event was a fun social evening highlighting some really great tastes with true experts guiding us through the selections.

I know Tavolino has other events scheduled this summer.  Take the time to check out what they have planned on their events calendar. 

Julio's and Tavolino are planning a repeat event for late in August.  As soon as I get the information I will pass it along and maybe my readers will join me.  I know I won't miss the second installment of this event.  As I was writing this blog I also noticed the Dogfish event on July 13th listed on the Tavolino calendar.  I may first have to check that out as well. :-)

Tavolino Video

A short update today.  I was involved this past week creating a video to promote the Taste of the Boroughs event and one of the first confirmed participants: Tavolino.  I wanted to share the end results.



I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season. Thank you for the comments and encouragement with this blog.  I love being a part of the Boroughs and sharing my experiences.

Tavolino Ribbon Cutting

I received a Twitter update this morning from Corridor Nine Area Chamber of Commerce, announcing a Ribbon Cutting tonight at Tavolino Ristorante. As I mentioned in my last blog I am impressed with this restaurant, and I have been talking all week with several people about my experience. I don't know what this event has to offer, it my just be the ribbon being cut, but I wanted to pass on the info for those interested.

Tonight 11/18
Tavolino Restaurante
4:30 PM
Bay State Commons, Westborough

Tavolino Westborough

I love to eat out, so a new restaurant in the Boroughs is just the type of thing to cap off a good weekend.  Last week, I was eating lunch at Panera at the Bay State commons and walked over to Tavolino to get an idea of what type of place it is.  A quick look at the menu and the decor puts Tavolino into one of my favorite categories of restaurants; kid friendly, but not kid focused.  Tavolino is considered a casual-upscale restaurant and serves classic and contemporary Italian dishes. They have an extensive selection of gourmet pizzas, an very respectable selection of wines with over a dozen available by the glass, and a reasonable kids menu.  They serve lunch and dinner.

Although the Westborough location has been open for a month or so I just hadn't had the time to get over there to try it out, and from the outside I was originally thinking that dinner at Tavolino would be just the wife and I, so a sitter was to be in order, but after our lunch stop by to check it out I decided to bring the whole family.  The kids as well as my wife and I were excited to try out this new addition to downtown Westborough.

I am happy to report that the whole family gives two thumbs enthusiastically up for Tavolino.  The only hesitation with Tavolino is it seems to be a little more expensive then some other options.

Specifics on the meal: 

• Similar to Not Your Average Joe's, Tavolino offers a foccacia bread basket and a oil/parmesan/red pepper dipping sauce.  Very tasty I must say.
• For the kids, my oldest ordered cheese pizza.  Tavolino serves two standard size slices as the kids portion rather then a mini pizza.  The crust is very thin and my oldest enjoyed devouring both pieces.  My youngest ordered the grilled cheese.  My wife always "shares" a little of the grilled cheeses that we get for the youngest and she raved about this particular grilled cheese several times throughout the meal.  Thumbs up there.  
• I usually order chicken parmigiana as my first meal at any Italian restaurant.  It makes it really easy to gauge the quality against all others.  We decided as we were ordering that we would share a Caesar  salad and chicken parmigiana rather then each order our own.  The salad was great, not overdosed with dressing and fresh.  The chicken parmigiana was HUGE.  Way more food then I can eat for dinner, splitting it was the perfect amount.  Tavolino uses a chunky sauce on their chicken parmigiana, which is not usually my favorite, but it was very good...tender, delicious chicken.
• The food came out fast.  I have blogged before about some horrors waiting for food when kids are involved, Tavolino has their act together in the kitchen, food came out quick and hot.  
• I'll throw out a nod to our waitress tonight as well.  Stacy, does the little things that show understanding by a waiter/waitress.  She noticed I finished my soda quickly and was already bringing a refill before I asked.  She also noticed the kids dropping a fork, and brought a replacement without prompting.  Attentive without hovering, she deserved the 20% tip I gave her.
• I hinted earlier that cost is a little high.  Our meal broke down like this:
  
  • Soda $2.50
  • Chocolate milk $1.95
  • Caesar Salad $9.00
  • Kids Pizza $7.50
  • Kids Grilled Cheese and fries $7.00
  • Chicken Parmigiana $19.00
  It's not that it was crazy, but it is a little more expensive then other places with similar kid friendly, but not kid focused atmospheres.  If my wife and I hadn't split the salad and chicken parmigiana , I probably would have noticed the total price a little more too.  There is a lot of quality food for the price so I don't feel I missed out on value, but in this economy we all take a little time to notice what we are spending.
  
• I didn't get a chance to sample any wines tonight.  I did glance over the list and I do plan on returning to try some.  I also can see how Tavolino will bring some competition for Bertucci's as i saw several gourmet pizzas at other tables that looked great.
  

I welcome Tavolino to Westborough and I look forward to visiting them sans kids to see what else they have to offer.  I am also excited to have a new location to go out to dinner even with the kids that has a higher standard of food.  Check out there website at: www.tavolinorestaurant.us.  The website is focused on the Foxborough location but there are copies of the menus and they are the same in Westborough.