Pistachio: a chic American experience

This past weekend, we went out to dinner with a group of friends to Pistachio Bar and Grille. This restaurant is located at 341 South Cedar Crest Boulevard only a mile and a half from Campus. It was easy to get to, and it's a quick trip on Shuttle Steve's regular run. The restaurant has an upscale, modern-American feel to it, with chic lighting and interesting artwork, and is perfect for a nice evening out with friends or a significant other. The seating area is large and accommodating, but we advise that you make a reservation if you're with a larger group.

If you're not hungry before you arrive, don't worry, reading the menu will definitely make you hungry!

The restaurant has an extensive menu with many fish, shellfish, meat, poultry, vegetarian, pizza, pasta, and salad options.

For appetizers, we ordered Tuscan Hummus with fresh baked pita bread, and a bruschetta, caponata, and tapenade trio. The pita was very fresh and warm and was complimented nicely by the hummus, which was made out of a special Tuscan bean-a nice change from the hummus at GQ!

We also ordered a Bruschetta Trio, which consisted of three pieces of bread, one with bruschetta, one with caponata, and the last with tapenade. This appetizer is able to be split by two people, but we advise that these two people are fond of olives. Overall, the appetizers were liked by everyone at the table, and we recommend all of them.

Nearly everyone in our group enjoyed their entrees.

We all tried to order very different things to get a taste of a little bit of everything on the menu. We ordered Sesame Seared Rare Ahi Tuna with Wasabi Mashed Potatoes, Petit Fillet Mignon with a Crab Cake, served with Brussel Sprouts and Potatoes, a Caprese Salad, Penne Gorgonzola, and a Steak Salad.

The seared tuna was cooked perfectly and the wasabi mashed potatoes were fluffy and creamy with a light Asian fusion kick to it. The Ponzu sauce that was served with the vegetables was absolutely delicious. The petit fillet and crab cake were delicious. The fillet mignon was cooked to perfection-medium well-and the crab cake was nicely crisp on the outside, while warm and soft on the inside, and was not too fishy, as many crab cake eaters worry it could be. The Caprese salad had the perfect ratio of cheese to tomato, and was not overwhelmingly cheesy.

The gorgonzola pasta was the only dish that was unsatisfying. Though it looked very appetizing, the sauce was rather overwhelming and had a distinct flavor that did not blend well with the dish.

Don't worry if you're not a fan of gorgonzola pasta, the menu is abundant with other options! The steak tips salad was tasty; the steak was juicy and flavorful and the greens were crisp and fresh.

Our waitress was very friendly and helpful. The food was prepared and served quickly, and our waitress made sure to understand our orders just as we wanted them to make sure we were satisfied.

One complaint, though relatively small, would be that we noticed our water glasses were not refilled as often as we'd liked them to be, and we had to ask for water refills couple of times. But it was a very minor detail.

For dessert, we ordered a slice of Mississippi Mud Cake, Bread Pudding, a slice of Carrot cake, and a slice of Apple Pie. The Mississippi Mud Cake was to die for! Made of a light yet satisfying chocolate mousse, this flawless piece of cake is lined along the bottom and the side with a chocolate cookie-cake texture, and topped with thick, rich chocolate. The bread pudding was reported to be amazing by those who ate it; it was gone within moments and shared among many at the table. The carrot cake and apple pie were both served at a lovely warm temperature, and were enjoyed by all.

We all left feeling full and eagerly discussed our plans for returning to the restaurant, which we absolutely plan on doing.

For those who have not made their way to Pistachio's, we strongly recommend that you get around to it!

The food, though on the expensive side, is definitely worth its price, and is a refreshing change from greasy Chinese takeout or late-night pizza.

Grab some friends, call Shuttle Steve in advance, and take the night off for some classy and delicious food.

You deserve it!