Mezzo Bar and Grill

I read a review of Mezzo Bar and Grill in this week's Epicure. I'd heard about Mezzo and it's not too far from work, so I thought I'd pop in for lunch. I was in need of some comfort food so had tagged the gnocchi as a potential fix-me-up.

After ordering my food, a waiter arrived with some bread and lovely fruity olive oil.

My meal arrived and looked quite pretty, with a sprinkling of chili (and cayenne pepper?).

Spinach and ricotta gnocchi with asparagus, beans, broccoletti and parmesan wafers

$18.00

It took me a minute to work out where the gnocchi was because it was all green. Then I realised that the green balls were the gnocchi. I'd expected ricotta dumplings with flecks of spinach. In her review in Epicure, Larissa Dubecki describes the gnocchi thus, "...their lightness defying the butter sauce." Lucky Larissa, because they didn't seem overly light to me. The vegetables were quite tasty but I found the sauce too watery for me and had to ask for a spoon and more bread to mop it up. I would have preferred a slightly thicker sauce.

I ordered cannoli to finish.

Chocolate cannoli filled with citrus ricotta and sprinkled with pistachios

$4.50

The cannoli pastry seemed to be too thick and crisp and it took a few goes with a spoon before I managed to crack the pastry. I like cannoli that cracks nicely when you press the spoon into it. It was pleasant but I've had tastier cannoli.

I was disappointed with my meal. I found the service efficient but not overly friendly or enthusiastic. I would like to try some other things on the menu, but I'm in no rush to return just yet.