Boney
rates local restaurant table scraps
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Restaurant: Fioravanti
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no
website
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105 E.
Lancaster Ave.
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Downingtown,
PA
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610-518-9170
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Continental
Cuisine
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Closed
Sun. & Mon.
Early
prix fixe menu Mon-Thu.
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BYOB
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not
cat accessible
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Tomcat got
to decide on the restaurant, because it was an
odd-numbered day. That didn't keep Rainy from
calling him at noon to make sure he made a
well-considered choice. Despite my best poses and
squinting lovingly at him from the floor, he
dutifully deliberated for what seemed like an
eternity.
He called
several places to ask about their specials, and
also whether they allowed cats on the premises.
Most of them were relatively hostile to the
concept. I don't get it!
Tomcat
quickly ruled out the usual suspects (the chains
and places that they've been to lately), and
settled in on Fioravanti. He had been there once
before, and remembered it as a positive dining
experience. "Maybe he can remember to bring me the
table scraps," I wondered.
While they
were gone, I stared under the big white box
where Tomcat gets all the food. I know there's
a mouse in there. Someday soon, we'll have the
pleasure of meeting.
When they
returned, I learned that Fioravanti, a family- run
enterprise for about eight years, now, is a limited
seating, modestly decorated restaurant. It has
local artist's works hanging on the walls, and
there are a few seats from which a couple can watch
the comings and goings on Downingtown's main
crossroads.
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rating:
four
paws
other
reviewed restaurants:
Drafting
Room (Exton, PA)
Bamboo,
(Frazer, PA)
Green
Papaya (Exton,
PA)
There is
an open kitchen at Fioravanti, where diners can
watch as their meals take shape ( I wish
I could see that mouse under the big white
box! ). Rainy recalled that the service was
extremely cordial and attentive. She said the staff
was knowledgeable about their specials, and it
sounded like my humans were watched carefully to
make sure the table was cleared promptly between
courses and well appointed (personally,
I think they were being watched because
Tomcat was probably making a scene). The Pinot
Grigio they brought was quickly placed in a
stainless steel wine bucket, and the server was
always willing to pour. Tomcat relieved her of this
duty, since a LOT of pouring goes on at their
table! (I rest my case)
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As for the
meal, my humans decided on the specials. They opted
to split them, because that always seems to fill
them up. The down side, of course, is that there
remains less for me!
The
appetizer special, I am told, was a duck spring
roll (completely devoured, alas) which had been
lightly fried, and perched on a bold mango dipping
sauce (where they found a bold mango is anybody's
guess), with a drizzle of wasabi. The gracious
server of course provided two smaller plates to
split it.
The entree
special was a pan seared talapia, served over
tomato basil fettucini, with a chicken creole
broth. Mixed in with the leftover pasta, I was
delighted to discover some crawfish morsels. I
never get crawfish catfood, and wonder why the pet
food people overlook this tasty crustacian (because
it's tiny?). The tilapia leftover was still quite
moist and flaky. I can't tell you how much fun
I had distributing it all over my little
corner of the kitchen floor.
Fioravanti
sent my humans back in a heavenly fog that wasn't
all due to the wine. It came from a meal which was
lovingly conceived, prepared, and served by some
folks who mean to get you back.
I truly
wish I could bestow the final fifth paw upon
this place, but, as usual, there were no mouse bits
in the leftovers. So, they can still be proud of my
four paw
rating.
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