La Boccas

Sexy Beast:  What do you want to do about dinner?

Me:  Oh, we can whip up some Fettuccine Alfredo.  How's that?

Sexy Beast:  I don't want to have to cook.  Let's just go out.

Me:  Fine.

So, off we went in search of palatable tidbits to please our gullets.  We didn't find any.

We were seated right away and greeted by a lovely young lady.  Let me be clear.  The service was just fine.  Our waitress was attentive and pleasant.

We were both immediately struck by the Lotsa Pasta meets Hobby Lobby decor.  Lots of plastic vines and boxes of pasta.  The table was draped with a white table cloth followed by white craft paper.  I was disappointed that no crayons were provided.  Sexy Beast was annoyed that the table crinkled.  There was a paper napkin folded on the plate.  

The wine offerings were budget bottles.  There were no finer options than a $10 bottle of Riesling at a 350% mark up.  I initially opted for a Cape Cod.  I was served cranberry juice.  If there was vodka in the glass, it was so minute that I couldn't taste it at all.  And, while I tend to order premium liquors so as not to turn the tea lights into flame throwers whilst whispering sweet nothings to Sexy Beast, I do expect to be able to taste the booze.  I could not.  I gave the bartender two attempts to get it right before switching to the cheap Riesling.

The food was wretched.

The bread basket contained flat little rolls that should have been allowed to rise longer, coated in some sort of slightly garlicky oil with a side of canned crushed tomatoes.  The tomato "sauce" was delivered In a plastic ramekin.  We should have taken heed when that was served.  We did not.

The Bruschetta was made with under ripened tomatoes and very young cheese.  The bread was chewy despite being toasted.  Sexy Beast and I spent a few minutes debating whether the shredded cheese was just very young or if the crayons that I didn't get to doodle on the table with had been mistakenly shredded.  I am kindly assuming that someone back in the kitchen is under the impression that cheese is fresher when it is younger.

When the plates were delivered, the waitress also brought Parmesan.  Now, I know what you just imagined.  You pictured a nice wedge of cheese, a grater, and a smiling face grating fragrant cheese onto your plate.  That is *not* what we got.  You know those shakers of powdery grated Parmesan that you get at a pizza parlor?  That's what we got.  Completely unacceptable.

Sexy Beast ordered the Fettuccine Alfredo with chicken.  The sauce was actually okay.  It wasn't fantastic, just okay.  The pasta was a little over cooked.  The chicken was tiny chunks of rubber.  Sexy Beast was tempted to ask if they'd purchased it from Archie McPhee.

I made two mistakes.  I ordered a special and I ordered seafood while dining inland.  I usually avoid ordering daily specials because they are not dishes that the kitchen staff makes day in and day out so there is more margin for error.  I don't usually order seafood while dining inland because it is no less than 24 hours old or frozen before it hits the plate.  Sometimes I need to be reminded of the reasons behind my compulsions.

The special offerings included a Lobster Ravioli in a Pesto Sauce and a Blackened Salmon with a Linguine.  I opted for the Lobster Ravioli.  I will forever regret that decision.

The ravioli was hand made and the pasta, itself, was pretty decent.  It, too, was slightly overcooked.  The Pesto Sauce was oily.  While olive oil is a major ingredient in pesto, a pesto "sauce" should never result in rivulets of oil dripping from my fork when I lift it from the plate.  Also, extreme care should be taken to ensure that any crustaceans have been thoroughly de-crusted.  Crunchy lobster is disturbing and less than tasty.

I can't tell you whether there is a dessert menu and, if so, what is on it.  Once my ravioli became crunchy, I was no longer hungry.

The bill for two diners came to about $70.

I also feel compelled to mention that after we got home, after seeing a movie, I developed Sigourney Weaver Syndrome.  I spent the night curled in a ball trying to strike a deal with the devil. He says that this will never happen again if I promise not to order crustaceans in Indiana and sacrifice a mermaid in his honor.  I've got a call out to Ariel.

Love this place.  I travel a lot and I am always looking for a great local place for supper and a glass of wine.  The front  desk recommended  this place to me since it was close by.  The atmosphere is welcoming, the yummy bread basket is good enough to come back for and the staff is friendly, helpful and attentive.  If you are in New Albany, IN or Loiuisville, KY consider La Boccas, you won't be disappointed   My favorite, the penne la vodka, wonderful !

A friend and I stopped by last night.  I ordered two appetizers rather than a meal.  She ordered spaghetti and meatballs.  She pronounced hers to be very good.  My caprese salad was very good.  The basil large and tasty.  The fried ravioli filling was good, but the pasta itself was a bit greasy.  I'd go back to try something else.  I have eaten there for lunch before and it was very good.
The bad thing yesterday was - the flies!  Many aggravating flies.  I guess flies like Italian food.  The number of flies in the dining room made me worry about the kitchen though.  I hate flies.