By Zack & Brooklyn Bolin, Facebook:
Taste Budz, Instagram: tastebudz_spokane
Zack and I are soaking up the last bit of summer now that the smoke has cleared out. We decided to have a wonderful dinner on Tavolàta’s patio in downtown Spokane.
What we enjoyed:
~ Fried Artichoke
~ Marinated Olives
~ Focaccia with
Whipped Ricotta
~ Pesto Radiatori
~ Rigatoni “The King”
We were absolutely starving when we arrived, and Italian food is my favorite, so we got lots of goodies to try.
We started with the olives, focaccia, and artichokes. The olives were marinated in a subtle yet zesty oil with garlic cloves and chili peppers. They were a perfect little snack.
We ordered the bruschetta but accidentally got the focaccia; however, it was so good we decided to just roll with it. The bread is house-made, and very light and airy. It is served with the most flavorful smoky olive oil I have ever had. We also got whipped ricotta drizzled with olive oil. It was divine. I love fried artichokes. They served theirs with a Calabrian aioli that I could’ve licked off the plate.
Onto the entrees, I normally order a red sauce pasta or white wine pasta. I decided to switch it up and try their arugula pesto pasta, which was delicious. They serve it with lemon shavings and panko breadcrumbs, so it has a lot of acidity with a nice crunch. I added chicken, which was so juicy and really completed the dish.
To me, the star of the show was Zack’s rigatoni. There were big chunks of spicy sausage, tossed in a bright, light tomato sauce with chili, topped with a generous amount of Grana Padano (fancy cheese). I loved the pasta so much, he ended up giving me half of it.
On this particular evening, we were going to see the “Odyssey,” and we were running short on time. However, we had a wonderful server who packaged our desserts up into to-go boxes with to-go silverware so we could take them to the movies. I got the tiramisu; it was rich yet light, the ladyfingers were still firm (not mushy), and the mascarpone was delectable. Zack got a rich and delicious chocolate ganache cheesecake, served with fresh strawberries.
We will definitely be going back; there are so many more yummy things to try. The interior looked really cozy but urban; next time, we are going to eat inside.
They have happy hour every day from 4-6 p.m. and serve their full-size portions, so you can enjoy everything without spending a fortune. Next time you are in the mood for Italian, check them out.
221 N Wall St, Spokane, WA 99201
509-606-5600 | tavolata.com
