The Daily Balance

Good eats+ good service + better company = perfection

As you all know, the Mister and I celebrated Valentine’s Day at home with a classy dinner and indulgent dessert. But we still wanted to go out on the town! So on Saturday night, we treated ourselves to a fancy dinner before we went to see the Broadway touring show, In the Heights (which was amazing, by the way).

We decided to try a spot that has been on my list for AGES. Michaelangelo’s, a fine establishment just across the street from us, has received rave reviews since it opened its doors in 2006. In fact, last year the restaurant was Zagat Rated!

Review highlights:

This romantic retreat offers authentic Northern Italian Cuisine from chef/co-owner Michael Annandoro, along with an extensive selection of wines and a stylish bar area. With a large fireplace for winter and a patio for warmer weather, its an ideal choice for a special night out.

We started with the house multi-grain bread and flavored olive oil.

We ordered our “go-to” Italian appetizer, which is normally any dish that includes mozzarella and prosciutto. As soon as we spotted the “Bufala,” we knew we had to have it. Described on the menu as buffalo mozzarella, prosciutto di parma and roasted red peppers, this dish was the perfect way to kick off our dinner. The mozzarella was rich, creamy and a great match for the salty prosciutto.

Knowing that I’d be ordering an indulgent treat, I thought it would be best to order something light. But light and healthy doesn’t mean flavorless – NO SIREE. This simple arugula salad was packed with incredible flavors! I loved the rich quality of the olive oil and the lemon was such a refreshing touch. You can’t see it in the photo, but the salad contained minced garlic and onion, as well as salty, savory Parmesan cheese. The Mister stole a few bites and proclaimed it to be one of the best salads he’s ever tasted.

For my “dinner” I ordered the Minestrone soup. Without a doubt, this was the heartiest Minestrone I’ve ever had. This thing was chock-full of root vegetables and beans — so filling! It had quite a kick, too (luckily my whimpy taste buds could handle it, though!).

The Mister was kind enough to let me pick from all the decadent dessert offerings. In addition to the standard menu, the serve explained some of the Valentine’s Day features. I heard the words “chocolate bomb” and was sold. The chocolate coating contained rich and creamy chocolate mousse – like a little present from the chocolate Gods! While some chocolate dishes can be too rich and quickly weigh you down, this was the perfect balance. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

The Mister and I decided that we’ll be heading back to Michaelangelo’s very soon. But this time we BOTH plan on ordering soup and salad  – that way we’ll have room for an extra dessert!

This was such a great evening! The ambiance of the restaurant was very romantic and I loved every minute of chatting with the Mister and enjoying his company. Let’s face it, Valentine’s Day dinners have a pretty bad rep. From noisy and over-crowded restaurants, to poor service and cold food, I’ve heard all the horror stories. But if anything, Michaelangelo’s went above and beyond to make sure our dining experience was special. Our waiter was so helpful and attentive and we never felt rushed (unlike my LAST dining experience). If you live in the Cleveland area, make sure you give Michaelangelo’s a try for your next special occasion — they’ll make sure you leave with some great memories

Translation = three four people dining together in a state of ecstasy

I took SOME of your recommendations and ordered:

goat cheese fondue

I basically ate this entire thing myself. No joke — The Mister and my mother- and father -in- law may have managed to get a few bites, but I hoarded this plate of goodness.

That being said, with a belly full of cheese, I was rather full after my first course. So I went with soup and salad. Boring? I think not.

chicken dumpling soup

Melange Salad - mixed greens with dried apricots, fresh grapes, feta cheese and zesty-lemon vinaigrette on the side.

The chicken dumpling soup was the best I’ve ever had! The dumplings were so plump and doughy — I could have eaten an entire bowl of them!

The salad was light and refreshing — just what I needed after a belly full of cheese and dough

While I would have loved to have had dessert, I simply had no room to spare. Plus, I knew a cupcake was waiting for me at Playhouse Square, where we saw CHICAGO.

It was FANTASTIC the actors were phenomenal and the vocals were spot-on — for those of you who know the show, you know this is a MUST – vocals carry the entire performance (sorry, my inner geek is showing )

All in all, this was a great way to spend a Saturday evening, good company + great food + singing and dancing = happy Shannon (and a worn-out Mister!)