We went to Tucci Restaurant in downtown Lake Oswego the other day, and if you have not ventured into Lake Oswego lately, you are missing a lovely surprise! Along “A” street is a quaint shopping and dining area that has reserved a small town charm while housing upscale stores and restaurants in brand new brick and glass buildings. Among them is Tucci, a fine restaurant with european rustic charm serving up delectible seafood and pasta dishes with flare. The restaurant is beautiful-the foyer into the dining area is cozy with a fireplace flickering in the corner and luxe drapery framing the windows and walls. Our group went passed the bar area into an open room that was reserved for our group of 16. Colorful dupiono curtains framed the front entrance way and provided unobtrusive privacy.
Appetizer: steamed mussels. Do you see the size of this dish? It is well worth it for $12! Tender mussels in a light borth served with chewy toasted hunks of buttery bread. yum.
A seafood ciopino is also delish-with a rich seafod and tomato broth.
This is one of their signature salads: an arugula salad with fresh orange segments and goat cheese. I wanted to like this salad but the endive was a little wilted and the dressing was not discernible. For $8, it was not worth the price.
Mushroom risotto with chanterelles and black truffle oil-Excellent command of this dish! The risotto was creamy without being sticky and an intense mushroom flavor resonated throughout the dish.
One of the specials of the evening: rock fish over creamy polenta and greens. The fish was lighly sauteed in oil with just a sprinkle of salt and fresh black pepper. It was light, flaky, and again very good. This was probably my favorite dish of the evening.
Pappardell of Lamb- This dish was solid. The lamb was tender without that “lamby” taste, and the fresh pasta was firm, eggy, and soaked up the delectable sauce
Overall, the dining experience at Tucci was lovely. It is a bit expensive to go there often, and the drive into Lake Oswego may be intimidating for those who are not familiar with the area. Main dishes run in the mid-high $20’s, so add in drinks and dessert, the bill could easily go up to $100 per couple. Neverless, the decor and service really made our dining experience at Tucci outstanding. If you’re looking for a romantic place for a rehearsal dinner, this is a lovely place to treat your guests.