Trattoria
Toscana - I've ridden
past this place for years
but never stopped in --- finally the allure was
just too great.
Also, I must admit that it
did rise on my list of
places to try after
reading a recent rave
review of the place in a
newspaper. I must
admit that few food
critics are bias-free and
there is more than an occasional puff- piece
about this place or that.
However, out-to-lunch should
always mean just that, and
never with respect to a
food critic's reviews
because people actually
read them and have even
been known to use that
info when deciding where
to spend their hard- earned
dollars.
Everyone
who reads me knows that
what I experience is
what you get back here in
the form of an honest,
unbiased reflection
of food, service and
surroundings. I
never slam a place, they
slam themselves. I
never overstate or
understate ,I just give
back what I get to you who
deserve nothing less than
the unvarnished truth.
If I'm effusive about a
place it's not because I
have some agenda, it's not
because the meal was
free... it just means I
liked it. My only
agenda is serving those
who read here with honesty
and integrity.
If I rave or rant about
a place it doesn't mean
that you will absolutely
have the same experience,
but it
does mean absolutely that
you will receive back what
I experience exactly...
good, bad or Yikes!
My experience at Trattoria
Toscana was Yikes! The
surroundings were quiet,
filled with pleasant
atmosphere, thoughtfully
selected music and passion
filled anticipation for a
great meal.
This
place is definitely
"old school" and
a family run type of place
with the odd amenity of a
liquor license which
anyone in Jersey knows is
a prized, sought-after
advantage rarely found in
North Jersey in such a
small establishment.
I always root for a good
meal and a good
restaurant, but when
the food fails the place
fails and unfortunately
the food failed here in a
big way.
No
matter how you look at
food if it has no flavor
it has no life, and all the
ambience in the world
cannot infuse life and vibrancy
into a
flavorless meal.
Some dishes are made great
with big flavor and subtle
flavor but no flavor is a
disaster and utterly
forgetful. The
traditional dishes on the
menu such as lasagna,
chicken and standard
Italian fare were priced
on the heavy side and the
meal left me with a heavy
unsatisfied feeling.
All
things are possible and
almost any place can be
great under the right
conditions, but what needs
to be determined here is
the answer to one basic
question before even
addressing the particulars
and that is the passion
question. Is there
any passion here for the
future? If yes, it's
great news because with
great passion can come a
great restaurant.
Put the passion in the
food, and there will be
more life in a restaurant
than any decor can
capture.
It's
simple, food first, equals
customers first and if a
chef has the talent and
drive all things are
possible including happy
satisfied customers, a
happy satisfied chef
and quite probably a
healthy prosperous
business. I'm sure
the folks at Trattoria
Toscana may well know that
things aren't right and
perhaps dream of glory
days gone by, but dreams
aside, if meaningful
change ever takes
place I would be happy to
return to be part of any
rebirth. - Jersey
Shadow -
Trattoria
Toscana
554
Route 10 West
Whippany,
New Jersey 07981