You see, up until then, I had never really experienced any
type of “foodie” restaurant. My usual fancy
night out consisted of a meal at you average big chain restaurant. However all of that changed that October
evening back in 2010 as my eyes were opened to a whole new gastronomical world
that I never knew existed let alone accessible to someone like me. As she sat across from me nervously wondering
if I would enjoy the menu, her anxiety quickly faded as she saw my eyes light
up with every bite.
That was 2 years ago and since that initial visit I have
made it a point to dine at Play least every couple of months. The staff is second to none, attentive to
your every need without being pretentious or stuffy. They are all very knowledgeable in the dishes
being served and provide sommelier level guidance of the extensive wine list to
help make your meal that much more enjoyable.
The restaurant itself is simplistic in its décor with two
levels to seat guests. The second level
can be a bit noisier during dinner time but the tradeoff of seeing the chefs
working away creating your meal in the open concept kitchen is a splendid
tradeoff and makes for great conversation.
One of the highlights of the main floor dining area is the antique meat
slicer behind the bar used to carve some of the items from charcuterie menu.
Speaking of which, the real star of Mr. Beckta’s restaurant
is the food. From the first bite of the
ever changing seasonal menu you know you’re in for a real treat. One simply has to look at the tapas sized
dishes artistically plated before them to know how fresh and wholesome the
ingredients are.
My most recent visit to Play began with a “play” on a
classic caprese salad followed by a curried butternut squash soup and some exquisite
homemade gnocchi with fennel, radicchio and black olives. The wine chosen was a 2009 Gruner Veltliner
Smaragd Loiber Berg by F.X. Pichler who’s crisp, yet surprisingly full bodied flavor
with a creamy finish was an excellent match for the meal.
All the dishes were wonderfully aromatic and simply
delicious. The fact that all the plates
were small enough and specifically designed to share made lunchtime at play,
where guests can eat two plates for $20, an affordable alternative to the usual
fare that one might find around town.
Whether you’re new to the whole foodie culture or you have a
refined palate. Play Food and Wine has
something to please everyone and is a dining event that should be experienced
at least once by everyone.
