Tim and I had a much-needed date night last night. He’s been traveling for work, and I’ve been having a couple really stressful weeks. We really needed a night out where we could talk and just relax. We had a BuyWithMe deal to Gemma Ristorante, an Italian restaurant in Arlington, so we decided to put it to use!
Sidebar: I love Arlington a lot and want to live there someday.
From the website:
Our Italian restaurant brings to you the many tastes of Italy’s regions. Delicious traditional recipes as well as popular specialties will awaken your taste buds. We are proud to serve the area’s finest selection of gourmet cuisine. Our dishes are prepared in the traditional Italian style, with the freshest ingredients, and served with flair that will meet your expectations. We offer you our most sincere gratitude for allowing us the pleasure of serving you. Buon Appettito!
We had a great experience at this restaurant. The service was friendly and laid back. I feel like some people could say it was slow, but we really enjoyed not feeling rushed and being able to take our time throughout each part of dinner. Even when I called ahead to put our names in, the staff was super friendly and accommodating. Inside there was a general dining area and a bar toward the back section. It was cute in there – nothing super fancy, but nice enough that we felt happy to be having a nicer night out than usual. I even rocked red heels, which never happens. And the food was fantastic too.
On the menu last night:
Bottle of Shiraz
Caprese Salad
Fresh mozzarella, Roma tomatoes, and basil, over baby greens and served with house dressing.
Tortellini Primavera
Broccoli, zucchini, mushrooms, shallots, sun-dried tomatoes and artichoke hearts, sautéed with garlic, extra virgin olive oil, butter, and a touch of white wine.
I usually don’t order big pasta plates when I’m out to eat, but this particular one caught my eye on the menu, and I just kept thinking about it. So I decided if I’m going to splurge on a big pasta dish, why not do it at an Italian restaurant right?! Tim opted for the rack of lamb special that came with risotto and side veggies.
Two thumbs up for Gemma!
Question of the Day: What’s your favorite Italian restaurant / food?!
Be Thankful Challenge: I’m thankful for the amount of quality time I get to spend with Tim!