BRAVO Cucina Italiana “Taste Good – Feel Good” Menu Review
Moving from Denver to Albuquerque has it’s perks (aka being near my boyfriend) but as a blogger I knew I would be losing some of the relationships I had built, such as the one with BRIO Tuscan Grille. Right? Wrong! As it turns out, they have a sister restaurant in Albuquerque, BRAVO Cucina Italiana. Yay! I was so excited to continue dining with them and trying out their menus. Italian food is my favorite.
BRAVO Cucina Italiana is presenting the seasonal “Taste Good — Feel Good” two-course lunch and dinner menus. Featuring BRAVO’s quality Italian cuisine and unique offerings at a great value, this special offer is available Tuesday, Feb. 28 through Saturday, April 15.
BRAVO generously invited me to sample their menu free of charge. All opinions expressed herein are my own.
My boyfriend and I headed out to Uptown Albuquerque where BRAVO is set in a cute outdoor mall. We parked about a block away and had a nice stroll across the mall, where music was playing from the light posts. The restaurant itself has an ambiance reminiscent of old Italy. We were immediately greeted by our server and presented with bread and the best dipping sauce I’ve ever had at an Italian restaurant. We were joking about just asking for refill after refill and filing a bottle with it. I wanted to take it home!
To start, we ordered two appetizers: Ricotta + Ciabatta and Fried Mozzarella Ravioli.
The ravioli came with delicious dipping sauces and it was the perfect finger food. They were crispy on the outside and melty on the inside. Mmmmm.
But my boyfriend and I both agreed that the best appetizer was the Ricotta + Ciabatta. It is served with seasoned red peppers, greens, and meat. The ricotta dip was to die for!
We ate the whole platter. We hadn’t even made it to the main course yet!
Starting at $14.99, the two-course menu features a variety of delicious options:
Soup or side salad (choose one):
- BRAVO Chopped Salad: Chopped greens, cucumbers, red onions, tomatoes, olives, Feta, red wine vinaigrette
- Caesar Classica: Traditional Caesar salad with housemade croutons
- Insalata Della Casa: Chopped greens, cucumbers, tomatoes, bacon, crispy pasta, Parmesan dressing
- Soup Del Giorno
- Lobster Bisque with sherry and diced shrimp (for an additional $1)
I tired the chopped salad and my boyfriend tried the lobster bisque. Both were excellent.
Entrée (choose one):
- Romano Crusted Tilapia: Crispy fingerling potatoes, spinach, Napoli sauce, Sriracha aioli
- Grilled Jumbo Shrimp: Orzo, farro, red peppers, zucchini, haricot vert, Feta, fennel cream
- Chianti Braised Beef Ravioli: Sangiovese braised beef-filled ravioli, roasted sweet potatoes, brown butter, sage
I have been a sweet potato kick lately, and believe they must make everything better, just like cheese. This ravioli dish was incredible! I love that they created something out of the ordinary, with flavors that I love but never see used together.
Enhancing the delectable Italian-style meals are BRAVO’s delightful wines, including the rich and medium-bodied 19 Crimes Red Blend (South Australia) and the crisp and fresh Torre di Luna Pinot Grigio (Trentino, Italy).
Mama mia, let me tell you about the wine. As soon as dinner was over, we went out and bought 2 bottles of 19 Crimes. I usually stick to a Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon, and red blends are not my favorite. But this wine is AH-mazing! The bottles were gone in a week and I’m pretty sure we will be buying it by the case.
We will definitely be returning to BRAVO in Uptown Albuquerque. To find one near you, click here.
P.S. Here is the “aftermath.” As soon as we got home with our new bottles of wine, we ate the leftovers. Too good to not finish!