Pump Room

This past Saturday my boyfriend took me to Pump Room for an early birthday dinner. We originally had reservations at Beatrix but last minute decided we didn't want to go downtown, and were able to snag a reservation at Pump Room. This place is three blocks from my apartment, and I walk by it almost nightly on my way home from work, wondering when I'll get to go. So glad the day finally came.

You walk in and immediately feel like you're somewhere cool. The ambiance is chic, with amazing light fixtures and to-die-for gold walls. There is a great cocktail area with loungers and group seating, and the more formal dining area. There are so many things to choose from on the menu starting with market table, whole wheat flatbreads, appetizers, homemade pastas, entrees, and sides. We had a late lunch on Saturday, so decided to share everything and got the heirloom tomato toast with basil (which was my favorite thing we ordered), black truffle and fontina cheese pizza, bowtie pasta with veal meatballs and smoked tomato sauce, and of course, a birthday dessert.  We did order one thing we could have done without, which was the roasted sweet corn with chili, lime and pecorino. Besides that, the food was absolutely phenomenal. They get everything locally, either at farmers markets or sourced from bordering states. And the pastas are homemade...enough said.

Also, the service at this place was phenomenal. The waiters were attentive without being annoying, and also gave really good suggestions as to what to order. They made me feel really special by writing Happy Birthday in chocolate on my dessert plate! Whether you live here or are coming in from out of town, or whether you want a full dinner or just cocktails at the bar, you MUST come to this place.