“Mall” and “dining” used to be oxy-type morons, but nowadays shopping centers are trying to shed their reputation for offering nothing but cheap, greasy fast food in giant food troughs. . . er, courts.
One more example will open later this month in the sprawling Town Center at Boca Raton. It’s DaVinci’s of Boca, a contemporary Italian restaurant from the Carvelli family, who also own the well-thought-of DaVinci’s on Marco Island.
The lengthy menu will feature both traditional dishes and more modern interpretations, with an emphasis on pasta made daily on machines imported from Italy. No details on specific menu items yet, but if the new DaVinci’s follows the Marco Island playbook, look for everything from tagliatelle with porcini mushrooms and asparagus scattered with shaved black truffle to zuppa di pesce served over pasta or crostini to veal DaVinci, thin-pounded veal scallops with prosciutto, tomatoes, basil and mozzarella.
Decor will definitely be un-mall-like, with a 60-foot bar hand-crafted from Wisconsin pine, a 3,500-bottle wine room, wood-paneled ceilings and a private dining room that seats up to 40. Nothing cheap or greasy here.
