Faro Italian Grille

[PaugusBayFireFighter]

Went to Faro last night. The new decor is nice. The food presentation was excellent. Service was good with waitstaff that know their menu.
We were brought a couple complimentary appetizers to try. I didn't try them but the table was very happy with them. We also ordered the antipasto which was good.
I had the 16oz strip steak with rosemary and garlic with a side of angel hair pasta and red sauce. The steak was cooked medium but I ordered medium rare. Not a huge deal, I wouldn't send it back as I'm not really picky. The steak was, steak. Not bad, but no flavor. I've had steak lots of places, this dish looked great but disappointed me. The pasta may be home made and fresh but the red sauce was tasteless. For a minute I thought maybe it was me but the table agreed that their red sauce was also bland.

One friend ordered desert which he says was good. Cannoli from Modern Pastry.

I'm not a food critic and never complain. You wanted a review, you got it.

I will tell you we are a large crowd that eats dinner most every weekend in the North End. In fact, we were texting the rest of the family while they dined at Pagliuca's in the NE last night. We will try Faro again with the full crowd. We are looking for a Friday night regular place and Faro is very close to us. Hopefully it was just a bad night with the sauce.

Dan...I, we, all took pictures of the plates. I anticipated posting the pictures with a good review. Like I said, presentation was excellent. In this case, pictures are not worth a thousand words.

[Sal]

Try a little salt on the sauce. They're probably cooking it with little or no salt
knowing it can be added by the diners, to accommodate those who eschew salt.

[PaugusBayFireFighter]

Originally Posted by Sal

Try a little salt on the sauce. They're probably cooking it with little or no salt
knowing it can be added by the diners, to accommodate those who eschew salt.

If their intention is to make bland sauce, in order to accommodate people who abstain from salt, doesn't it make sense that every plate on the menu would be cooked without salt? I guess I could see them making a pot of sauce with low salt and offering a low sodium alternative then throwing it out every night.
There's more seasoning to sauce than just tomatoes and salt. It wasn't a tasty sauce that needed salt, it was a sauce void of flavor other than the tomato.

[thegreyghost]

I have become a regular and I love this new addition to the area. I always get a side of fresh pasta with red sauce (love the lamb shank entree), and I think the sauce is great. You can tell its home made, not to sweet and not that strong tomato taste. Maybe you are just used to Rago out of a jar?? Faro is the real deal.
-GG

[PaugusBayFireFighter]

Originally Posted by thegreyghost

I have become a regular and I love this new addition to the area. I always get a side of fresh pasta with red sauce (love the lamb shank entree), and I think the sauce is great. You can tell its home made, not to sweet and not that strong tomato taste. Maybe you are just used to Rago out of a jar?? Faro is the real deal.
-GG

If it makes any difference, I'm Sicilian. My mother still makes a sauce every Sunday (a few on this forum would attest to that). My grandmother and aunts did the same. I make a sauce occasionally. I've eaten in plenty of restaurants (most in the North End) and plenty of Italian homes. I know the difference between jar sauce and homemade.

The sauce tasted fresh and homemade but lacked flavor.

The fact that you think Papa Gino's is the best pizza in the lakes region tells me you've had your share of ketchup and elbows.

I was expecting Bumbles reply to my review last night, what took you?

This is why others don't post reviews. It will certainly be my last.

[Bumble2249]

Originally Posted by PaugusBayFireFighter

If it makes any difference, I'm Sicilian. My mother still makes a sauce every Sunday (a few on this forum would attest to that). My grandmother and aunts did the same. I make a sauce occasionally. I've eaten in plenty of restaurants (most in the North End) and plenty of Italian homes. I know the difference between jar sauce and homemade.

The sauce tasted fresh and homemade but lacked flavor.

The fact that you think Papa Gino's is the best pizza in the lakes region tells me you've had your share of ketchup and elbows.

I was expecting Bumbles reply to my review last night, what took you?

This is why others don't post reviews. It will certainly be my last.

.What? I can't laugh at someone's post? Come on.... You expected me to comment on your post, but I didn't did I?


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[Bumble2249]

Originally Posted by thegreyghost

It always goes back to, they have an interest in the place. That couldn't be further than the truth. I have been eating in the lakes region since Gretchens was here and Nadias. I feel Faro is on a whole different level. They have raised the bar when it comes to Italian food and service. I'm a regular, and I can't get a seat unless I tell them I'm coming in, they must be doing something right. I still get the papa Gino's delivered once in awhile, but that's on Monday when Faro is closed. I might be Scottish but I know what tastes good.

GG

My thoughts exactly. I have favorite restaurants from the lakes region to North Conway. Having some kind of vested interest or whatever could not be further from reality. I just like the place. I also like the Lyons Den, Lavinias and Elyacoya and I'd speak my mind in their defense if someone started a ridiculous and unwarranted thread on this forum about them as well. Or maybe I wouldn't... Because there's no way that I could have an "interest" in FOUR restaurants!


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[secondcurve]

Originally Posted by PaugusBayFireFighter

If it makes any difference, I'm Sicilian. My mother still makes a sauce every Sunday (a few on this forum would attest to that). My grandmother and aunts did the same. I make a sauce occasionally. I've eaten in plenty of restaurants (most in the North End) and plenty of Italian homes. I know the difference between jar sauce and homemade.

The sauce tasted fresh and homemade but lacked flavor.

The fact that you think Papa Gino's is the best pizza in the lakes region tells me you've had your share of ketchup and elbows.

I was expecting Bumbles reply to my review last night, what took you?

This is why others don't post reviews. It will certainly be my last.

Don't stop posting reviews.......yours was a good one but as always not all will agree with your assessment. Keep them coming!!

[sum-r breeze]

Originally Posted by PaugusBayFireFighter

If it makes any difference, I'm Sicilian. My mother still makes a sauce every Sunday (a few on this forum would attest to that). My grandmother and aunts did the same. I make a sauce occasionally. I've eaten in plenty of restaurants (most in the North End) and plenty of Italian homes. I know the difference between jar sauce and homemade.

The sauce tasted fresh and homemade but lacked flavor.

The fact that you think Papa Gino's is the best pizza in the lakes region tells me you've had your share of ketchup and elbows.

I was expecting Bumbles reply to my review last night, what took you?

This is why others don't post reviews. It will certainly be my last.

PBFF's mother makes awesome sauce......I've had it .... a lot....just sayin....If you want proof just watch that "Summer Breeze" video he posted and you can see the chunk of beef cooking in it. OMG I'm getting hungry just thinking of it!!

Back on topic I have found that Italian sauce is a subjective thing. One person's taste expectation is not the same as someone else's. I have a business down here in Mass and have learned that you can't please all of the people all of the time. We will check out Faro soon and maybe again with the PBFF clan too if they go.

The Breeze
Wave 'cuz I'll be wavin' back

[Outdoorsman]

Originally Posted by paugusbayfirefighter

this is why others don't post reviews. It will certainly be my last.

. ?

[Great Northern Cleaning]

We had our annual employee Christmas Party at Faro Italian Grille last night. The staff at Faros did an outstanding job. The food, atmosphere and attentive wait staff made for a very enjoyable evening. The whole crew of Great Northern Cleaning sends a big thank you!!

[sum-r breeze]

We were in the mood for some Italian food so we finally got to try Faro. The only word Mrs. Breeze could use for our dining experience was "magical." Our waitress (Allie) was fantastic. We were seated right away near the window for the winter view of the lake and Weirs. We are both Shrimp fanatics so we ordered their shrimp cocktail. There were only two of them in each appetizer order...THEY WERE THE SIZE OF LOBSTER TAILS!! The biggest shrimp I have ever seen and I've had shrimp all over. Wow! We both had chicken dishes, I had the marsala and Mrs. Breeze had the picata. The food quality was amazing. Allie added to our dining pleasure by giving us 2 complimentary glasses of preseco and after desert 2 complimentary glasses of lemonciello. Very nice touch! What an awesome dinner we had. It was early on Saturday night and off season so the noise level dining room was very low. We thoroughly enjoyed or visit and will definitely be going back. The Weirs got a gift when the new owners opened up Faro, the place is fantastic.

The Breeze
Wave 'cuz I'll be wavin' back

[radioman]

Faro is wonderful for quality, presentation, diversity, and service!!
Alli is a person that I have known for several years in her former job and a person who is missed by so many. Am so glad to hear that Alli is still at Faro will most certainly return to Faro just to see her again.

[Phantom]

Originally Posted by sum-r breeze

The Weirs got a gift when the new owners opened up Faro, the place is fantastic.

Was I misinformed ?

I thought Faro is owned by the same individual as the former Lobster Pound .... and it was simply a "re-birthing" to Italian cuisine.


.

[sum-r breeze]

Originally Posted by Phantom

Was I misinformed ?

I thought Faro is owned by the same individual as the former Lobster Pound .... and it was simply a "re-birthing" to Italian cuisine.


.

Maybe it was a "rebirth" but very well done.

The Breeze
Wave 'cuz I'll be wavin' back