Food Dudes Feasts at Treva and Finds Flavor Without Flaws

Every once in awhile you come across a restaurant that evokes a multitude of emotions.  Curiosity, amazement, and euphoria were all experienced when we tried Treva, a fairly new establishment in West Hartford.  Located on Farmington Avenue, this Northern Italian restaurant opened in December.   This cued the curiosity.  No one we knew had tried Treva and thus it was a complete mystery.  We had no idea what to expect. 

We entered on a Tuesday night and were pleased with the simple, almost minimalistic décor.  The restaurant was packed, even on a Tuesday, and we were glad we had made reservations.  We sat down and immediately began to peruse the menu.  This is where the amazement entered.  Each dish on the menu looked incredibly tempting as our eyes skimmed over buffala mozzarella, prosciutto, octopus, pastas, and much more.  Finding it impossible to choose which dish to order, we applied to the wisdom of our very jolly waiter who was only too happy to oblige.  We decided to start with the bruschetta and the Polpo.

For those used to traditional diced tomato bruschetta, you will not be disappointed with this unusual take on the classic Italian dish.  This plate comes with one chicken liver, one pepperonata (grilled peppers), and one eggplant bruschetta.  Each one surpassed the previous in taste and we loved every bite.  The Polpo is a dish served with grilled octopus, potatoes, and arugula.  Unusual as it seems, this dish is genius.  We believe that even the faint-of-heart will enjoy this treat.  Not a crumb was left on our appetizer plates as we entered into the main course. 

Bellies already bulging, we immediately became hungry again when we saw the steaming heaps of pasta that came out.  Weber ordered the Tagliatelle, which came with veal, mushrooms, and asparagus, while EJ tried the Tagliardi with chicken and butternut squash.  Each of us liked our own meal the best.  Each pasta dish was made with homemade pasta and was delicious.  However, the main course was not as good as the appetizers, in our opinion. 

As always, we left a small corner of our stomachs for dessert.  We ordered the Tiramisu and went straight to our third emotion: euphoria.  With the perfect amount of coffee-flavor and the ideal consistency, the tiramisu was possibly the best we've ever tried. 

At the end of the meal, frustration set upon us.  As we sat and thought over our dinner, we couldn't find anything wrong with our experience.  The service was excellent, the décor aesthetic, and the food superb.  And while the price was not cheap, it was appropriate for the quality of food.  This was a first for us.  We pride ourselves in being able to find something subject to improvement in every meal.  So, in conclusion, we highly recommend Treva for an excellent meal.  As always, until next time, Bon Appetit!