We went last night pre-theater. 6PM on a Thursday we walked in and got a table immediately (allegedly the last open 2-top).
Food was all top notch:
Crispy Pig Ear - one of their classics. Slivers crispier than bacon, fried salty kale, pickled banana peppers and a perfectly gooey fried egg, it's the perfect Salt Fat Acid Heat combo. But it's a little hard to eat -- the piggy slivers aren't easily handled with a fork, and fingers are awkward with egg yolk. I'd have loved a pair of chopsticks. For a 'snack' this is a pretty substantial dish.
Leek Tart - Nice pastry crust, sweet leeks, accompanied by pickled carrots, a carrot-top pesto and (I think) creme fraiche. Absolutely delicious.
Partridge - Bacon-wrapped breast, roasted other parts, nice sauces, pickled beets. Aside from some small bone fragments, a wonderful dish.
Ricotta Gnudi These were more 'skinned' than some of the other gnudi I've had, but had an almost buratta-like creaminess. Very nice.
Absinthe Fritters delicate loops of fried dough with just a hint of anise flavor, accompanied by (buttermilk?) ice cream and a rhubarb-cherry-wine compote. A good end.
The service was just right: water refilled, finished plates removed, dishes came out at a good pace (we warned them about a tight schedule for the theater and they steered us away from a couple longer-cooking dishes). The only complaint is that it is loud, loud, loud in there.
What is patriotism, but the love of good things we ate in our childhood?
-- Lin Yutang