Sette Bello or should we say, "Sette Baddo?"
It is hard to believe that Sette Bello is related to Sette Osteria and Cafe Milano. Nestled in Clarendon, the place is huge (compared to the other DC restaurants we frequent) and you would assume with all of that space they must do well enough to keep up the mortgage payments! However, as you will read in Ann's review, between our MIA and ever-changing servers and the runny eggs pizza, it wasn't the most happening of brunch joints. (In SB's defense, some of the "locals" had been for dinner and said it was quite good)
Also, as a little fun fact, Sette Bello means Seven of Coins and is a "high points" card in the Italian card game "Scopa," which means broom. It is kind of like Euchre, where "tricks" are taken, but different. We should play at brunch sometime!
Just need to get my hands on the standard "Italian 40 card deck!"
ANN'S REVIEW
***7/29 Brunch at Sette Bello in Clarendon***
I finally succumbed to the pressure and went out to VA for a brunch. I begged Erica to drive as I can’t cope with having to metro on more than one line... The place is really big and airy just like the website advertises. It was actually a bit too bright for those folks who had been out a bit late the night before. (I think we all kept our sunglasses on...)
We were seated at a very large table and then no one came for what felt like hours. Ok, it was like 15 minutes, but I wanted a drink!! There seemed to be a bit of a service problem as they appeared to only have two girls manning the whole place including the bar. However, when we asked our server a million questions she did not get annoyed or give us attitude. We were able to make a number of substitutions including grilled instead of fried calamari, egg white omelet and dressing on the side.
Sadly, the drinks were much better than the food and its presentation. The omelets came on gigantic plates with a slice of strawberry. They looked sad. The salad came on a separate plate and was nothing special. The Margherita omelet that I ordered was simply a mozerella and tomato omelet. My omelet was also overcooked. I hate when they are brown. However Ram’s looked perfect and fluffy. The winner seemed to be Allison’s breakfast pizza, however, the fried eggs on the top seemed uncooked and kind of grossed us all out. I think I would consider ordering that if I go again, but send it back for some more oven time if the eggs were not cooked enough. I don’t think I would go back (and not just because it is VA) for brunch, but it seems like it might be good for an afterwork HH for those of you who are out that way!
Also, as a little fun fact, Sette Bello means Seven of Coins and is a "high points" card in the Italian card game "Scopa," which means broom. It is kind of like Euchre, where "tricks" are taken, but different. We should play at brunch sometime!
Just need to get my hands on the standard "Italian 40 card deck!"ANN'S REVIEW
***7/29 Brunch at Sette Bello in Clarendon***
I finally succumbed to the pressure and went out to VA for a brunch. I begged Erica to drive as I can’t cope with having to metro on more than one line... The place is really big and airy just like the website advertises. It was actually a bit too bright for those folks who had been out a bit late the night before. (I think we all kept our sunglasses on...)
We were seated at a very large table and then no one came for what felt like hours. Ok, it was like 15 minutes, but I wanted a drink!! There seemed to be a bit of a service problem as they appeared to only have two girls manning the whole place including the bar. However, when we asked our server a million questions she did not get annoyed or give us attitude. We were able to make a number of substitutions including grilled instead of fried calamari, egg white omelet and dressing on the side.
Sadly, the drinks were much better than the food and its presentation. The omelets came on gigantic plates with a slice of strawberry. They looked sad. The salad came on a separate plate and was nothing special. The Margherita omelet that I ordered was simply a mozerella and tomato omelet. My omelet was also overcooked. I hate when they are brown. However Ram’s looked perfect and fluffy. The winner seemed to be Allison’s breakfast pizza, however, the fried eggs on the top seemed uncooked and kind of grossed us all out. I think I would consider ordering that if I go again, but send it back for some more oven time if the eggs were not cooked enough. I don’t think I would go back (and not just because it is VA) for brunch, but it seems like it might be good for an afterwork HH for those of you who are out that way!
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