In the past, I may have mentioned that I prefer eating at Italian restaurants. I may have also noted my love for pasta dishes and drinking Chianti Classico. And I probably have shared my “man-crush” on Chef Roberto Leoci. Yep, all true, all accurate and with a last name like Marinelli, none of it should be a surprise.
Chef Roberto Leoci of Pacci Italian Kitchen + Bar | Savannah, GA
So you can imagine how delighted I was when I learned that the new Kimpton Hotel in Savannah’s Historic District, The Brice, would also include “Pacci Italian Kitchen + Bar” – – – and that the new restaurant’s Executive Chef would be … you guessed it, my friend Roberto. “Ah yes” I thought, this is going to be good. Well, last night my wife and I along with some friends were invited to try out the newest offering in town, from the bow-tie’d valets all the way through the magnificent frozen lemon custard dessert.
We didn’t get to pick from the menu for this trial dinner. Instead, our server Terrence would tell us what we would be eating. Sounded fine to us, bring it on. So here is your blow-by-blow walk through our dinner in rapid-fire fashion:
- All of the Tuscan breads are freshly baked on premises and served with an exquisite, rich EVOO.
- The Formaggio (fresh Italian cheeses) board and Salumi (fresh Italian cured meats) were beautifully presented and extremely popular around the table. I was partial to the buffala mozzarella.
- Kerstin loved her Fisherman’s Cast Iron Stew so much that at one point, she suggested bathing in it. Tom would not normally have ordered the Savannah Flounder with herbed potato’s and asparagus, but that’s what Terrence brought to him. After a courtesy offering around to the rest of us, it was clear he was digging it and not going to be sharing much more of his entree. Rene was up to her elbows in the Coca-Cola Glazed Short Ribs with forest mushroom/parmasaen-reggiano risotto and winking at our server for taking good care of her and bringing a dish that she adored. All was going very well.
Behind the scenes at Pacci Italian Kitchen + Bar in Savannah, GA
- Then, out from the kitchen came Chef Leoci with my main dish for the evening: Buccatini all’Amatriciana with Georgia Vidalia onions and grilled Hunter Cattle pancetta in a San Marzano tomato sauce. I was told that the Buccatini noodles were homemade and “have a hole in the middle of the noodle to they cook perfectly”. As the dish was presented, I lost awareness of the rest of the table. After barking that I had no plans to share, the manager politely glared at me as if to say “come on, share with your wife and your friends”. I finally did but was glad that the others were so enamored with their own entrees that they were happy to let me enjoy my heavenly dish.
- Whew! Stuffed. Then came dessert. I’m sorry that I don’t remember the names but the frozen lemon custard was outstanding and so were the mini Italian donut balls injected with fresh raspberries.
The environment is decorated in what I call “fresh modern Italian country”, whatever that means, and all of the servers seemed to be finding their groove. The bar is spectacular and seems to have everything that you could ask for, including a nice array of “tatted-up bartenders” (be sure to look for the eyeball on the elbow!).
The bar at Pacci in Savannah, GA
Pacci Italian Kitchen + Bar formally opens today, May 20 and will serve breakfast, brunch and supper. They also plan a Saturday AND Sunday “Punch Drunk Brunch” and a Wednesday Night Supper Club. Ask Ruth White, the General Manager, for details. She’s great and makes it clear that they are there to please.
Welcome to Pacci Savannah
Pacci is certainly different than anything else that Savannah has to offer. And locals will have to get used to the TOTAL transformation of what was once the charming, historic Mulberry Inn. But visitors to the city are going to love this place as soon as they walk in. It just feels good.
Italian? Check. Pasta? Check. Chianti Classico (Riserva)? Check. My buddy in the kitchen? Yep and glad he’s there.
The kitchen crew at Pacci Italian Kitchen – making magic!
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Address: Reservations: Open Table
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