I almost walked into the wrong door, but when I got into the correct place, I was welcomed warmly by the hostess and seated promptly. I was delighted to see microgreens growing in trays on a shelf in the bar area and that was the moment I knew this was going to be good.
I tend to ask many questions about food I enjoy, and the staff and kitchen were happy to answer all my questions. I did not expect such an upscale experience, but was made to feel very comfortable in my casual clothes all the same.
https://centroreno.com/
Here are some of the things I've enjoyed.
Slow Roasted Harissa Carrots. A simple root should not be this delicious. Perfectly cooked, al dente carrots were tossed in a gentle coating of a tomato-harissa sauce. This gave it a nice savory and not spicy seasoning. The herbed labneh was thick and rich with toasted pistachios that gave this a wonderful texture, and the fresh herbs added a nice aroma. As if that wasn't enough, a light sprinkling of Ricotta Salata over the top finished the plate beautifully.
Shawarma Spiced Chicken Meatballs. Three delightful balls of juicy, moist chicken were nestled in a bed of Lebanese-style tomato sauce, which was atop a bed of sumac-seasoned chickpea hummus. The adornments of preserved lemon, dollops of labneh, baby cilantro and a healthy drizzle of Roccuzzo extra virgin olive oil turned a simple-sounding dish into an experience.
Miso Pork Belly. These fatty pieces of pork were slowly braised in a savory miso, then seared until a bit crisp on the outside. The chilled ginger carrot puree was a vibrant color and smooth as silk, with sweetness from the carrot and a bit of savory tingle from the ginger. Their version of a nori tsukadani was very pleasantly and gently meaty. I enjoyed playing with different flavor combinations with each bite. The additions of yuzu pickled daikon added a nice acidic balance, the shiso salsa verde gave it an herby freshness, and the crispy shallots and microgreens gave this a nice crunch, aroma and a lovely presentation.
Sticky Ribs. These were not the type of wings one would get for game night. These were fancy, but still finger-licking good. The cook on these were just right, tender enough but still had something to sink your teeth into. The coating of a sweet chili sauce was not too sweet and not too spicy, but very flavorful. I also enjoyed the pickled carrots to help cleanse the palate between bites and the mint chimichurri added a fresh, aromatic contrast to the bold flavors. I also appreciated the option to add more ribs to the plate, which I probably should have done, but did not...this time.
Centro Karaage Chicken. This dish was so good, they had to put their name on it. This was twice fried chicken thigh with crispy bits throughout the coating. The typically-ignored garnish of cabbage was turned into a refreshing slaw with a light, zesty yuzu kosho dressing. The hefty portion of house made chili crisp added an earthy, umami quality to each bite, but without too much heat. A very delicious version of Japanese fried chicken.
There will be additional visits in my future. I will try to save room for dessert at some point, as their seasonal panna cotta sounded divine.
