And the award for most under-the-radar and delicious restaurant in SD goes to....25 Forty in Old Town!

Foodie Mom is swamped with work lately, and not much time to eat out or blog about it!

But must do a short review of the FABULOUS and under-the-radar restaurant 25 Forty in Old Town. Hasn't gotten much buzz, has mixed reviews on Yelp (some people said service was slow and food not "all that") AND they're not on Open Table, which keeps them off my radar most of the time.

HOWEVER, it is cute, fabulous and DELISH. In a little house off the beaten path in Old Town, which is not the place where you expect to find a homey food-forward, farm-to-table bistro.  But it was full of locals in the know - so cute too!

What I liked:
--nice welcome. I made a reservation on the phone earlier in the day. They had chalked my name on the floor next to "my" table. Made me feel at home. Nice touch!

--amuse bouche:  citrus-soy vodka jelly. Me like! (like a cutting-edge jello shot)

--bread basket: well it costs $4, but it's totally worth it. This is a bakery after all. There was cornbread, banana bread, a very yummy warm baguette, delicious whole-grain too. Enough to bring home for breakfast (it was date night, so SB didn't get to taste the bread til morning - but he could have come with us for lunchtime - they have crayons on the tables, though there were no kids when we were there at nighttime!).

--salad: got a simple side salad: $4.  YUM!! Very fresh greens, perfectly dressed and perfectly peppered. It was clear already that this is my kind of place!

--soup (yes I got soup and salad):  cream of cauliflower.  So delicate and cute. Came in an adorable bowl, and was very light.  There was an infused oil mixed with the thinnish tasty soup.

--the people around us were real foodies. At the next table, there were some elegant folks of a certain age talking up a storm about very delicious meals they make.

--CH got the bratwurst (about $10).  MASSIVE plate of sausage and sauteed onions. He scarfed it up.

Entrees:
--I got the eggplant parmagiana stuffed ravioli with fresh tomato sauce, minus the bacon.  Perfectly delicious, not too heavy.
--CH got a Greek-style lamb dish. I stole some of his lentil rice, which was yummy. He didn't think the dish was bad, but the flavor profile/use of herbs was not up his alley. He said he would come here again but not order that.

I wasn't feeling 100% so didn't order alcohol, but they had a short but reasonable wine list, and then $6 cocktails made with the soy vodka.

We didn't get desserts, but the dessert list was nice, and  they also have the fresh pastries since this place is open for breakfast and lunch.

Oh - and everyone around us was getting beautiful plates, all different from each other.

LOVED IT! Too bad it's not super convenient to pop back over that, but I'd love an excuse to go back.

Oh - and Parade at the Cygnet theater was terrific!