X-Wray, 6160

A few weeks ago I headed to X-Wray for a Yelp Elite event where we were invited to sample the wonderful new Winter menu. X-Wray has a new head chef - Ricky and this man knows good taste-y. The food really goes above and beyond the simple bar food that went before it.

Bread, hummus

Gnocchi, tomato, basil, parmesan

Minted Mojitos and stemless Tempranillos were accompanied by little bowls of spiced roast pumpkin seeds. These were extremely more-ish. The first round of substantial eats were bread boards with garlicky tahini dip, e.v.o. and balsamic. The bread was a bit over-toasted but once smothered in that silky hummus, it didn't matter.

Pork belly

Next was a shot of mixed mushroom soup with truffle oil - soooo good.  Addictive tempura broccoli and green beans were next, followed by dishes of pork belly with almonds and a kind of quince paste. The hero of the night for me was Ricky's Nonna recipe gnocchi. The melt-in-your-mouth pillows of potato dumpling were little clouds of joy.

Beef cheek, cauliflower puree, crumbed carrot

The beef cheek dish was another showstopper. Shreds of dark braised meat resting on truffled cauliflower. As if that wasn't enough deliciousness to muster, there was the unimaginably tasty carrot croquette rested atop. My eyes boggled at the taste.

Food: 4.5/5 (that carrot, that gnocchi, those Mojitos!)

Ambience: 5/5 (bohemian, casual and warm. Good for a low-key date)

Service: 4/5 (hipsters with totally non-hispter attitudes) 

Value: 5/5 (my food was for FREE! Cannot report on the actual prices)