Tanzy is the epitome of a romantic dining experience. Not only is it the Boca Raton restaurant incredible, but right above it, is the glamorous iPic theaters, where you get star treatment while watching movies in reclining leather chairs, all wrapped up in complimentary blankets and pillows. So, if you want to make a good impression on a first date, surprise someone with a truly unique culinary experience, or fear the wrath of a guillotine for taking your date to McDonalds for the fifth time this month, consider this artisanal Italian nirvana.
I have eaten at Tanzy several times, but last weekend was my best visit yet. One reason is because we sat at the Parma Bar, instead of a regular table. The Parma Bar is best described as an Italian sushi bar. But instead of raw fish, you are treated to cured prosciutto and coppa hams, along with different types of imported mozzarella and other cheeses, all prepared in front of you as tapas or parma platters. But if you can’t get a seat at the Parma Bar, you will still have an incredible dining experience; the atmosphere is fantastic all around.
When you first walk in, it’s as if you just stepped into a tropical rainforest. Right in front, you see what looks like a wooden jungle gym where they are serving drinks. It is none other than the Cocoon Lounge, which is made entirely out of Malaysian wood. The whole restaurant takes on this dreamy, exotic, yet, sophisticated rainforest theme with bonsai trees and vines sprawling all over the walls.
For those over 21, there is a full bar equipped with craft beers, homemade sodas and an extensive cocktail menu, specially created by Tanzy’s signature mixologist, Adam Seger, who created the signature drinks for the Grammy Awards in 2012.
Now, onto the meal. We first started out with “Parma bites” — small garlic crostinis with creamy herb goat cheese, topped with poached pears and a nice helping of prosciutto. Those little bites had some big, insanely delicious flavors. They were a fun, appetizing little snack for the voracious meat lover. However, the best part of these bites is the price: free. If you enjoy the complimentary sample, you can order a larger version.
For our entrees, I had the braised boneless beef short rib and the quattro formaggio fiocchi pasta with spiced pear. The portions are perfect for one or two people. The fiocchi was rich and creamy — everything a pasta stuffed with cheese should be. On the other hand, the small nuance of pear added a unique freshness. The sauce was also amazing. Traditionally, fiocchi is served with a sage brown butter sauce, but Tanzy’s is served with a creamy cheese sauce with the flavor of sage, which is then garnished with real flower petals. If that’s not romantic, then I don’t know what is.
The short ribs were extremely tender and the black mission fig balsamic glaze complimented the meat perfectly. This is a melt-in-your-mouth cut of meat taken to the next level. The meat was accompanied by sautéed garlic spinach and potato gnocchi. The spinach was delicious, but I was not a fan of the gnocchi, because they were a little bland in comparison.
We ended our meal with devilishly delightful red velvet bread pudding. Lately, bread pudding has been popping up on dessert menus everywhere. But this bread pudding is by far the best; I even bought a second one to take home. Now don’t get me wrong, all of the other desserts are delicious. But let’s get real: red velvet cake is chocolate-y. It is also the color of red roses. Chocolate, red, romance — it’s all coming together now, isn’t it?
The only thing that I could possibly complain about is that, at $20 or higher per entrée, Tanzy’s dishes are pretty pricey. However, each item was so delicious and worth every penny. Also, Tanzy is often advertised as a casual establishment, but I recommend dressing nicely.
This is definitely a romantic restaurant, best for special occasions — like dates, anniversaries and birthdays. Plus, Valentine’s Day is also just around the corner; why not go for the wow factor and book a reservation at Tanzy? Trust me; you will not regret that decision.
