Il Fornaio - Brunch - 2006.05.14 -- *****

Brunch was served up at this Italian place with some non-typically italian choices. Teetering between the handsome french toasts I saw on other people's tables and a nice sounding ravioli. I fell for the former. Giant slabs of crusty bread perfectly drowned in batter and fried up. The mascarpone cheese added a creaminess and sweetness not found in normal french toasts. Absolutely one of the best FT ever. Wish I had an expansion stomache to fit the last piece of it in.

My friend had his usual favorite, carpaccio, and some berries with yoghurt. I only tasted one slice of the carpaccio and seemed fine. Of better note was the fresh squeezed juices we ordered. Grape juice, a rare offer, was served light and fragrant, very yummy. The grapefruit juice had no hope of competition.

Our waiter, I must say, was a nice chap. Very "unprofessionally" nice, kind of easily friendly, charming, and very attentive and discrete. He saw our plates were empty and forks were down, but refrained from coming over to collect until my friend finished a (short) cell conversation. He also promptly down-charged us for the juices when we pointed out our unawareness that they had two sizes and he unannouncedly gave us the larger one.

Final tab $36 for two.