happy hour with a dash of… @ Credo

G recently took me to happy hour at Credo. Even though Credo opened last year, it still looks very new. Executive Chef is Gustavo Romero.

The design is interesting. Based on found idea, “each panel is an assemblage of comment and commentary built on found ideas, from the inspired to the absurd, the sacred and profane, on topics ranging from race to sex to war. Nothing is off limits.” And nothing really is… Each phrase starts with “I believe” and what do you know…that’s what Credo means in Italian.

And to echo that concept, famed Dutch Interior Designer, Piet Hein Eek designed and made the scrap wood tables that complement and accentuate the beauty and sustainable concept that this restaurant is aiming for.

On this visit, we had wine, Pizzetta Achuga (white anchovies, brie, arugula, calabrese peppers), and Chicche della nonna (veal meatballs, arrabiata, grilled sourdough bread).

I really like the Pizzetta but the anchovies were kind of strong and I should have paired it better with a white wine instead of the red I was drinking before I started ordering food. Funny I did not even think about that until now. I guess the designed space did work because we were deep in conversation with each other throughout the entire meal. It helps that we were sitting side to side at the front at their bar space. The veal meatball is more G’s favorite as he likes veal, but he wanted me to mention that the meatball was lukewarm instead of hot. While I am not fond of veal, I do appreciate the very nice tomato sauce of that dish.

The food at Credo is very rustic and yet fittingly appropriate in this sustainable + artistic environment.

The bartender was a lovely lady and very accommodating. The only person we had a bit of trouble with was the receptionist. We came into the restaurant 15 minutes before their dinner starts and she wouldn’t sit us because according to her, “dinner has not started yet and she just got there.”

We had a good time conversing during happy hour anyway. 😉