CICADA

My family and I visited Cicada yesterday afternoon for late lunch/early dinner. The welcome greeting was attentive and warm and c19 control measures were in place. Service in the restaurant was equally attentive, warm and personal. The interior of the restaurant is great, allowing for singles, couples, families and larger parties in different sections. And there is a (currently covered) patio. We had crab cakes, papas bravas and the prawns al ajillo. The crab cakes soft and moist on the inside. Could have been slightly more crispy on the outside. But it’s minor - and no complaints about the taste. The other starters were really great as well. For mains we had the swordfish, snapper and spicy Portuguese style chicken and a “special order” spaghetti with tomato sauce and pancetta. The fish were perfectly grilled and juicy. The pink lentils with the swordfish fragrant and very tasty - a good complement to the more neutral taste of the firm swordfish. Desserts were ice cream/sorbet, tiramisu, chocolate cake and creme brûlée. Good quality ice cream. Firm but still fluffy and well settled tiramisu with proper taste of both coffee and Marsala. Creme brûlée was huge but well prepared in a shallow dish. Well balanced pistachio taste and great with the thin, well burned and super crispy sugar top layer. Only detractor was the espresso. It was extremely acidic and bitter and did all its best to ruin the desserts. In today’s coffee market it’s easy to find a full bodied and creamy ristretto. It dectracts half a star from the overall experience. Nevertheless, we’ll be back for more and look forward to enjoying the patio. The food and company were so good that for once I completely forgot to take photos. Sorry.