Popolo — Restaurant in Mineral Point

They call themselves "Popolo Pizzeria" but that sells them short. Yes, the wood-fire pizza is a center of their work, but really, they are so much more than a pizzeria! We went here on the spur of the moment passing through Mineral Point on our way home. What a brilliant decision that was! This is in the space that used to be the Chesterfield Inn. We were leery at first since we saw that it was no longer the Chesterfield Inn, but we stepped inside to the beautiful and familiar space, and settled in. The toasty smell of the wood-fired pizza oven piqued our senses, and we were intrigued by the varied menu -- international offerings with an eye toward fresh local meats and produce. Yum! They could easily accomodate my partner's soy allergy (the only soy they use is soy sauce in a couple dishes).

I started out with a cucumber/mint/vodka/lemonade cocktail which was very refreshing and happily not too sweet. My driver had seltzer and lime. I had skewered grouper bites served on a bed of fresh seaweed (wakame) -- wow! Tender yet substantial with a bit of a seared bite, flavorful, and juicy. The seaweed was night and day from dried wakame that you often see in Japanese soups -- great texture (tender and a little poppy) and a fresh, bright flavor. My partner had a comforting bowl of spaghetti and meatballs, and a side of flatbread topped with mushrooms marinated in a creamy balsamic vinaigrette and parmesan. The flatbread was not the super thin & crispy kind. but was a little thicker (like 1/4") with a crisp-soft bite and wood-fired aroma, and the mushrooms were delish -- the flatbread was served with a generous bed of arugula. Oh yeah, I also had a great salad with arugula and mixed greens, a soft cheese, honey, and pine nuts, and it was very good. My partner had a blackberry tart with lemon curd on a pastry crust, served on a drizzle of chocolate. I had rhubarb cobbler with vanilla ice cream. And get this -- our total bill was $44! For a super high-end meal with exquisite fresh ingredients perfectly prepared, including drinks and...

As you can see by a previous post or two the owner of this place has an attitude and is quick to tell you that they do not seat large parties. This place will seat small parties of people so do not go here if you have more than six and probably should be less that this. We had good experience here more than seven years ago - very good but this is no longer the case, There is a new owner in the last seven years.

Also noted is wait times for food in other reviews and it did take quit some time to even have someone finally greet us while standing and waiting for service or to be seated. Granted there was a special event in town and the understaffed (admitted by owner) place was busy and we will give them that. But don't start off with an attitude when you are explaining why you won't seat more than six and even when you ask to be split up you still get an attitude.

Moral of this story good things may not...

Pretty resturant with a beautiful bar. Ordered the toasted cheese and calamari appetizers. The toasted cheese was wonderful. But the calamari was soft and oily and the dipping sauce was not good. The cheese came out first. The calamari came after the main course. Was told it was forgotten. Ordered the spaghetti and meatballs. Oh my large bowl of spaghetti, 3 meatballs. There was hardly any sauce. Questioned waitress, she said it was on the bottom .. stirred it still just a loose sparse sauce that looks like tomato juice. Asked for more sauce for us. We received more sauce but something was off. It was so thin and little taste. Tasted like the sauce was rushed and not simmered. It was not good and didn't cling to the spaghetti which was soft and overcooked.We had ordered two spaghetti and meatballs. We could not eat it . Didn't take it home. The buns and the old fashioned were the highlight...