Compane Trattoria — Restaurant in Town of Perinton

I was really excited for my first Mother's Day out with my husband and our baby. My husband saw Compane had a Mother's Day Brunch going on until 2pm, decided to call earlier in the week, and was told they could give us reservations for 2:30pm- and that it would still be the Mother's Day brunch event. We figured they extended the hours since they were so busy and were excited nonetheless. When we arrived, about 5 minutes early, the parkinglot was near empty, but we were told our table still had people at it and we would have to wait about another 10-15 minutes. We thought it was strange there was a specific table just for our particular reservation since we didn't need or request a high chair, but didn't give it much more thought and just waited at the bar.

When we were seated, we saw there were about 4 or 5 other 4-person tables just like ours that were empty- so it was odd that we had to wait specifically for our table, but again... no ill feelings just yet. We went up to the buffet and took turns staying at the table with the baby. I went first. It was clear that all the food had been sitting around for a while, which isn't terrible or unexpected, but none of the burners were even lit and NOTHING in the warming trays was remotely warm. I avoided the eggs benedict (that I was really looking forward to), tried a sausage link that seemed ok, and loaded up a few waffles, because, really- those can't be messed up or make you sick if they've been sitting out, right? The rice balls were pretty good-- just would have been way better warm (or even labeled, as I had no idea what they were. Luckily I'm adventurous.) I saw gravy, marinara, and something that looked like syrup in between, but when I swished the ladel around I realized it must be au jus for the meat at the nearby carving station. The lights were on the remaining chunks of meat, so I imagine that was at least kept warm. I didn't get the chance to find out.

I took my cold waffles back to the table and joked that I'd at least get my fill of bottomless mimosas to make up for the poor food choices (oh, I did!) I ate my dry waffles (there seriously weren't any waffle toppings anywhere) while my husband went up to look around. He also thought about waffles but I didn't tell him I couldn't find syrup and thought he'd figure it out. That darling man saw the au jus and dove in without thinking it could be anything else but syrup. He said the carving station guy looked at him funny but didn't say a word. I died laughing. Watching my husband eat waffles with au jus almost made up for the afternoon of cold foods that should have been kept warm, and warm foods, like the salad, that should have been cooler for sure. Almost.

They did bring out a few pizzas while we were there, which my husband really liked, but I was in the mood for the rest of the brunch options they listed, not pizza; so I decided to try again and hit the carving station. In fact, it was only about 10 minutes after we were seated so I didn't think anyone would be packing up or stopping work on the buffet since there were other people who had just come in, like us. I saw someone walk away from the carving station and waited. And waited. And waited. No one ever returned and I didn't get to try the turkey or beef that I assume were the only still-warm foods out on the spread. No one behind the bar asked if I needed anything. No one went to get the carver. No one said or did much of anything other than our waitress who was so sweet and knew that this new mama could use a few more mimosas. We only stayed about 25-35 minutes since there was no fresh food coming out, and noticed that the carver had STILL never returned as we were leaving.

Overall, we spent more than we normally would have at a nice restaurant for dinner/brunch, and this being a special occasion, we expected to. But we also at least expected to eat food that was warm, if not fresh. Unfortunately, I'll always remember this being apart of my first Mother's Day. Very...

Compane is a romantic gem you should make your regular spot. It is under new ownership and seems to feel lighter and more open then when I was there over the Summer.

Atmosphere: It's cozy and warm without feeling crowded at all. The bar area in the front is really beautiful with space to sit and have a drink, mingle or grab a bite at a high top. The decor is charming while still being modern and cool. The whole feel of the place is friendly and happy! Also, the bathrooms are pretty and very clean which is a key point for me.

Drinks: The bartender, Rachel, was great. Even though there was a full bar everyone had a drink in hand. I didn't know what I wanted and she asked me a few questions and made me a delicious bubbly cocktail. Sitting at this bar with a drink makes you feel like one of the cool kids.

What I ate: I tried a lot of food here because I like to eat off of everyone else's plate. We had arancini, artichoke French and meatballs for apps. All three were delish. I got the beat salad and I have to say this salad was AMAZING. I do not usually say that about salad but this thing was so so good. Big chunks of beet, goat cheese, some kind of perfectly toasted nut and dressed with the perfect amount of dressing. I thought about that beet salad for a week. Try it. For an entree I had the bolognese and it was right on. I'm not used to having braised pork in a bolognese and it was lovely. I also had some of the woodfired pizza. It had the perfect crust, crispy on the bottom and soft in the middle. Also, the cheese was perfectly proportioned to the sauce and everything stayed in place.

Service: Our waitress was Jen. She was wonderful. Very professional and attentive. Definitely gave the feel of a more expensive dining experience. Also the chef was circulating the dining room and bringing food out to people which makes you feel like a rock star.

Overall take away: Go here is you want to...

Had a very delightful experience for dinner here Saturday night. First off, a lovely restaurant aesthetically. The food and drinks were absolutely phenomenal. Everything was very fresh with a profile of different flavors that all came together very nicely. Our waitress was very kind and knowledgeable about the menu. When I had ordered arancini she immediately let me know of a recent change they made to the dish that included mushroom which I do not like so we switched to the wings. I have to say I almost regret getting them for the fact that I am unsure how I will eat wings any other place. Everything on the menu that I’ve had is fresh made and delicious, but their chicken wings….. Confit in duck fat, Calabrian chili wings with gorgonzola and pickled red onions. These are truthfully and whole heartedly special. Probably one of the best food items I’ve ever tasted. The price here for upscale dining is incredibly fair as well. Meatballs Wings Bread and oil Chicken Parm Bolognese 3 Drinks Tiramisu This was $128 dollars before tip. That’s unheard of in upscale dining. It’s not Char fancy, but it’s in nice area with a beautiful layout and you should probably dress at least BC to eat here. It’s a nice atmosphere, friendly employees, owner took time to greet us and ask about our experience. The only complaint I could have about the whole place really is no fault of their own. It is a full on royal rumble to find a parking spot in that plaza. Not even a situation in which you can just find a less than desirable spot, you will literally have to just drive around until you get lucky and see someone leave. Will help to arrive a bit early for a res. 10/10 restaurant experience I...