Passion8: delicious and expensive

My wife and I got a babysitter for our 8 week old son. Date night and wife’s birthday. My wife recommended we try Passion8, the new(ish) restaurant located in Elizabeth. Reservation at 6pm. Nope, there was no early bird special. Here’s a walkthrough of our experience.

I was feeling crazy and order a Blueberry Mule ($10). My wife ordered a simple glass of red wine ($13). The Mule knocked my socks off – outstanding. Crisp and refreshing. Looked a little girly, but I didn’t care.

My wife had heard incredible things about the Calamari Cubano ($15), so we made the order. Description: “jalapeno/ honey citrus butter.” Maybe my expectations were too high, but this kind of fell flat. Very fried. I yearned for some marinara sauce. At a $15 price point, I felt like I was getting your typical $8 calamari appetizer at an italian restaurant. It’s a large serving, probably good for 4 people.

I took a quick bathroom break. Maybe drank the Mule too fast. Great bathroom. Good vibe. Solid artwork:

Okay, back to dinner. My wife ordered the Purple Sweet Potato Risotto ($22) and I mentally wrestled with whether to order the Braised Brisket & Lobster or the NY Strip. I decided on the NY Strip ($38). Glad I did because it was unreal. Perfectly cooked and the little shoestring fry thingies mixed with some veggies provided a killer complement. I wanted to bathe in the demi glaze.

The risotto was literally purple, which kinda weirded me out. I tried a few bites and it was incredible. Loved that the citrus broth lightened it up, instead of being your typical heavy risotto.

We thought about dessert, but then we decided if we didn’t get home soon that my in-laws may be less inclined to babysit in the future. I know, strategic. Our overall bill was $105.12. Since we normally split a burrito bowl at Chipotle and I get anxious about saying yes to the $1.50 guac surcharge, this felt expensive. That said, it was outstanding and the atmosphere was cool. Recommended.

This story was originally published January 5, 2015 at 1:16 AM with the headline "Passion8: delicious and expensive."