Brenner Pass

You ever eat something so good, it makes you want to yodel? Me neither, but Brenner Pass gets close. Light and airy, this Scotts Addition restaurant serves cuisine straight out of the Swiss Alps. We’re talking fondue. We’re talking scalloped potatoes. We’re talking pasta with chunks of ham. Oh, yeah, baby.

The menu changes seasonally, but fondue and pasta are constants. Brenner Pass is known for its fantastic pasta, and a great deal is their Thursday Pasta Date Nights, when you can get two pastas and a bottle of wine for just $60. They also have an Apéro Hour Tuesdays through Fridays from 5 to 7PM. That’s when I came on my most recent visit.

I started with two raw oysters, $1 apiece. They were served with horseradish, vinegared shallots, and lemon wedges and were so refreshing. Some starters I highly suggest is whatever fish crudo they happen to have on offer and the chicken liver mousse. You also won’t go wrong with a vegetable-forward starter or side.

For me, pasta is always the move at Brenner Pass when it comes to a main. Their tagliatelle is a must-try, but since I’ve already had it, I ordered the ricotta cavatelli. It was a verdantly green pasta, with mussels stuffed with mortadella (an Italian salume made from cured pork and pistachios). It was topped with pangrattato (toasted bread crumbs) and fresh dill. It was such a great medley of flavors, and there was just enough heat in each bite to keep it interesting.

The desserts at Brenner Pass always hit, and this time was no different. I ordered the pistachio financier, a light pistachio cookie topped with vanilla Bavarian cream, lemon curd, blueberry compote, and chopped pistachios. That, and a cup of Afterglow coffee put the cap on a fantastic meal. I also highly recommend the espresso budino.

Although it’s a bit on the pricey side, Brenner Pass is a worthwhile treat. With their Apéro Hour and Pasta Date Night deals, it’s definitely possible to try this place out on a budget

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