Ralph Catizone, Tanta
On a recent trip to Chicago to attend the National Restaurant Association annual trade show we accidentally ran across a wonderful Peruvian restaurant called "Tanta" (www.tantachicago.com). Needless to say, we were very impressed with the food (so much so that we visited Tanta" three different times over a four day period). In addition to the excellent cuisine, we were most impressed with our waiter, Ralph Catizone.
Ralph has made our Outstanding Server for many good reasons. First and foremost, I have never met a server who was so proud of where he worked and the food it produced! It was a real treat to see the excitement in his eyes as he explained the various dishes that were on the Tanta menu. He made every dish very inviting, making it very difficult to choose which ones to order! Ralph also knew each dish intimately - the various primary ingredients, the different spices used, how the dish was prepared, etc. - it was a real epicurean educational experience and one that I look forward to repeating again in the new future. He also knew his drinks very well -- an added bonus!
Ralph was very attentive to our needs and would frequently reappear at our table to see if we were enjoying our selections - based primarily upon his expert suggestions - and if they had met with our expectations. (I certainly don't know what he would have done had they not!)
We will be back in Chicago in August and we will definitely be dining at Tanta. We will also be requesting that Ralph Catizone be our server. So, two recommendations here - when in Chicago eat at Tanta and request Ralph to be your server. I can assure you, you will not regret it. And in fact, it will make your Peruvian dining experience even more enjoyable.
