Italian Restaurants in Brookings, OR

“We visited the Black Trumpet Bistro on a quiet, rainy Sunday night in December, to celebrate our engagement. We were seated as walk-ins with no wait. Our expectations were high after hearing a pair of locals share their story of a wonderful experience here. After being seated, we were greeted by Tyler. His masterful description of the specials made it difficult to pass on these dishes. We placed our order for an appetizer; my fiancée chose the cioppino, and I chose the ribeye steak with garlic mashed potatoes, resisting the temptation of the steak and lobster, and adding a side of champagne risotto that was paired with the aforementioned surf and turf. Tyler brought us some warm rosemary focaccia bread with oil and balsamic, which was quickly devoured. Our appetizer arrived; we chose the whipped ricotta crostini . A perfectly toasted crostini, a light spread of fluffy ricotta, topped with a blend of tomatoes, balsamic, and basil. Delicious and juicy with a touch of sweet, we were very excited for the rest of our meals after this dish set a high bar! While waiting for our main course, we began to look over the cocktail menu and wine list. We didn't plan on having cocktails or wine, but their offerings made our choice to abstain seem like we could really be missing out. We tried two specialty cocktails, both of which were very well received. One seasonal, “Grinch”-themed cocktail nailed the color and went down smooth. The other, the “Blueberry Hill,” with house-infused blueberry liqueur, was also excellent. I also ordered a glass of Ferrari-Carano Sauvignon Blanc (Kim Crawford is also available) with the thought that it would pair well with the champagne risotto. The wine list had some of my personal favorites, like Conundrum’s red blend and varieties from Duckhorn, Rombauer, and Caymus. A very good list! Our entrées arrived, along with more bread, and looked excellent. The cioppino was piled high. My fiancée had no complaints and soaked up nearly all the delicious broth with the warm focaccia. My steak was cooked to a perfect medium-rare and was incredibly tender. The gorgonzola cream sauce was thinner than I expected but still had great flavor that paired well with the ribeye, and probably would with any steak. The risotto left just a tiny bit to be desired, but I imagine when it is served with the dish it was intended for (the lobster tails or steak and lobster), it would really have given me what I was looking for! We also ordered the chocolate cake for dessert. Presented well and served cold, it was thick and rich. It certainly checks the box for chocolate lovers, but I suspect this is not a dish that is made in-house. I could be wrong, but it didn't strike me as though this place has a dedicated pastry chef handling the desserts. All in all, we had an excellent meal and would encourage others to visit this establishment. Constructive criticisms: The presentation of the ribeye could be improved. It’s tough to serve mashed potatoes and make them pretty. My only suggestion would be to pipe them through a pastry bag or switch from mashed potatoes to another potato dish, like a Hasselback or layered au gratin. But to be clear, my dinner was in no way disappointing. The tables are set with a tablecloth and a “roll-up” of silverware. This is fine! But a candle, salt and pepper shakers, and maybe setting the silverware with a bread plate would really make these tables feel a bit more luxurious and inviting. If these are the best criticisms I can come up with, this place is doing something very right! Great job, Black Trumpet Bistro! You made our engagement celebration truly memorable.“