"I recently had a business lunch with a colleague at Da Regina in Polcenigo. This is a quaint little restaurant located at the base of the Dolomites, featuring both seafood and meat dishes. The main dining room consist of about tables, adequately spaced apart...from each other to afford private conversation. It is the end of the winter season and the room was heated by a wood-burning stove. Another dining room opens up to a covered terrace outback for when the weather becomes nicer. Tables are covered with checkered tablecloths and the service ware (plates utensils) were nice. There is limited parking in a small courtyard, which could prove to be a problem on a busy day. I believe the woman who took our orders and served us was Regina, the owner, who was very gracious and accommodating. She brought us a colorful bouquet of fresh carrots and celery, accompanied with a flavored mayonnaise for dipping. We were not provided with menus which is often acceptable when dining in Italy. Regina asked if we were interested in eating seafood or meat dishes. We were interested in seafood so Regina commenced to recite what was fresh in the kitchen. There were several creative and tempting suggestions; however we selected the Paccheri with a Shrimp and Mozzarella sauce. Normally, one does not associate cheese with seafood; however this dish was excellent and featured a light seafood sauce that was worthy of using a piece of bread (scarpetta) to mop it all up. For our main meal, we enjoyed two Orata (Sea Bream fish) roasted in the oven with potatoes and herbs. Regina deboned and served the fish tableside. The natural juices from the fish and herbs greatly enhanced the flavor of the potatoes and were a nice combination. We had a little room for dessert; however, Regina sadly reported that she only had two desserts left which lead me to believe they may be leftovers and not very fresh. We passed on dessert and ordered cafes. Prices were reasonable and our meal, along with a couple of glasses of house wine and a bottle of water totaled Euro. I suggest you try Da Regina if you are in the area. I will return."
