"Pre-Continental" Pangea impresses

Pangea offers a surprising and delicious variety of dishes, varying in size and price, with a creative menu they call "precontinental cuisine." (The menu changes frequently.) Many of the dishes seem ideal for sharing; they÷re all flavorful and colorful.

Our visit to this restaurant, which you probably don't happen to drive past randomly but which is worth a special trip, was on a perfect evening for sitting outside. Not surprisingly, the outdoor patio seating was nearly full all evening, and the indoor seating, in view of the open grill area, was hardly used. We came away with a few bug bites, but enjoyed the tranquility provided by the tall hedgerows just a few yards from the street.

We began our meal with two offerings from the "small plates" portion of the menu as appetizers, along with glasses of nearby McGregor winery's excellent White Russian white wine. Our favorite small plate was the wood-oven-baked artichoke hearts filled with mascarpone cheese, garlic, and chives, served with a balsamic reduction. The creamy cheese and sharp balsamic flavor worked together extremely well on the tender artichoke hearts. A watercress and duck confit salad, with blackberry vinaigrette, was fun as well.

We were especially pleased with the summer risotto, featuring roasted red peppers, wild mushrooms, and white truffle oil; and the tagarashi-dusted seared scallops, from the "large plates" and "medium plates" sections of the menu, respectively. One of each, shared, seemed perfect for two diners, after we'd split the two "small plates."