Ainslie Bowery

Also Ainslie, 76 Ainslie St., Brooklyn 347-725-3400, www.ainsliebk.com

Italian.  Ainslie Bowery is many things.  Enoteca for the wine lover.  Birreria (both beer garden and hall).  So drinks are their jam.  But let’s not bury the lead.   The food here clearly rocks.

I began with the phenomenal wood fired pizza.  Of the half dozen options, all tantalizing, I went saltimbocca.  Fresh mozzarella, prosciutto di parma, sage and white wine lovingly oven roasted.  Never before were cheese and ham so destined to be together.

Sated but seeking more horizons, I indulged in the shrimp scampi.  A spicy soup of white wine, butter, garlic, pepperoncini peppers – shrimp galore submerged beneath the surface.  Two huge pieces of grilled country bread are on site whether you’re shrimp piling or down to dive.

From there it was on to the Ainslie burger – a symphony of beef, prosciutto, and gorgonzola dulce bookended by brioche.  And accompanied by truffle fries.  Not too hard, not too soft, just pure Goldilocks potato perfection.

Sure, Ainslie Bowery is drink-centric, but their entrées are not to be ignored.  I engaged in the free-range chicken Milanese.  The breaded breast arrives avocado enriched with a light-as-air arugula and cherry tomato salad and lemon dressing.

At last it was time for some dolci.  I chose the banana bread pudding.  Toasty warm, a dollop of whipped cream to the side.  The bread is soft and sweet and an outstanding way to end such a satisfying meal.

Ainslie Bowery is large party ready, so if you’re here on a date, return with your friends.  And plenty of ’em.  They’ll be toasting you left and right.