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Opening in Feb. 2008, this restaurant and the adjacent Bar 888 on the ground floor of the decidedly new money InterContinental Hotel is a joint effort between the wine families of Mondavi (Napa) and Frescobaldi (Tuscany) - the place is named after one of their joint wine labels. Bar 888 even sports a grappa bar of Marolo, Poli, Nardini, and, rumor has it, Nonino soon to come. (But it's still early and most everything is just display.) It has tall ceilings and a decidedly modern and upscale feel, despite the large windows facing billboards and the Burlington Coat Factory. Using a two-group UNIC Phoenix Twin in the kitchen, they pull shots of Illy espresso with minimal stripes of medium brown crema alternating with a bare liquid surface. It's saving grace, however, is that it is a properly short shot, so it packs some potency and lacks wateriness or bitterness. With the typical Illy flavor of wood and mild spices. Served in Rene Ozorio Infini cups.
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