This review originally appeared in Foothills magazine as part of the Dream Meal series on local restaurants.

A romantic, quiet dinner, fitting for an anniversary or just a luxurious night out in a setting as comfortable as home. That may well be what Rebecca Condotta had in mind when she opened her stylish, intimate restaurant at 113 Orondo Ave.

Originally called Famé, Condotta, the wife of Rep. Cary Condotta, recently changed the restaurant’s name to Rebecca’s on Orondo.

Condotta treated us to a full meal and we loved every course. An appetizer of her family recipe Schratcha — a light focaccia baked with olive oil, herbs and a just a sprinkling of Parmigiano — reminded me of my Italian grandmother’s pizzas right out of the oven.

The salad of very fresh mixed baby greens with plum raspberry vinaigrette included raisins soaked in cognac and Gorgonzola cheese.

Our entree was a beautiful hand-cut tenderloin in a plum chutney sauce. We all agreed this was the steak of the year, decadently tender and flavorful. The ultra fresh, perfectly blanched tender green beans draped over the steak nearly stole the show. We’ve all been trying to duplicate the recipe ever since.

The bowl of fettuccine alfredo that came with the steak seemed a little much, but it was delicious. We all took most of it home.

Lastly was a simple and elegant goblet of French vanilla bean ice cream, with blackberries and drizzled with a Middle Eastern-spiced cognac sauce. The perfect dessert to end a fine meal without being too much to handle.

The three of us shared a bottle of Jones of Washington Syrah, which was excellent.

Expect to pay about $50 per person plus wine. But it isn’t difficult to conclude that Rebecca’s ranks right up there with Wenatchee’s best dining for a special night out. Maybe Valentine’s Day.

Foothills magazine held its first Dream Meal competition last fall. I was fortunate enough to join Wenatchee World copy editor and former food editor Rochelle Feil and Annette Pitts, executive director of the Cascade Loop Scenic Highway, both serious foodies, in reviewing dishes at several local restaurants. The winners were announced in the January-February issue of Foothills. Here are reviews I wrote about each of the restaurants. I’ll be posting one review a week. We’re hoping several more local eateries will participate in this year’s competition. Rick