Bocca - Greenville, SC

D and I rarely go out to eat during the week, unless it's trivia night. She had an after-work errand to run, so I asked if she wanted to meet at Bocca when she was finished, and give it a try.

Bocca has been in Greenville for years, and I've passed it hundreds of times I'm sure, but have never stopped in. It's in a spot that, coming from one direction its hidden by trees until you get up on it, and from the other direction, it just kind of blends in.

Usually, if we meet after work, I'll throw on some sweatpants (I work from home, so that's dressing up for me) and head out the door. Something told me to put some jeans on, and I'm glad I did.

It isn't an upscale restaurant, but it is a place where people are still presentable and if I'd walked in wearing sweats, I would have really been out of place.

D hit traffic and was later than expected, so I ordered the appetizer meatballs to keep from eating my neighbor table's meal.

These were some of the best restaurant meatballs I've ever had, and the homemade marinara was delicious.

While we were waiting, one of the staff members also brought us a complimentary sausage. I hated to leave any behind, but I was saving for the main course.

D got the Spaghetti Bolognese.

I went with my absolute Italian go-to, Chicken Alfredo.

Both dishes, the appetizers, I mean everything. You could just taste the freshness in the food.

The only question and issue we had when we left was ... why didn't we come sooner?