NYC Tastes

Missy Robbins brand new Willamsburg spot Misi  is currently the hot topic of conversation on the NYC food scene.  But while critics continue to argue the merits of this newest venture, we've decided to head back to the original Williamsburg debut, the bright and beautiful Lilia for the Sheep's Milk Agnolotto. A meal at this casual Italian gem begins with a few small snacks at the bar, a bowl of chili powder potato chips and peanuts dusted with fresh rosemary. The foccaccia of the day, a warm savory round with grilled onions and Parmesan cheese served with a dollop of whipped ramp butter.  I would officially like to add this butter to everything I eat moving forward, it was so good! Then onto the famous Sheep's Milk Agnolotto; soft pillows of yellow pasta bursting with sweet ricotta cheese in a honey and saffron sauce with dried tomato.  It's like a happy little oasis right inside a bowl.  Lilia will be celebrating its 3rd anniversary in ...

I absolutely love when it snows, it makes everything look magical with big flakes dotting the tops of yellow cabs and street lamps, turning the city into one big snow globe.  Last storm I headed to Fusco and found the perfect spot in their front windows for watching the snow fall while indulging in their brand new two course espresso lunch.   Guests have a choice of appetizer and pasta finished with espresso and biscotti for just $28. There were so many great appetizers to choose from; Hamachi Crudo tossed with chili and ginger, Kale Parmigiana Salad with almonds and a hefty Short Rib Spätzle served with bone marrow custard. I had an incredibly tough time choosing what to order, but it was the beautiful Burrata that won in the end, thick and creamy, studded with radicchio, fresh basil and pignoli vinaigrette. Onto entrees Fusco's Tajarin, a thin yellow pasta tossed with garlic, bonita flakes and clams that had all the freshness of the ocean ...

I don't usually get too excited about Italian fare but Barano in South Williamsburg has been invading my dreams consistently since the last visit.  Helmed by Chef Albert Di Meglio of Rubirosa, this cozy little spot is churning out some seriously incredible food.  Let's start with the pizzas, all of which are made in their gorgeous wood burning pizza ovens. The crust is thin and crispy with charred edges that make a satisfying snap when cut using their special metal pizza scissors.  The list of toppings change frequently but I highly suggest the Kabocha Squash Pizza with gorgeous stracciatella cheese, spiced crema and speck drizzled with an aged balsamic vinaigrette. The second thing I love about Barano are their inventive pastas, specifically the Saffron Gigli. These toothsome orange noodles are dusted with a layer of pecorino cheese and black pepper then doused in a Calabrian Honey Sauce.  It's both spicy and sweet a...

Bar Pitti is certainly no secret.  This tiny little spot on 7th Avenue South draws huge crowds for its affordable pasta, great al fesco dining and the possibility of a celeb sighting from its A-list of regular customers.  But when people finally get that coveted table many times they have no idea what to actually order.  This is NOT the time to ask the waiter for recommendations.  The Bar Pitti wait staff are notoriously rude trying to deal with so many customers at once.  In order to have the best experience possible look at the menu prior or just follow my advice and order the best thing on the menu- the Pappardelle a la Fiesolana. Big, thick stands of homemade pasta studded with smoked pancetta, tomato and parmigiana cheese in a wonderful cream tomato sauce.  It's not overly creative but it's so damn delicious you'll find your entire plate clean within seconds.   Which is good, because then you have plenty of time to run downstairs to th...

I was incredibly sad when the elegant  Elan closed last year.  I spent so many Sunday's in their front window watching the bustle and buzz of Gramercy go passing by.  I prayed something wonderful would move into the space and something wonderful actually did! Scott Conant's new Italian restaurant Fusco. We stopped in for dinner Saturday night and my old spot at the front window just happened to be open.  A smooth, silky bottle of Chianti to share and we were off for a fabulous night. Thick crusty rolls served with freshly churned butter and a beautiful garlic broccoli rabe pesto to begin. This would have been enough carbs for most people but we just couldn't pass up an order of the Stromboli... ... layered with  squares of smoked mozzarella, salami and bright sprigs of rosemary. Since we did so much carbo loading to start we decided to go light for the mid-course and split the Truffle Pea Cesar appetizer. This was lovely-...

It's so wonderful when a restaurant meets each and every expectation.  Especially when the stakes are so high; a Michelin starred, Saturday night 50th wedding anniversary kind of high.  But from the moment we walked in the door of Carbone, this mobstyle red sauce Italian joint decked out with brass chandeliers and tuxedo clad waiters hit the mark in every possible way. To begin a few gratis bites from the kitchen including a big bowl of rustic Italian bread, tomato focaccia and buttery garlic toasts... ...followed by ribbons of salami, bowls of pickled cauliflower and hunks of parmigiana cheese taken straight from a hollowed out wheel.  This was a delightful way to begin the special occasion and helped ease the hunger pains as we debated just about everything on the Flintstone sized menus. We finally decided on Baked Clams prepared in three different styles; classic oregano with breadcrumbs, "casino" topped with a slice of lardo and an absolut...

La Sirena is the brand new restaurant from Italian superstars Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich.  The last venture these two opened in NYC was Eataly, arguably my favorite spot in the city, so I was beyond hyped up for this meal.  Usually this kind of excitement leads me down a dark path of sadness and disappointment but at La Sirena my every expectation was met and more. Let's start with the cocktail program which is fantastic.  The menu has over two dozen drinks broken down into six different categories like Fresh & Crisp, Rich & Robust and Stirred & Boozy.  Of course there are the classic Negroni's and Sicilian Sour's but also fun old favorites like the Singapore Sling served here with Cherry Herring and pineapple.  The space itself is stunning both inside and outside. The weather was fabulous when we dined so we opted for the terrace where the white tiled floors and fresh flowers made it feel like w...