Ponte's - Italian - $$$

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I've heard that back in the 90s, Ponte's was a popular spot. Located in Tribeca, right on the West Side Highway, Ponte's makes a really great date spot for a romantic dinner. The views are breathtaking and the food matches the same.

We went there on their first night open after being closed for several weeks for renovations. So we knew that meant the food was going to be extra fresh and delicious. And boy, was it.

We started with the caesar salad, delicious, and then shared our entrees. We ordered the arragosta arabbiata (aka- the angry lobster) and it was phenomenal. The BEST lobster dish I think I have ever had. I would come back for this dish over and over and over again. We also ordered the steak, which to be honest, steak isn't the first thing that I think of eating at an Italian restaurant, but I was with a guy... what do guys know? But the steak was great too.



Seriously delicious food, and with the gorgeous view, it is highly recommended for a low-key, romantic Italian dinner.

Palma - Italian - $$$

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So one of my dreams/goals that I expect to reach living here in NYC, is knowing and being friends with chefs around the city. The experience that I had at Palma is exactly the reason why.

My friend, to keep it short, is friends with the Executive Chef at Palma, the handsome and charming, Raffaele Ronca. After greetings with kisses and catch-up chatter, Raffaele said one of the most desirable things every foodie-diner wants to hear: "let me just bring you a few dishes, ok?" Who knows better about the menu than the Chef who created it?

My wish was granted. We shared plate after plate of deliciousness. A fried artichoke heart dish- a texture and flavor I'd never before tasted and couldn't get enough of. Crab cakes. A perfectly seared sea bass. The most simple, delicious, amazing pasta dish: fresh made pasta, crushed tomatoes, garlic and basil. Divine. Dessert. There were so many "Mmmm" inspired bites accompanied with lip smacking sips of wine. It went on and on and on. In the end, he shared a glass of limoncello with us while chatting about cooking, food, and eating.

It was a fabulous night! There's nothing better than connecting with the person who created your amazing meal, and that experience lived up to the dream i've been building in my head.

The restaurant has an adorable, rustic feel that serves as a perfect setting for the type of food it serves. You feel like you're in Italy and you taste the authenticity. Nestled on the quiet Cornelia St. this makes for the perfect date spot.


Go and indulge. $50pp

Eataly - Italian - $$

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Eataly is great. It's a marketplace, a food court, a scene, and a tourist trap, all in one. The Mario Batali owned location sells all sorts of Italian goods, from chocolate and desserts to cheese and salamis, and breads, produce and fresh fish and meat. If it's Italian, it's there.





Next to all of the little markets- whether it's fish, meat, cheese, etc., are little restaurants based on the market it's next to. So you can choose based on what you feel like eating.

The first time I went, I had a fresh focaccia pizza from the bakery (to go) and it was excellent.

The second time, we came after a long night of drinks, we opted for the "La Pizza & La Pasta".



- Pomodora Pizza
(Great wood oven taste)






- Pasta alla Norma
(Fresh made lasagna pasta with eggplant and mozzarella)





Without wine, we spent $25pp.

Tre Otto - Italian - $$$

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I've recently been exploring a lot of the restaurants on the Upper East Side, now that I have a project in the area. I have to admit that this one probably has the nicest ambiance and was most alluring from the sidewalk. It has a nice wine bar in the front, and a very elegant, modern decor. I had been saving this one for a client lunch.

So we finally went and sat in the back garden area. Super nice and serene, it was wonderful to find a place with al fresco dining. Italian food, al fresco dining, they go hand in hand. The place was filled with many old, Upper East Siders, most of whom were ladies who lunch. Their faces were all so botoxed and so made up, I wondered how they would even manage to open their mouths to eat.

Anyway, the service was really poor. It took about 10 minutes to get some water. 15 minutes to get bread that I had to ask for. And then another 5 for our iced teas. I kept hearing the table next to us ask for the woman's personal pizza about 5 times--- they were there for an hour and 20 minutes, and finally left WITHOUT getting her pizza. At that point, I was cringing and hoping that this wouldn't be the same for my client lunch.

We ordered the calamari for our appetizer and then decided to share the parmigiana pizza. After about 30 minutes, we got both the calamari AND the pizza at the same time. I hate when you get the appetizer with the entree, i mean, what is the point of ordered the appetizer then?? The calamari was so dry that we left it untouched, it was definitely not fresh. The pizza was actually very good, but very messy. It was the kind of pizza that just falls apart, so you must eat it with a fork and a spoon- nothing tragic.

Finally, after we paid and left- we walked past the kitchen in a narrow hallway to exit, and I saw one of the waiters eating our 2 leftover slices of pizza. It just grossed me out. I mean, there he was, in the middle of the hallway, not hidden or tucked away in the kitchen, and he was eating our pizza off the tray that it was served to us on. I'm all about not wasting food, and keeping leftovers, but the sight of it happening before we were even able to leave the restaurant just made me feel uncomfortable. I felt bad for the Owner, because it really appeared that there was no order in her kitchen.

I think I might give this place another chance, but when it's less busy and less crowded. It just gets an "ehh" for now.

Sorella - Italian - $$$

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When my friend said that he wanted to have Italian food in the LES, I did a quick search on nymag.com and chose Sorella. It is even better than the reviews it got. It's this great, unassuming place off Allen St., surrounded by Chinese restaurants and shops-- you would not expect to find it there. I waited for him over a beer at the bar, that also serves a full menu. We were seated in the back- which is a really cute and intimate setting with only a few tables. Each dish is about $15, but the portions are just right, so you need a "Qualcosina" with whatever Entree you later choose. We went with "Un po di pasta" and each bite generated an "Mmmmmm," it was THAT good. But the sensory overload didn't end there. The chef, a female, has an amazing mix on her ipod that she plays in the restaurant. So not only were we loving the flavors in our mouths, but we were singing and dancing to her great mix. I seriously can't wait to go back here and I highly recommend it.




- Kale Salad
(Every bite of this salad is amazing. The crunchy kale, the sweet squash, the crunchy almond and the sweet/tart balsamic. It's amazing)

- Shaved Brussel Sprout Salad (Special)

- Tajarin
(Lamb Ragu with mint. The flavors were so fresh and perfectly cooked that you could taste each and every ingredient that was in there.)



- Oxtail Risotto
(This is the show-stopper. Serious OMG moments. Perfection. It is so good and gooey and the oxtail is so tender and perfect, and the melted cheese and the plums... it is just to die for. We shared, but I could have easily had a plate and a half of this on my own.)




With drinks, we spent about $55pp. I'll go back and drink water just to be able to go back again, and often.

'inoteca - Wine & Italian plates - $$$

http://www.inotecanyc.com/home.php

Don't come here for a meal, but come here for a great glass of wine and some equally delicious bites. Ask to sit downstairs rather than upstairs (on street level). The downstairs part feels like you're sitting in an old wine cellar, and it's dimly lit, which I think is the perfect setting for drinking wine. While 'inoteca is known for their paninis, I personally think their bruschette is bette!

- Bruschette, tapenade
- Bruschette, fagiolo del giorno
- Bruschette, gorgonzola & fig
- Bruscheete, ricotta fresca & pomodoro
- Olives
(Best dish of olives. Loved them so much I ordered a dish just to bring home)



Price depends on your choice of wine.