National Pasta Day: Marea, NYC

We didn't know that the day we decided to meet after work at Marea (midtown, Central Park South & Broadway) for a casual dinner that it was National Pasta Day. Had we known, there probably wouldn't have been anywhere else we would have picked to honor this incredible carbohydrate.

Arriving at 5:00pm to grab to seats at the bar - coveted, quickly snatched up, seats. They start serving the full menu at the bar at 5:30pm which makes it a popular choice at this restaurant who's reputation and two Michelin stars make it hard to get a reservation in the dining room.

We went low key - crudos and pasta dishes. So to start, three bite size pieces of perfection. After much contemplation & discussion, we choose, from right to left, the Scampi (Pacifi c langoustine, Murray River pink salt); Ono (seared wild Pacifi c wahoo, wild mushroom, lobster roe) and the Dentice (Pacifi c snapper, mandarin orange, pistachio, carrot vinaigrette). The selection of crudos on the is stunning and diverse.

SIDE BAR: One night I'd like to go and order every single selection in a Crudo Taste Off. It would cost $407 before tax and tip and would consist of 21 different kinds, 4 pieces of each....if anyone wants to take me up on that just say the word!!!

The scampi was light, buttery soft with a cucumber it's sitting on giving a hint of crunch to offset the wonderfully mushy texture of the langoustine. Excellent.

The Ono was a more earthy flavor if you can say that about fish. The seared edges added smokiness while the mushroom gave it that forest flavor. Very nice.

And our favorite, the snapper with the citrus of the mandarin orange and nutiness of the pistachio was just perfect. Could have eaten those all night.

Then came the pastas. It's almost as hard to choose these as the first courses. We knew we wanted our favorite, the fusilli. But what else? After contemplating all we went for the agnolotti which were piemontese meat ravioli, veal sweetbreads, wild mushrooms in a brown butter. The kitchen was kind enough to split both pastas for us and serve them one after the other - our casual dinner was a three course meal!

First up was the fusilli...red wine braised octopus and bone marrow in a perfect red sauce.

This is hands down THE BEST pasta dish I've ever had. Ever, anywhere. There's something magical about the crispiness of the octopus; the decadence of the bone marrow and the perfect al dente fusilli that just creates perfect culinary harmony. I've had it four times now and it's always flawless.

The second, new pasta was the ravioli.

A much heavier pasta, the sweetbreads were tender; the mushrooms gave depth and the brown butter added a sweetness. Also an amazing dish. We were glad that they split the dishes for us - a full plate of the agnolotti would have proven to be too much for one person. In this manner, it was exactly the right amount. Full but not uncomfortable - a wonderful dinner once again.

I can't say enough about Marea. If you get the chance, you need to go. And then go again.
Jenn's Rating: 91
Michelin: Two Stars
Zagat:28-26-26

Dining London Style: Jamie's in Covent Garden

For Labor Day Alan and I went to London...him for business and me to tag along and check it out. Since he did have work obligations, I had a few meals on my own including Jamie Oliver's Italian restaurant in Covent Garden...two blocks from our hotel at Seven Dials.

This was my first experience with a Jamie Oliver restaurant. I didn't know much about him other than his appearances on Food Network. I didn't even realize he was British until I saw the restaurant and connected the dots. I guess I never actually listened to any of his appearances on Food Network! That all being said - it's a huge place with two floors of dining (below ground & main floor) plus two outdoor patios - one in the interior courtyard and one on Upper Martin's Lane. It had been a gorgeous day but without a reservation, my only option was a tiny table for two in the wine cellar room. Lots of wood and a bit dark, the feeling very much was like being in a wine cellar but warmer.

The menu is made up of typical Italian fare - antipastos, pastas, risottos, main dishes and so on. Not wanting to go over board and not feeling adventurous, I ordered the Humble Green Salad and the Tagliatelle Bolognese that was a Ragu of British beef & pork with herbs, Chianti, Parmesan and crunchy herbed breadcrumbs.

The salad was simple & lackluster; the dressing was void of any noticeable flavor. But the pasta was super fresh with loads of meat and a hearty but not overly sweet red sauce. It was a good size portion that left me full but not uncomfortable (I have the capacity to throw down some serious pasta if given the option).

I paired all this with a glass of the house Rose, A Mano Rosata that was summery and light but forgetful.

All in all, I'd definitely recommend going for a casual, inexpensive meal (14 pounds all in). Order the pasta and try and sit outside if the weather was conducive. It's a popular, hopping place so get reservations!

Jenn: 77

Zagat: 20-19-19

Michelin: no stars

Lincoln, NYC

In late August, we reconvened the Manhattan Ladies Dining Club for an evening out at the much hyped, Lincoln Ristorante at Lincoln Center in NYC. It's a gorgeous location and the restaurant itself is quite impressive. Wood, floor to ceiling glass - very modern and yet warm. 

We decided to start off with drinks from the Proseco Bar before heading to the table.

They infuse different seasonal flavors into this light, sparkling drink. A few of us went with the house special of PASSION FRUIT Purée –with Blood Orange Liquore di Solerno. Summery and easy to drink.

Once seated, we decided to go with an appetizer each, a shared special pasta dish as a mid course and then entrees. To start off, Dawn & Marisa ordered the Mare Salad with octopus and other shellfish. Mary had the lamb terrine with salsa verde and I had the burratini with heirloom tomatoes, mint, basil and grilled bread which was perfect for a summer evening. Mary's appetizer with salsa verde was a problem dish...the salsa was too spicy to eat. Unusual in a restaurant of this caliber.

For the mid course - the dish that made the largest impression on all of us...a special of the evening in a lasagna with pork in a bechamel sauce that was stupid good. Much lighter than what I was expected with perfect flavor combinations. The homemade pasta was airy and the bechamel creamy without weighing down the dish.

Entrees included three pasta dishes: strozzapreti, reginette & agnolotti plus the special of the evening, a pork loin porchetta.

Dessert included chocolate tartufo & a cheese plate.

Overall - the evening was a lot of fun. The food wasn't at the level of some of our other dinners but there's potential there. With a daily changing menu, I would definitely go again. Not to mention our waiter was a hoot - attentive, lively, witty...he recommended two bottles of wine that we went with pairing nicely with the dishes. The super Tuscan, LE SERRE NUOVE TENUTA DELL’ORNELLAIA Merlot-Cabernet-Petit Verdot 2010 (Bolgheri) was lovely with a lot of body and fruit but not so heavy you couldn't drink it. He also managed to talk us out of champagne and into a white: Campagnia GRECO DI TUFO Quinto Decimo ‘Giallo d’Arles’ 2011 that was nice...light, short finish but good fruit and fabulous aroma.

Zagat: 25-26-25
Jenn: 85
Michelin: no stars

Eating in Sin City: Scarpetta

There's a real danger in having an amazing meal: that the magic can't be recaptured. I worry about this every time we revisit a place that scored high or that was truly memorable...will it be able to live up? While in Vegas we took that chance by going back to Scarpetta.

M&S went during their anniversary trip in 2012 and raved about it. So I went with Mom in October of the same year and was thrilled that we had such a similiar - fantastic meal. Going for the three-peat, we booked our final dinner there this last trip. It would Alan's first experience.

We were seated at one of the large, comfortable semi-circular booths that are quite nice. But this one was located so close to the entrance I felt immediately like we were missing out on the ambiance you get when you go deep into the center of this dark, modern yet chic restaurant. We also couldn't see the Bellagio fountains.

We ordered a round of appetizers and then pasta dishes. I don't have all the dishes captured in pictures but you'll get a sense...

White asparagus soup with crab & croutons. I ordered this - I love cream based soups and crab is my favorite thing on the planet...especially blue crab which this dish contained. And can't imagine my disappointment when I realized it was lacking seasoning and came off as quite bland. Couldn't really taste the crab and the whole thing needed salt or something savory to save the dish.

Raw yellowtail. Fresh, nice.

Crispy fritto misto (seafood, vegetables, lentils). Why lentils? Ok.

Braised short ribs with vegetables and farro risotto. Nicely cooked - fall apart beef. Good dish overall.

Pici with lobster, tarragon & almond and chili pesto. This sounds like something that should have just had my name on it. But the tarragon was overwhelming and the other favors got lost. Such a shame.

Duck & foie gras ravioli. I liked this dish (it wasn't mine) much better than the pici I ordered. Alas, it wasn't so I only got a bite before sending it back to it's rightful owner. Probably the best dish of the night.

Overall, it didn't live up to the past. Pasta dishes weren't showstoppers and the appetizers failed to excite. Next time in Vegas, I'll skip this one in favor of trying a new place.

Jenn's Rating: 81 (for reference, I scored this an 88 the last time)
Zagat: 25-25-26

Marea, NYC

Patty and I were wanting to go back to Marea once one of their pasta dishes showed up on a NYC list as best pasta dishes in the country. It doesn't take much to get us to want to go back so in mid-January we met at the bar early for good seats and good food.

We started off with a bottle of champagne (Brut Blanc de Blancs, La Caravelle) and a platter of crudos including Ono (seared wild pacific wahoo), Tonno (bigeye tuna), mackerel and langoustine. If you haven't been to Marea I so wish you would ~ truly amazing! Their ability to pair these bites of fish with perfect accompanyments to bring out the natural differences in each one. So incredible!

And for our entree - pasta!
We got the BEST PASTA DISH anywhere...the fusilli with red wine braised octopus and bone marrow. And the new dish, spaghetti with crab, santa barbara sea urchin and basil.

Always faced with the hope that memory and hype will be lived up to when that fusilli is put down in front of you - it only takes one bite to know that yes, this is an exceptional, perfect, incredible dish.

The crab dish was also really, really good. Lighter and a touch sweeter, this one speaks to freshness and the wonderful combination of tomato to basil. The sea urchin and crab not getting lost and adding a lovely texture.

There really just isn't a better place to have pasta in NYC. Eating at the bar is fun and comfortable if you don't want the formality of the main dining - just get there early!!

Jenn's Rating: 95
Zagat: 26-26-25
Michelin: Two stars

Portofino, Tinton Falls NJ

Most days Alan and I can't think of anywhere in our area to eat out that isn't take-out pizza. For the most part we drive to Red Bank, Sea Bright. Montclair, Princeton or Bedminster. So it was a nice change of pace to actually remember that there is a small little Italian place nearby that we went to years and years ago and actually liked. Located in Tinton Falls, Portofino Ristorante is a tiny little thing with less than 15 tables and a itsy-bitsy bar in the front.



We picked this one to go to after golfing with Kristie & Mike. We had a reservation and they seated us right away. The menu is fairly standard with antipasti, salads, pastas and entrees - a pretty big selection. But don't get too attached to the menu...one of the amazing things about Portofino is their seriously long list of nightly specials. It's hard to fathom how these attentive and upbeat servers can remember the twenty plus extra dishes that change constantly. But they do! Keeping track of them while you're listening to her rattle them off can be a challenge but our waitress was more than happy to repeat a few for us.

We started off with salads & appetizers that ranged from caprese to steamed little necks in white wine sauce (yummy) and a rolled eggplant in red sauce. Very tasty. We all ordered pasta as our main dish. I selected a very basic penne alla vodka in a light tomato cream sauce that was al dente with a flavorful sauce. Enough garlic and seasoning to be interesting but not so heavy that you felt like you couldn't walk.

Alan ordered a take on carbonara with rigatoni, pancetta and a light cream sauce. Again, not too heavy with nice flavor.

Kristie & Mike ordered a pappardella pasta and what I believe is a veal scaloppine with mozzarella, tomato sauce and prosciutto.

The wine list isn't huge but has some nice selections on it for reasonable prices. The food was quite good - especially for a tiny, local place. We'd recommend it if you're in the area and looking for a casual place.

Zagat: 24-17-20
Jenn's Rating: 82

Las Vegas, Scarpetta at the Cosmopolitan

In mid October I was out in Las Vegas with my Mom. Though our trip got cut short unexpectedly, we did manage to get in a few meals. Highly recommended by Steve & Mary the first one on the itinerary was Scarpetta in the Cosmopolitan. A modern Italian restaurant by Scott Conant, this beautiful venue overlooks the fountains at Bellagio if you're lucky enough to get a seat by the windows.

We had an early seating since we'd flown across country that morning and would soon be fighting off jet lag. We were seated towards the back of the restuarant on the windows with a view of the fountains. I ordered us a bottle of Ayala Rose Majeur NV. A champagne from Ay, the blend is 51% chardonnay, 30% pinot noir, 10% pinot meunier and 9% still red wine of the region. I found this to be elegant and fruity with a short finish and beautiful coppery color. Very nice wine to have with our appetizers.

We decided on three courses - two appetizers and a pasta each. I spoke to the engaging waiter and went with many of his recommendations. To start, the raw yellowtail with micro greens and olio de zenzero and pickled red onion. Perfectly fresh with a degree of firmness I associate with very fresh sushi. Excellent way to start the evening and paired nicely with the champagne.

 My mother started with split pea soup. Thick and seasoned with bacon and pork belly, micro greens and herbs.

 Next course was the salads. Mom went with a traditional caprese with heirloom tomatoes and buratta that was a colorful dish of end of season tomatoes and fresh, soft cheese. Very nice.

It's hard for me to pass up Diver Scallops...especially when the staff recommends them as a favorite. I'm so glad I listened! These perfectly prepared scallops were served over white asparagus with a light garlic aioli and micro greens. Just wonderful and so beautifully presented.

For entrees we both selected pasta dishes. My mother ordered the short rib agnolotti with brown butter horseradish and toasted breadcrumbs. I thought it was a little too sweet - not enough horseradish to compensate for the distinctive taste short ribs get...they often need to be paired with a heavy reduction to highlight the ribs. The pasta was perfectly al dente with a nice bite but I don't think I could have finished an entire plate. My mother didn't have that problem and seemed to like it quite a bit.

I went again with a suggestion from our waiter who said his favorite dish was the signature duck & foie gras ravioli with marsala reduction. The pasta was perfect here to, just a tiny bit of crunch and that super freshness when they are making it on site. The duck & foie gras filling was all that it should be - the duck having a gaminess and the liver giving it a rich, decadence. The marsala is a pretty heavy reduction that worked well here to offset the dish.
Really, really good!

We were tired from traveling all day and skipped dessert but this experience turned out to be one the more memorable ones I've had in Las Vegas. Every dish was unexpected and almost exceeded hopes.

Jenn's Rating: 88
Zagat: not yet rated

Pizzeria Bianco, Phoenix AZ

A year ago, maybe two...Alan and I were in Tucson, AZ. While I had to work one day, Jeff suggested that Alan drive 100 miles to Phoenix to try the best pizza ever. Jeff was so high on this pizza I remember him telling us not only how incredibly amazing it was, but that the next day after he & Dana tried it, he woke up thinking about it again. That's quite an amazing experience for anyone to have...especially regarding something as lowly as pizza.

And while Alan couldn't be talked into a 200 mile round trip excursion that time, you can probably imagine how excited we were to actually be in Scottsdale / Phoenix this past weekend with an opportunity to try this pizza perfection.

Located right in the heart of the city on East Adams Street, up close and personal to Arizona State University's campus, sits this little converted brick house with a wood fired pizza oven surrounded by a bar and about a dozen small tables. There's no reservations and it's popular so you have to be prepared to wait it out.

It was a gorgeous evening and the wait we were told would be about an hour. Since we'd smuggled a bottle of wine we'd brought to Arizona with us and glasses from the hotel, we parked ourselves outside in an empty tent with a folding table and chairs (the tents were set up in preparation for the next day's Rainbow festival) and chatted the time away.

Finally called in by the super nice waiter, we got a little table near the front and talked strategy. Jeff & Dana warned us that the pies were personal sized. Seeing one on the table next to us, I was thinking they weren't that small! But I could see from the gleam in Jeff's eye that it was best to order a bit too much then to not have enough. You can see from the menu excerpt below what the choices were with the last two being white pizzas, no sauce. Jeff & Dana were planning on getting two Margherita's and I liked the sound of the Biancoverde - being sold on it once our attentive waiter informed me that if I wanted sauce on that one they would be happy to oblige. Alan ordered the Wiseguy, also with red sauce.

Pizza

• MARGHERITA - Tomato Sauce, Fresh Mozzarella, Basil 13.00
• MARINARA - Tomato Sauce, Oregano, Garlic (No Cheese) 12.00
• ROSA - Red Onion, Parmigiano Reggiano, Rosemary, AZ Pistachios 13.00
• SONNY BOY - Tomato Sauce, Fresh Mozzarella, Salami, Gaeta Olives 16.00
• BIANCOVERDE - Fresh Mozzarella, Parmigiano Reggiano, Ricotta, Arugula 16.00
• WISEGUY - Wood Roasted Onion, House Smoked Mozzarella, Fennel Sausage 16.00

During the short wait for the pizza we munched on very fresh mozzarella & tomato salad with basil and olive oil and had a bottle of wine.

And then it was show time!! Four pizzas delivered and miraculously all fit on the table. And you know what? Jeff wasn't kidding!!! HOLY COW this is excellent pizza!! I ate 7 out of the 8 slices on my Biancoverde and thought it was perhaps the best piece of pizza I've ever had. The ricotta giving it a little more richness than a standard pizza and the arugula adding a peppery component against the sweetness of the red sauce....this is a friggin' awesome pie.

I tried the Wiseguy and really liked that one as well. The only change that would have been nice there is if the onion pieces weren't so huge. But pushing some of them out of the way so they didn't over power the sausage and we're talking about a pretty fantastic meat pizza.

All in all - go here, wait as long as it takes and order one per person. You won't be disappointed, we promise!

Jenn's rating: 90
Zagat: 26-19-21

I've included the write up from Zagat on this post since it looks like they are spot on as well...

“Believe the hype” say surveyors of this “cult legend” in Heritage Square, which cranks out Neapolitan wood-fired pizzas so “extraordinary” (thanks in part to locally sourced ingredients), they could very well be the “best on the planet”; though you should prepare for a “long wait” (“absolutely worth” it) to get into the “quaint”, brick-walled dining room at dinnertime, things have “greatly improved” now that hours have been “expanded” to include lunch, when “lines are almost nil.”

Maialino, NYC

A few weeks ago we had a wonderful experience at a restaurant I was not familiar with...Maialino. A Danny Meyer establishment in Gramercy Park, its Italian done right.

After an hour of drinks at the bar and with a group of six we sat down at a table near the back in this bright and cheerful bistro style eatery. We ordered and shared everything starting with appetizers of caprese salad, a seared octopus dish  and an animelle ...these were good but didn't necessarily set the evening up to be one we'd later declare as having great food. The excitement started with the next round - pastas.

We ordered four different ones to share including Carbonara with black pepper and egg, a Spaghetti Vongole of white wine, garlic and clams, Bolognese with pig ragout and Parmesan and a Cavatelli made with sausage and tomato. All four of these dishes were spectacular. It was literally impossible to determine which one was the best - they were unique and oh, so good.  The only draw back is that with six hungry people and now four spotless dishes, we were still in need of that heavier, filling dish.

The last course we ordered and split was labeled as the Full Maialino. An entire suckling pig deboned and presented with potatoes and au jus. WOW. Seriously. WOW. Fantastically prepared, rich and succulent as only pork can be. And the potatoes cooked in the drippings were out of control. One of the best dishes I can remember from this entire year.

Wines we ordered with dinner included a '99 Barolo, Gattera Bovio; an '08 Rosso di Montalcino, Siro Pacenti, a 1999 Valpolicella, Ca' de Merlo, Quintarelli and an '05 Barolo, Carobric, Paolo Scavino.

This restaurant should be on everyone's list ~ excellent meal, great food and affordable wine list.

Zagat: 25-23-25
Jenn: 89

Ciao, Basking Ridge NJ

Last week Dana & I met at Ciao in Basking Ridge for dinner. It was an early reservation and the restaurant quiet when I arrived ahead of time for a drink at the bar. The glass of Rose I had at the bar was decent, inexpensive and a very generous pour.

The restaurant feels both roomy and intimate. There's an immediate positive reaction when you walk in and smell the garlic, cheese and sauce all bubbling together on their brick-oven fired pizzas.

For dinner we each had a salad - mine the special heirloom tomatoes with red onion and for Dana the baby spinach salad with dried cranberries, pine nuts, goat cheese and a balsamic vinaigrette. My tomatoes were fresh and sweet and probably the last of the season.

As an entree I went traditional with linguine and littleneck clams in a garlic, white wine sauce. Dana ordered the personal size Margherita pizza. My pasta had chili-pepper in it giving it a little zing and the linguine was cooked to al dente. The sauce wasn't overly creamy but did have a strong garlic flavor that I appreciated. The clams were small and flavorful without any grit. Dana's pizza looked pretty good though I didn't try any.

Overall an easy place to get to right off Rt-78 with a slightly more subdued atmosphere and comfortable ambiance. The food was perfectly acceptable and the service adequate. The price, very reasonable. Not a bad option if you're in the area. One other note - this restaurant is attached to it's sister eatery, 3 West. If you wander in the wrong door they are perfectly happy to escort you through the connecting corridor to the right place.

Zagat: 21-21-21
Jenn's rating: 70

Minetta Tavern, NYC

We had dinner earlier this week with Brian & Molly - wonderful foodies who are putting a pretty good size dent in the Manhattan (and Brooklyn) dining scene by themselves. The choice was Minetta Tavern and I have to say, I was pretty excited by this one. A Michelin one star located at the intersection of Minetta Lane and McDougal Avenue in Greenwich Village, it is self described as "Parisian steakhouse meets NYC tavern".

Alan and I arrived about twenty minutes before our reservation and grabbed stools in bar area. It's a familiar decor with that bistro feel and lots of tables crowded into every nook and cranny. On this particular night, a Tuesday, by 6pm it was bustling with the after work crowd. By the time we left at 8pm it was hard to navigate through the throng of bodies to get out the door.

We started the evening off with cocktails to go with our appetizers and moved to a bottle of red (of which I didn't get the name) for our entrees. One of fun things about Brian & Molly is their total willingness to share food. As a table we ordered two appetizer and three entrees - one of which was meant for two.

I don't have pictures of the first course. Oxtail & Foie Gras Terrine with poached leeks off the regular menu and a Crudo of Hamachi with citrus and avocado from the specials menu. These were both really, really good. The hamachi was light and refreshing. We all only got a bite of it and I'd wished there was more - it was quite good. Complete opposite end of the spectrum was the terrine that was earthy and rich. Also excellent but being significantly fuller, I was happy we were all sharing.

For dinner we readily agreed to order the house specialty - the dry aged Cote de Boeuf for two with roasted marrow bones and sucrine lettuce salad.

This picture doesn't capture how mouthwatering this dish looked (or how large it was). Cooked to absolute perfection, the beef was so succulent and full of that satisfaction only red meat can achieve. We ate every single morsel from the plate and off every bone. The bone marrow too, scraped out of the inside and slathered over the beef was the epitome of decadent. What else can I say - GO HERE AND ORDER THIS DISH. You will not be disappointed, or hungry. We ordered two side dishes. One, these yummy, salty but ultimately forgettable fries and spinach that was a bit lackluster.

We ordered two other dishes; poulet fermier roti or roasted free range chicken with braised chard and pommes aligot. And a halibut from the specials menu with chanterelles.

The chicken was very good. I'm now a full-fledged convert. Chicken from a good bistro is worth ordering - it's often some of the best chicken you'll ever have. They can achieve a perfect crispness to the skin while maintaining real moistness in the meat...even the white meat. I also loved the potatoes pureed in this dish along with the chard.

The halibut on the other hand turned out to be the redheaded stepchild of the dinner. By itself, quite good. Eaten after either the beef or the chicken and you are reminded quickly that fish can't compete with red or white meat when it comes down to depth of flavor, richness or density that often results in a feeling of comfort. Poor halibut...you deserve better. I hope many a vegetarian order and love you.

The food was really, really good. I was happily impressed that the caliber started high and maintained that quality throughout the dinner. Also on the plus side were attentive and amusing wait staff that kept the pace enjoyable. On the negative side this establishment was loud. I mean, really loud. It was hard to hear the person across the table from you. Also, the tables are smooshed in there so you do get up close and personal with just about everyone else in the room. The tables are a bit on the small side. This posed a bit of a juggling act when the entrees arrived and were competing with the small amount of space already inhabited by water glasses, wine glasses, bread and bread dishes.

But let's be honest - when the food is good and the company fun, things like noise and space become non-issues. Great experience all around!

Michelin: One Star
Zagat: 23-21-20
Jenn's Rating: 88

A Voce Columbus, NYC

We got our copy of the 2012 Grand Award Winners from Wine Spectator on Monday and decided to see if we could get a reservation at one of the new members, A Voce Columbus in NYC the following evening. Opentable.com showed lots of seats - we grabbed a 6pm reservation.

We arrived at the Time Warner Center in Columbus Circle a bit after 5pm wanting to relax and have a drink before dinner. We were one of the first patrons to arrive at the third floor restaurant; grabbing ideal seats at the comfortable, large bar located at the front of the restaurant. I ordered a glass of their 2011 Syrah, Mourvédre, Counoise, Cape Bleue, Jean-Luc Colombo, Provence Rose from the by the glass menu while Alan opted for a cocktail. His was called a Capri - made with Absolut Citron, pineapple juice and other citrus flavors. It was a fantastic drink - one of the best we've ever had - so he had another.

After drinks we made our way to our table...given a lovely corner seat on the window overlooking Columbus Circle with a great views both into Central Park and into the restaurant for the added bonus of people watching. The restaurant steadily filled up over the course of the next hour and a half until all tables were occupied by a mix of young & old, business and social and even the potential daters.

Alan originally picked a bottle of Dolcetto to go with dinner thinking it would be lighter, fruity and easy to sip through the evening as well as pair with the fish & veal courses we were planning on ordering. But plans got sidetracked when the Sommerlier (a nice enough Italian gentleman) came over an offered a suggestion. The bottle he picked out was this 2010 Azienda Agricola Cos, Pithos from Sicilia. It had notes of black olive and pepper that actually overwhelmed the wine and made it not a great stand alone. It did a little better with the food but for two of my courses, wasn't a good match at all to the more delicate flavors.

Talking food now - we ordered two and half courses...appetizers, a shared pasta and then entrees. The menu is a touch on the small side and there were no additional courses offered not listed. For the first round I went with the course everyone online spoke so highly about- the Burratina; a creamy pugliese mozzarella with grilled apricots, watercress and almonds.

I was expecting to be blown away...I love burrata. But this cheese was not sweet and delicate as I was hoping for but a little on the bitter side, bland and requiring salt and it wasn't enhanced by the other ingredients on the plate. Not a great start for me.

Alan on the other hand ordered the signature dish; Pancetta of pork belly, figs, balsamic and pistachios. Presented as a log of happy pig, this course was the highlight of the evening. Perfectly prepared so the meat was pull apart tender and with a meaningful but not overwhelming fat layer to give that balance of succulence and meat. What a great, great dish.

Hoping the shared pasta dish would live up to Alan's appetizer, we were presented with the
Corzetti of hand crafted pasta coins, crab, speck and leeks. It was a pretty dish and smelled welcoming but that's where the happiness ended. The pasta was cooked al dente but something about the thickness of the coins made each bite of pasta seem rubbery and lacking any flavor. There was a visual promise of the crab but couldn't taste that either. This course was a pretty epic fail and so disappointing.

Coming off this lackluster course, my hopes were not high for the main course. I will throw in a few notes about the rest of what was happening around us. Busy, bustling restaurant with a pretty attentive wait staff. They didn't rush us at any point and the flow of the meal was perfect. The ambiance was a bit casual for a restaurant in Time Warner - an example, no table clothes and the chairs looked like the ones around conference rooms all over L'Oreal. While the total look was still relatively welcoming, it wasn't memorable. The view of the park and Columbus Circle were the most interesting things going on.

And onto the final course...our entrees. Alan ordered the Vitello; veal tenderloin, veal sausage,
zucchini, mint and pecorino. I ordered the Ippoglosso which was an olive oil poached halibut, peas and summer truffles.

The veal looked like it was cooked to the optimal level of cooked - lots of happy red on the inside. But there wasn't any flavor behind the pretty face. Just an okay course. And the halibut was flaky and I liked the summer peas but the truffles didn't incorporate well and I just couldn't get through the entire dish. This is very unusual considering it was fish but the oiliness made it seem to make it overly heavy, surprisingly so.

We skipped dessert, finished the wine and called it an evening. This is not somewhere we'd go back for the food but would definitely keep the bar and the cocktails on the list of fun places to kill some time and have some great drinks.

Jenn's Rating: 84
Zagat: 23-23-22
Michelin Rating: One star
Wine Spectator: Grand Award Winner

Babbo, NYC

On Tuesday night Alan and I met up with Patty and Allison for dinner at the much anticipated, very hard reservation to get, Babbo. This West Village, Mario Batali & Joe Bastianiche establishment has been around for a while (1998) and has garnered pretty rave reviews from people we know who have been and basically everyone on Zagat.

Our reservation was for 6pm and per our typical, Alan and I went down early to have a drink at the bar. We arrived at 5pm on the dot and were surprised that not only hadn't they opened the doors yet, there was a line of people waiting to get in. This seemed to be driven by the five little tables up front and two seats at the bar that are reserved for walk ins. After a little wait the doors opened and we claimed seats at the far end of the bar. We ordered drinks (sparkling wine for me, Gimlet for Alan) and settled in to observe the goings-on.

The restaurant is pretty small with fourteen tables (seating up to six) downstairs and a large center staircase leading up to a skylight-lit second floor with another dozen or so more tables. We were taken to our table upstairs where the combination of light and layout made for a pretty nice ambiance. Low music playing in the background, woods of light tan and beige mixed well with the white table clothes and central floral display.

Perusing the menu and noticing the attractively priced tasting menus, we decided immediately to ask if we could order two of the pasta tastings and two of the chef's tastings since they were the same number of courses. Our waiter came over and with a resounding NO, informed us that they don't do that. Everyone would have to have the same tasting menu or none at all. And while at first thrown back by the vehement of this statement and waiting for him to crack a smile and say just kidding, it dawned on me that this was not going to be anything like a high end French dining experience and I'd better lower my expectations. So we asked for more time to scan the menu, ordered a bottle of Gatinois Brut Rose NV champagne and pondered his scowl, huff and hasty retreat from our table.

The menu is pretty large so it took us a while to figure out a plan of attack; basically appetizers, pasta and then entree. Patty asked for recommendations and our put-out waiter told her the rabbit and quail were two of the best dishes along with the chops. We placed our order...

I realize I have been apologizing a lot for this lately - yes I once again forgot to take pictures until we were halfway through our first course. Forgive me...hopefully these give some idea. After a small plate of chickpea brioche from the kitchen (eh, not great), the appetizers were served.

Patty ordered grilled octopus with "Borlotti Marinati" and spicy limoncello vinaigrette. This dish was very nice. The pieces of octopus were thick but prepared without any chewiness to them. The vinaigrette had flavor but wasn't spicy.

Alan selected the warm tripe "alla parmigiana". The portion size was huge! It was really too big for an appetizer serving and while enjoying it, there was no way to even come close to finishing the dish. Also, the tripe was swimming in the ragu making it pleasant but hard to discern any real flavor from the tripe itself.

Allison went with an roasted artichoke hearts, goat cheese and toastini. This dish was blah. Nothing noteworthy from the dull color and presentation to the flavor balance. There wasn't anything wrong with it, but it didn't tell a story either.

I chose the asparagus with parmigiana and poached duck egg. The asparagus shoots were super thick and sweet; the parmigiana was shaved all over the plate like tiny shards of snow and the egg was perfect - runny but with definition and fantastic flavor. Great dish.

Next up were the pasta dishes. We took alot of time selecting pastas much to the dismay of our surly waiter. There were so many that sounded so good it was hard to pick. Here's where we netted out:

Patty got the Chianti stained papperdelle with wild boar ragu. The picture isn't showing the odd color of this dish. It came out looking like someone shaved raw tongue on the plate - a dull beet hue to it. While the color wasn't appealing, the taste was fabulous. I thought with was the dish of the night with the boar being so rich and tender and without any gaminess to it. I was impressed by the favor profile here.

Alan tried the beef cheek ravioli with squashed quail liver and black truffles. It was pretty good but the sauce came off a bit sweet which wasn't what I was thinking it would be when I tried it. The texture was on the soft side overall so the dish didn't impress.

Allison ordered the black spaghetti with rock shrimp, spicy salami calabrese and green chilis. This dish was really good. I loved the pasta cooked al dente with that little bit of crunch to it and combination of flavors from the shrimp and salami. I didn't get any chili on the palate so there was no heat to speak of.

I opted for the gnocchi with braised oxtail. The gnocchi was well prepared - light and creamy without making you feel like you just ate a loaf of bread. The oxtail was tender but overwhelmed by the tomato ragu. This one was just okay.

By this time our bottle of 2007 Fattoria Viticcio Monile Toscana IGT was delivered by our now downright hostile waiter who proceeded to spill an alarming amount out and around Allison's glass without acknowledgement or apology. The main courses arrived after a brief but nice interlude of time.

Patty took the waiter's (we should have known better) recommendation and tried the trio of rabbit (front leg, back leg and loin) with brussel sprouts, parsnips, pancetta and carrot vinaigrette. Patty didn't like this dish. When I tried it I remember commenting that the rabbit itself was nicely prepared - tender and moist with good flavor and no game. It was the rest of the dish that didn't seem to compliment the meat.

Alan went with the waiter's second recommendation of grilled guinea hen with pumpkin fregula and black truffle vinaigrette. I know I tried Alan's entree and thinking it was pretty good but I can't remember any of the flavor palette or texture.

Allison tried the grilled lamb chops. Prepared medium rare and attractive on the plate, I wasn't a fan of the lamb chop. I got too much of a mint, rosemary combination and not enough experience of the lamb itself. I'm also not usually a fan of lamb so I could be biased.

I ordered the special grilled veal chop with roasted porcini mushrooms and black truffle vinaigrette. I don't know if I've ever ordered veal in a restaurant before this and have no idea what possessed me to do so other than always enjoying the stolen bites from Alan when he orders it. I was thrilled with this chop. Other than being big enough that I knew there was no way it was getting finished, I really enjoyed the simple preparation and taste. It was nicely cooked and moist, tender and pink. I thought the accompaniment of mushrooms was a perfect choice and really would have finished every last bite if I weren't already past the point of full.

A few other notes about our evening at Babbo. At some point during our pasta course the lite, pleasant background music became an out-of-place, loud selection of alternative & classic rock that made it hard to hold a conversation. While the rest of our service crew were very pleasant, our waiter was downright rude, inattentive and pissy. He put a damper on the evening that is impossible to overlook.

The food was hit and miss with a third of the dishes being great, a third okay and a third being not appealing. Not a good showing at all ~ especially to have so many of them recommended to us and then still not living up.

Overall I was disappointed. A bright note and one that influenced my rating was that the bill was downright cheap for a dinner of this supposed caliber in New York City. I think it was $150 a person for the three courses and two bottles of wine. That explains the rather young crowd and overall popularity.

Ratings:
Zagat: 27-22-24
Michelin: no stars
Jenn: 84