Spasso

14 Tuesday Oct 2014

Posted by Rob in American, Date Spot, Italian, Restaurants, Wine Bar

Tags

date spot, foodie, Italian, people watching, Trendy, west village

551 Hudson Street http://www.spassonyc.com

Baller Spot. Always delicious. I’ve been here 3 times and it is always consistent. In my opinion, this is one of the top restaurants in the West Village.

It’s located on the corner of Hudson and Perry with great out-door seating in the summer. Also, the interior is rustic and inviting. All the times I went, the music and vibe was spot on. This is an Italian restaurant, but It’s modern, funky Italian, where the dishes are not necessarily traditional. There is a flair to all the food here.

We started the meal with the Beef Tartare Dijon, with vinaigrette, egg yolk, and house made pickles. This dish was so fresh. Hands down the best Tartare I’ve had…

The house made Straciatella Cheese is a must…It is basically creamy, stretchy mozzarella cheese. I think this is one of their most popular dishes because every table around us had it. They use a nice balsamic vinaigrette with pickled cherries which adds to its’ sweetness.

The Grilled Octopus confit with olive-fennel purée has a nice unique taste. The fennel adds a distinct flavor that I haven’t had with octopus before. It would be nice if the dish was a little bigger, but maybe next time I will order 2.

The Fusilli pasta with Spicy Pork Ragu, Goat Cheese, and Mint was also very tasty. The mint and goat cheese together in a spicy pasta is refreshing.

For me, the Pork Milanese stole the show. I don’t know of any other restaurants that make this dish. And putting a fried egg on it was perfect. This had a remarkable taste with the mix of salad, pork and egg. I’m not sure if this is a constant on the menu, but if not, it should be.

Overall, a West Village Staple, a perfect date spot…Put it on the list…Over and out…

Italian Flavors at Perla

20 Wednesday Aug 2014

Posted by Inga in Date Spot, Italian

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

chicken, date spot, dinner, Italian, NYC, pasta, plate, rustic Italian meal, west village food

On the corner of Minetta Lane right off 6th Avenue lies the rustic Italian meal you have been waiting for. Think rich flavors, bold Italian notes all presented in a beautiful way on your plate. Nothing about the dinner felt stuffy or overdone – just a great dinner on a cool summer night.

The space was pretty comfortable for a Thursday night when you don’t want to be surrounded by loud music and you prefer not to yell across the table to your companions. In this case, we sat at the raised prep bar towards the back where we had a perfect view of both the salad prep station and the busy main kitchen right to its right. Watching your plate get its finishing touches before it comes your way is definitely a treat for any diner.

An added bonus, this is a definitely both a date spot & dinner with the parents kind of spot in my book. Dim lighting, great wine choices and pleasant staff abound. Equally perfect for picky eaters who just want a little old-fashioned pasta and those who venture into squid-ink territory (yay for adventurous eaters).

Finally, I can’t let you go without a view of our plates.

One of our appetizers, nicely grilled octopus over a bed of roasted tomatoes

Rich and buttery beef check, mushroom and brown butter agnolotti

Juicy chicken with a spicy pepper rub, goat cheese and oyster mushrooms.

Have you been to Perla? Share and let us know.

Olio e Piu Pizzeria

27 Sunday Apr 2014

Posted by Rob in Date Spot, Gelato/Ice Cream, Italian, Uncategorized, Wine Bar

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

date spot, foodie, Italian, olio, people watching, pizza, west village

3 Greenwich Avenue http://www.olionyc.com/

Its getting nice out!!! And Olio is among the best outdoor seating/people watching in the West Village. This brick oven pizza spot gets packed for brunch, especially on nice sunny days. I always get the same thing; The Nostrano pizza, which has ricotta cheese, prosciutto and truffle oil. I usually sprinkle a little olive oil and vinegar on top, which is a nice treat. their crust is also top-notch. Also, this spot is open 24 hours!!

Like Jon’s pizza on Bleecker, Olio doesn’t do slices; only full pizzas perfect for sharing or hoarding for yourself.

I also love the Amalfitana pizza with salad on top. It’s pretty cool that they have this dish because most places don’t. I also like the use of the lemon. I’ve never had their pasta, but I’ve heard really good things. But for me, I’m a creature of habit, and will always get my Prosciutto and Ricotta pizza.

All in all, a great place for drinks, people watching, and some tasty brick oven pizza.

La Carbonara

20 Saturday Oct 2012

Posted by Rob in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

date spot, delivery, Italian

202 West 14th Street http://www.lacarbonaranyc.com/ (212) 255-2060

Was on the prowl for some good Italian delivery food. I had walked past Carbonara many times and always heard good things. I ordered The rigatoni with eggplant, tomato, basil and ricotta cheese. Totally delicious and less than 9 bucks.

In addition, we had the chicken Palliard with arugula and onions with a nice lemon vinaigrette. Overall, a staple Italian spot in the West Village that DELIVERS.