Comfortable Place with Parents
Arthur Asks:
“My parents are coming into the city between Thanksgiving and Christmas… We are looking for a great restaurant that isn’t too touristy… Price isn’t a huge issue, just looking for a place with great great food and comfortable surroundings. Some of their favorite restaurants are Il Mulino (for the food not the extreme darkness), Babbo, Scalinaterra, Cafe Des Artist, Ilios, etc.”
If you’re willing to take a small trek out to Brooklyn (it’s 4 blocks from the C train) then you should definitely try Locanda vini e Olii (129 Gates Ave). It’s probably one of the most authentically Florentine restaurants in New York City - notably for their preparation of a Florentine staple, papa al pomodoro. It’s a really thick tomato and bread soup that I’ve rarely even seen on menus here and even more rarely have seen it prepared to such perfection as it is there. The rest of the food is similarly authentic and fantastic - from the pastas to the simply prepared white beans in extra virgin olive oil. The space is gorgeous, built in an old apothecary that they’ve left largely intact and the service is warm and friendly.
If sushi is a consideration, Sushi Azabu (Greenwich and Laight) I think would work out very well. It’s one of the most intimate and personable sushi places that I’ve found in the city and also seems to be very authentic (although I’ll admin I know far less about ‘authentic’ Japanese than I do Italian…). The whole restaurant seats about 25 people at a time - three round tables and a sushi bar - and is actually located IN the basement of their associated restaurant, the Greenwich Grill. The fish is some of the freshest I’ve had and although the it’s very traditional, never feels boring or unoriginal. I strongly recommend one of the Omakase (chef’s choice) of either just sushi or full kitchen. In a recent trip trying the Omakase Nigiri I was excited by dishes such as a seared salmon - kissed with a blowtorch in front of my eyes - and a pairing of salmon roe - one that was the “regular” roe (what you get at almost every sushi place… frozen from North America) and the other that was imported from Japan, never frozen and marinated in-house; the point basically being to show how phenomenal their roe actually is.
My last suggestion is my favorite Greek place in NYC - Pylos on 7th st. near Ave. A. While the tables up front can be a little tight and loud, I wouldn’t let it dissuade you. Request one of the larger tables towards the back of the restaurant with the couches and you should do great. In terms of Greek food, theirs is second only to a handful of places that I tried in Santorini. From their satisfyingly simply mezes and perfect pita to the perfectly browned moussaka - I haven’t had a dish I haven’t loved. Get some affordable Greek wines to enjoy under their ceiling made of Greek pottery and I think you’ll have a great time.
There ya go — enjoy and please let me know where you end up by leaving comments below!
