Il Gattopardo

As a super belated birthday treat for me, J took me out to dinner at this little townhouse restaurant directly across from the MOMA. It came highly recommended on yelp, and I'd have to agree...with some disclaimers. They're a friendly bunch, especially the one who I presume to have been the owner, and they're quite prompt with greetings and catering to your drink needs. Menus are set up on the table, so there's no need to sit and wait for anything really. The crowd, however, is a bit on the older side, and more of the 'business gathering' variety. I felt slightly out of place, but I got over it. Now, when I said "little", I really meant it. The restaurant is set up as a long hallway, with very narrow walking space - two people trying to get by butt-to-butt is even pushing it. This was a bit of a nuisance during the course of the night as waiters were constantly walking by. That added to the fact that our table was wobbly made the experience less than grandiose. However, the food is impecable.

Though the chicken was tempting me, I really prefered a pasta dish. The "risotto of the day" sounded quite appetizing and it was yummier than I had imagined. I'm not a regular risotto eater (this might've been my first try), but I just might be eating more of it from now on! I couldn't tell you what was in it, but somewhere in the waiter's broken English, I caught the word 'eggplant'. You can tell how much I loved it by these before-n-after photos. Miss J decided on the linguette with baby clams and cherry tomato, of which I stole a tiny bite (sans clams). Quite the deliciousness! Just picture the before photo as a bowl of linguette enveloped by small clams, and an after photo that looks like mine - with empty clam shells.

To go along with the meal, I think I had a glass of the Montefalco Rosso "Santanbrá" Tiburzi (2006), but I could be completely wrong here. XP I'm horrible at choosing wines. Though I'm partial to reds, I have no preferences further than that, and my descriptors don't go beyond "good" =P So the take-away here is: don't ask me for wine recommendations.

Though I was so full, I could hardly breathe, we couldn't leave without trying something off the dessert menu. The Pastiera (traditional Neapolitan cheese cake) was a perfect choice. It was lighter than regular cheesecakes, and oh-so-good with an accompaniment of a cup of coffee.


By the time we were ready to leave, I could hardly stand.

Il Gattopardo
33 W 54th St