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MANHATTAN
DA ANDREA RISTORANTE ITALIANO.557 Hudson Street between Perry and 11th streets. Phone: 212-367-1979.
This is a very pleasant, unpretentious Italian restaurant in the heart of the West Village. There was no liquor license when
I was there but that may have changed, so call first; they do offer wine, however. The pasta course I ordered was a tasty
artichoke ravioli, although it was a touch on the bland side and possibly needed to be cooked more. I had no complaints about
the excellent rolled stuffed chicken breasts with mozzarella, prosciutto, spinach and rosemary sauce. The highlight of the
evening was the dessert, which you should not skip: a delicious Napoleon crème brulee with raspberry sauce -- out of this
world. My dinner guest raved about the Hazelnut chocolate cake with hazelnut ice cream. There are many other appetizers, pastas,
entrees and desserts on the menu, and I intend to sample many more in the future. Prices are moderate, and the service was
good. Recommended.
CAFFE TORINO. 139 West 10th Street between 7th and 6th avenues. PHONE: (212) 675-5554. This excellent
Italian restaurant that caters largely if not exclusively to a gay crowd seems to keep getting better and better. They have
family-style portions along with single portions, but frankly, even the single portions are so big that you have to bring
a pretty hearty appetite. At my last meal here, my guest finished a half order of pasta [instead of an appetizer], thought
it was the entree, and had to take most of his main course home in a doggie bag. [Being very hungry, I finished just about
everything.] There's an eclectic list of appetizers and soups, but I think the best bet is to skip the appetizer [they bring
you a complimentary olive, onion and celery “spread” in tomato sauce to put on the warm, nibbly bread] share a
pasta, and then order one of their tasty chicken dishes, one of which comes with pieces of sausage and potato and is quite
delicious. There are also pasta and fish entrees as well. The desserts are limited but good. Full bar and wine list. A convivial
place with a long bar in front and romantic lighting in the rear, as well as an outdoor patio for the warmer weather. This
was once a club known as The Ninth Circle. Recommended. T.
Barnes.
RARE Bar & Grill. 228 Bleecker Street between 6th Avenue and Carmine Street. Phone: 212-691-7273.
The descriptions of the burgers on the menu sounded so delectable I decided to go over to this place one night and try one
for myself. Rare is a pleasant, comfortable place with subdued lighting and a small bar up front. The staff were extremely
friendly and competent. I ordered a well-done M & M Burger “flambeed in whiskey, topped with caramelized shallots,
cheddar cheese and apple smoked bacon” and a side order of sweet potato fries. While I waited for these I had iced tea
and a very nice house salad with mixed greens, tomatoes, cucumbers etc with a red vinaigrette dressing; this cried out for
some pieces of avocado which might at least have made the $6.50 price tag more acceptable. The burger was cooked just the
way I ordered [this is usually not the case at most burger joints] and was very tasty, if not quite as magnificent as I was
expecting. The fries were superb; a hefty plateful with just the right taste and texture. They were served with a kind of
maple syrup on the side that was hardly necessary. All in all, Rare is not a bad place, but in the end I spent $37 –
including tax and tip – on a hamburger in what is essentially a glorified coffee shop. NOTE: Rare offers lots of things
on the menu besides hamburgers, as well as plenty of desserts.
IL VIOLINO. 180 Columbus Avenue at 68th street. (212)
873-2500. If you want a good Italian restaurant that isn't too expensive in the Lincoln Center area, Il violino is a good bet. It's open all day, so if you get out of, say, a dress rehearsal in the middle of
the afternoon, you can still get a good meal here without waiting for the dinner hour. They also have dinner specials that
will help to lower your bill. The menu is quite extensive, with a variety of pastas, meat and chicken dishes, as well as fish.
There is a fungi [mushroom] appetizer served on toast that will have your lips
smacking every time you taste it. Their chicken dishes are especially noteworthy, stuffed with cheese and vegetables and served
in wine sauce, or prepared in many other equally tempting varieties. However, if an Italian restaurant should be judged by
how well they do their veal or chicken parmigiana – a basic Italian classic – Il violino doesn't quite pass the test. Their chicken parmigiana certainly isn't bad, but it lacks the
texture and delicacy of a really excellent parmigiana. However, so many of their other dishes are truly wonderful -- such
as chicken caracella, which is stuffed with vegetables and cheese -- that we won't quibble about it. You can be assured that
most of what you order will be delicious and more than satisfying. And they get an extra plus for serving large portions unlike
so many higher-priced restaurants. Depending on what you order – and how many drinks or glasses of wine you have –
your bill will be either moderate or moderately expensive. Recommended.
LA RIPAILLE. 605 Hudson Street. PHONE: (212) 255-4406. This is not only one of the best French restaurants
in Manhattan, it is one of the best restaurants period. I started my dinner with one
of their superb Manhattans straight up; ahh, -- it just hits the spot and sets
the right mood; they also offer a wide variety of wines to compliment your meal. My appetizer was the scrumptious wild mushrooms
in puff pastry, which to my palate is one of the ten best taste treats of the ages. [There are other undoubtedly delicious
appetizers – Waldorf salad, brie with croquets -- but I can't bring myself to sample anything other than this terrific
puff pastry!] My pasta was a very tasty salmon farfelle in a spicy vodka sauce. My main course was a splendid Duck confit
with a few fresh berries that came with some absolutely spectacular mashed potatoes with currant gravy. This was all topped
off with a magnificent chocolate mousse and a fine glass of port. My God – what a meal! The restaurant is small but
attractive and romantically lit, and the staff is always very professional and pleasant. Make no mistake -- this place is
not cheap. Dinner for one person came to $138.00 including tax and tip! As
I left the restaurant very full and completely satisfied, and a bit in love with La Ripaille, the amiable owner told me “next time you must try the mussels.” Well, there will definitely be a next
time, but at those prices definitely not for awhile! However, I must say that this out-of-the-world meal was worth every penny.
Highly Recommended.
CUCINA STAGIONALE. 289 Bleecker Street [corner of 7th Avenue] NY NY 10014. Phone: 212-924-2707
[free delivery for Take Out.] If you order from their prix fixe menu, which is from 4 until 7 PM each night [$10.95 per person],
you'll find this Italian restaurant to be a real “price performer.” The Early Dinner includes a glass of wine,
appetizer, entree, dessert [tiramisu], and coffee. Drinks are extra, of course. The portions are by no means small, even when
you order the Early Dinner. The stuffed mushroom appetizer was delicious, featuring large mushrooms full of breadcrumbs and
covered with cheese. The chicken parmigiana came in a large slab covered with a tasty sauce and cheese that made it taste
a bit like pizza, and there was also a side of spaghetti, which was not watery as it often is in Italian restaurants. The
tiramisu was light and delicate, and they give you plenty of wine in each glass. Frankly the décor could use some work and
this place doesn't get big points for ambiance, but if it's a good, cheap meal you want at unpretentious prices and atmosphere,
this cucina is perfect. There are other desserts and appetizers, of course, as well as plenty of fish, meat, and
pasta dishes. Including tax and tip, our bill for two hungry people, well fed, was only $52. Recommended.
BEATRICE INN. 285 W 12th @ W 4th Street. Phone: 929-6165.
This is a very convivial place in West Greenwich Village nestled in a basement which has a medium size dining
area, a smaller, cozier room off to one side, and a room for parties up a short flight of stairs. The cuisine is Italian,
and the food excellent. I generally have a very nicely prepared chicken parmagiana, although I've also sampled chicken marsala,
veal scallopini, lasagna, seafood, and other dishes that were equally tasty. There's a variety of appetizers, including shrimp
cocktail and stuffed clams, and an assortment of desserts to wind up your meal. They serve a wonderful chianti as well.
Best of all, the Beatrice Inn is a real price performer. Two people can have appetizers, entrees, share an order of pasta
in between, dessert, drinks, and a couple of glasses of wine and the bill will rarely if ever top eighty dollars including
tip and is often even lower. The atmosphere is comfortable, casual, and relaxed. The customers are an assortment of villagers
and tourists, everything from families celebrating a birthday to couples out on a date, all different types and ages.
The staff is friendly, too. A very nice place. Highly recommended. UPDATE: Unfortunately,
after serving the Village for decades, the Beatrice Inn closed its doors forever not long after this review was posted,
in November 2005.
WESTCHESTER
THAYER INN at West Point. [NOTE: This is located in the hotel on the grounds of West Point.
You and everyone in your party MUST supply photo identification to the guard at the check point as you enter the grounds.]
The Thayer Inn has a spectacular and very modestly priced Sunday Brunch which has all the usual breakfast items along with
meat and pasta dishes, as well as a wide array of desserts. Orange juice, coffee, and champagne were flowing. The food was
excellent, although I found the desserts to be just a little too sweet for my taste.
One annoying thing that happened to our party is that because we arrived about half an hour early we were told to go wait
in the spacious bar, even though there were plenty of empty tables. The
hostess was a bit off the beam in this matter. Otherwise, the brunch at the attractive Thayer Inn at West Point is highly
recommended and is a real “price performer” as well. Recommended.
PIERO'S II. 132 East Main Street, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. PHONE: (914) 666-9798.
Your Hosts: Piero and Andre. This is an excellent Italian restaurant which offers a wide variety of choices for appetizers,
pastas, entrees, and specials. With your cocktails you are given a warm, tasty bread to nibble on while you make the difficult
decision of what to order. The stuffed mushrooms served in a tomato sauce is just one of many splendid appetizers they offer.
The Chicken francese coated with egg and served in a white wine sauce was delicate and delicious, as are the other chicken
dishes. The special I ordered was a seafood fettucini tossed with shrimp and scallops and served with an excellent sauce.
They offer a wide variety of desserts if you have the room. Although not exactly what you could call elegant, the decor is
attractive and clean, and the long and often busy bar is separated from the dining room by a wall. The ambiance is casual
and friendly, with an attentive wait staff who seem eager to see that you eat well and have a good time. Prices are moderate
to expensive depending on what you order. This is a good bet if you're not overly budget-conscious.
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