Nello
696 Madison Avenue
212.980.9099
Ambiance
Cosmopolitan, with open-air seating, weather permitting.
What to order
Nello recommends angel hair pasta with tomato and basil or dover sole with champagne sauce.
Who comes here
A great mix of celebrities, fashionistas, and businessmen.
Sweet Tooth
The apple strudel with vanilla ice cream.
Cipriani Downtown
376 West Broadway
212.343.0999
Ambiance
Warm, welcoming décor, high ceiling with beautiful Venetian chandelier. The walls are hung with photographs by Peter Beard, Marco Glaviano among others.
What to order
The classics from Harry’s Bar in Venice are a sure bet, such as baked tagliolini with ham, risotto, beef carpaccio, or calf’s liver alla Veneziana.
Who comes here
An eclectic crowd including artists, models, people from the entertainment business and finance.
Sweet Tooth
The vanilla crème meringue, or the Cipriani chocolate cake.
Scarpetta NYC
355 West 14th Street
212.691.0555
Ambiance
Jovial, relaxed, and inviting. The décor is urban Milan meets rustic Tuscany, all within an 1840s Greek revival townhouse.
What to order
Creamy polenta with a fricassee of truffled mushrooms, or the yellowtail with ginger oil.
Who comes here
Anyone who loves a good meal will savor it down to the very last taste.
Sweet Tooth
The chocolate cake with burnt orange-caramel gelato and espresso sauce.
Rao’s Restaurant
455 East 114th Street,
212.722.6709
Ambiance
Much smaller than their Vegas location, this old-school Italian interior always packs a full house (it’s booked through 2011).
What to order
There is no menu. The Lemon Chicken is a hit, or choose your favorite Italian dish, as it will probably be the best version of it you’ll ever have.
Who comes here
Celebrities and A-listers lucky enough to snag an almost impossible reservation up to a year in advance.
Sweet Tooth
Their homemade ice cream.
News
June 21, 2011Your Own Private Paradise: 3 Indian Creek Island Road
