Bite of the Best

Locanda Verde, an Italian restaurant located in TriBeCa’s Greenwich Hotel, serves rustic seasonal fare. Think warm bistro with small tables, not cloth covered and with the accessible food of chef/owner Andrew Carmellini (from A Voce).

While waiting for my friend to arrive, I perused the one-page menu looking for the dishes the publicist had described — they had looked yummy from the photos she sent. (Yes, I often speak to a publicist prior to dining to get some background on the restaurant, chef and concept.)

The blue crab with jalapeno and tomato ($10) crostini was just enough (2 small pieces) to whet the appetite. I liked the hint of lemon in an antipasti of marinated large beet chunks with a pistachio pesto ($10) and — according to the menu, but invisible — gorgonzola. The full-bodied Odoardi Savuto 2005 ($45) worked well with both these dishes as well as what followed.

The flavorful stracci pasta of lamb bolognese and ricotta ($19) was a stick-to-your-ribs dish perfect for a cold day. After that hearty dish, the light roasted sea scallop over lentils with thinly sliced gala apple ($27) was just enough to complete the meal.

Unfortunately we had no an inch of room for dessert. That will be another time, as I’ve heard the pastry chef is amazing.

Locanda Verde
The Greenwich Hotel
377 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10013
212.925.3797
www.locandaverdenyc.com