I had attended a reading of Green Mist: A Reading of an Immersive Play at New Perspectives Theatre on West 37th directed by Shellen Lubin with some friends. The story was a reflection of how privilege has shaped our society, which was somewhat reminiscent of “The Lord of the Flies.”

After the reading, we ended up at Il Punto, an old haunt of mine a couple of blocks south of 42nd street on Ninth Avenue that serves Sicilian fare. I hadn’t been since pre-pandemic.  It was just as good as it was, although service was a tad slow, as in many restaurants these days.

Two of us started with the unusual ice cream salad. Yes, ice cream salad with a red onion gelato and shrimp grilled to perfection atop arugula and other greens, blackberries, caramelized onions and shaved Parmigiano Reggiano cheese with a light lemon vinaigrette ($15). I’d return just for that. One friend had the Insalata di Mare ($18) with grilled scallops, calamari and shrimp on a bed of arugula, red onions and tomatoes with a lemon dressing. Also delicious.

I enjoyed a glass of the earthy Fattoria le Pupille Morellino di Scansano Riserva 2015 ($18).

We each followed that with a pasta: one tried the penne alla norma ($19) with an eggplant tomato sauce, basil and shaved ricotta salata, another the orecchiette salsiccia e cime di rapa ($20), the housemade pasta with sweet sausage, broccoli rabe and lots of garlic and I tried their pappardelle alla Bolognese ($20).  I took most of the plentiful homemade fresh pasta with the traditional beef ragù home. Next time, I’d realize that my salad would have been enough!

I highly recommend a visit.

Il Punto
Hell’s Kitchen
507 9th Ave
New York, NY 10018
(347) 916-8132