It was midafternoon on a rainy day when we met at the year-old Osteria Delbianco, on East 49th Street a bit east of Sak’s side door, and decide to dine inside as at that time we were the only patrons. The warmth was wonderful.

The menu represents a return to Chef Diego’s culinary roots as he was deeply influenced by his grandmother, Nonna Maria Delbianco, the restaurant’s namesake.  Omar served us some bread with sun-dried tomato dipping sauce as we studied the menu.

To start, the four of us shared the lightly fried “fritto misto dell’Adriatico,” their crispy fried calamari, shrimp and paper-thin strips of carrots and zucchini served with spicy aioli ($18).

 

 

 

 

 

 

The chef sent out an arugula salad topped with an indigenous shaved cheese and fried empanada-like crescents filled with spinach followed by a small portion of meat-filled tortellini in a rich broth, which is what happens when dining with restaurant royalty!

Two at the table had the pollo al tegame, boneless chicken with spicy sausage, black olives, red peppers and tomatoes ($24);  one the risotto alla riccionese, with mixed seafood in a light tomato sauce  ($29); and  I ordered the lasagna, a dish paying homage to Chef Diego’s Nonna Maria Delbianco, the restaurant’s namesake with layers of pasta, bechamel, bolognese sauce and grated Parmigiana Reggiano ($23). All yummy.  We washed that down with a Zeni Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2017.

I highly recommend a visit.

Osteria Delbianco
Midtown
22 E 49th St
New York, NY 10017
212.838.5972
osteriadelbianco.com/