Italian – Page 2 – Rays Picks NYC

Marea **

Famous for his Italian fare and homemade pasta, Chef Michael White has created a restaurant empire in New York City that has been welcomed whole heartedly by this city’s serious diners. Marea, the flagship of his Altamarea restaurant group, on Central Park West is one of the top seafood and Italian restaurants in New York City. It has been a recipient of two Michelin stars for the past four years, a Three Star review from the NY Times, and one of the only few Relais & Châteaux certified dining establishments in the world. The praises in the culinary universe for Marea is immeasurable.

Opening in 2009 during the height of the recession when fine dining is said to be on respirators, it was the most ambitious and riskiest project of Chef White’s career. Fast forward to today, Marea is a busy restaurant and frequented by the New York City elite, moguls, and celebrities. On the weekend, the lounge in the front of the restaurant and its gold onyx bar is congested with patrons while more people are being ushered to the dining room way after 10 pm.

Housed in the old San Demonico space, this pescatarian haven is accessible through revolving doors where hostesses greet each guest with a friendly smile. After the welcoming festivities are over, guests are led to an elegant dining room where the tables are covered in white table cloths surrounded by lush chocolate leather seats and glossy rosewood flooring and walls. Sea shells are on display in the dining area and windows large enough to provide a back drop of Central Park. I couldn’t help but notice when I last visited Marea for dinner that hip-hop music was the choice of tunes in the restaurant. I never expected that.

The restaurant’s menu is significant and derived from the coast of Italy. A $99 four-course pri-fixe during dinner, where guests can design their own courses, is a brilliant way to get a taste of Chef White’s cooking. Between two people you can sample up to eight dishes.

All the dishes that I’ve had here were remarkable, beginning with the raw plates like the Tuna Tartare made with Blue Fin tuna, it was so fresh that it taste of the ocean was apparent. On the other hand The Dentice, or Pacific snapper, was cut thinly and given a citrusy touch. The seafood is fresh, as if it were caught from their natural habitat a few hours ago.

The antipasti dishes like the Polipo, octopus grilled to a nice texture and worked well with the pickled red onions. The Goberra Rosso is a large sautéed Mediterranean red prawn which was meaty and delicious. Next, I enjoyed the Nova Scotia lobster with Buratta cheese also known as Astice. A rule of thumb in the culinary world is to never mix seafood with cheese, but here, the Burratta and lobster were a perfect marriage making this an amazing dish.

Chef Michael White’s fresh pasta is just as advertised which is handmade daily in the restaurant. The Garganelli with crabs and sea urchin in a light sauce blended rightfully. Of course, you can’t come to this restaurant without having the Fusili pasta with braised octopus and bone marrow. This signature dish is raved about in the online community, along with the Astice, and I must say that I’m in agreement with what’s being said.

A variety of fish dishes, or main plates, are available to choose from. Ippogloso, or halibut, is a tender dish served with a salsa verde sauce which added moisture and additional flavor to the fish. Rombo, a dish highlighting a hearty fish called turbot. Turbot, similar to cod with its big flaky meat, holds together well but is very mild in flavor. It could easily get lost among strong herbs. The turbot was pan seared and accompanied by market green beans on a tangy lentil bean sauce. It seemed to get better and better as you continued to eat. The large sea scallops, Capesante, was also pan seared until just done and arranged on peaches, Chanterelle mushrooms, and garlic. These unique flavors added an additional layer of sweetness to the already tender, sweet scallops. Amazing!

The desserts are handled by Executive Pastry Chef Robert Truitt who was previously at Corton in Tribeca, also a two Michelin star restaurant. His desserts, like the Semifreddo Di Nocciola with hazelnut, chocolate, and mascarpone cheese and the Strati Di Cioccolato made with dark chocolate crema, salted caramel, and coffee crumble with gelato, as well as the Bamboloni , bite-sized round donuts with a side of dipping chocolate and spiced honey leaves a lasting impression after a fantastic meal at Marea.

Their wine list is massive and can become overwhelming as you flip through the many pages. Dominated by different regions of Italy, there are bottles that are priced as low as thirty dollars to as high as five figures. If opting for the dinner pri-fixe, have it paired with wine for a manageable $55 as a recommendation.

The service is professional and relaxed, engaging and not overly intrusive. Exactly what’s expected in a restaurant of this caliber.

Not only did Marea survive the worst recession to ever hit the globe, it also collected numerous accolades along the way. The consistency in providing New York City diners with the freshest seafood available and properly executing every plate that is put in front of their guests has made Marea one of the top restaurants in New York City.

Marea
240 Central Park South
New York, NY 10019
(212) 582-5100
Official Website

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Aria Wine Bar

Aria Wine Bar
117 Perry St
New York, NY 10014
(212) 242-4233

Tapas or small plates have been a staple of Spanish cuisine for ages. I consider this concept an ala carte version of the tasting menu. It is an excellent way to experience multiple dishes a restaurant has to offer without being committed to an entrée that may be lack luster. In New York City, Spanish restaurants are not the only ones who specialize in this concept. In the case of Aria Wine Bar, it has perfected the small plate offering in Italian style.

I know what you’re thinking… wine bar… soft relaxing music… sipping a glass of wine… maybe nibbling on a Panini… WRONG! Aria Wine Bar is far from your typical wine bar. It is loud… it is cramped! You are literally elbow to elbow with strangers and you are enjoying your food and wine right next to the bartender as he mixes cocktails. You are so close to your neighbors that in addition to your own conversation don’t be surprised if you also hear from one ear the angst of a young adult struggling for independence from overbearing parents and out of the other ear band mates planning their next session. Aria Wine Bar is always packed with beautiful West Villagers on a nightly basis. It nixed the loungey piano music for hip hop and pop music. This is truly an enjoyable atmosphere.

The wine bar is a replica of a cellar in a 19th century home. There are wooden beams that run from end to end of the ceiling, exposed brick walls and worn out wooden flooring for a rustic, chic interior. A wooden communal table next to steel pylon in the middle and a white tiled bar where people can sit in front of each other are paired with industrial metal high chairs. Hanging cured meats and wine bottles that are neatly placed behind each other are visible throughout the place. There is also a weathered wood counter that runs along the windows where diners can choose to sit and do some people watching along Perry Street.

The menu is affordable and extensive. It also includes a selection of cheese plates and cured meats that are available throughout the day staring at 12 PM daily. There are no dishes that are priced over $12 which is a bargain by New York City standards, especially for the quality of the ingredients that are used.

The non-encyclopedic wine lists at this place are mainly consisting of Italian wines with a few from other parts of the globe. The wines are served in an unorthodox style: stem less wine glasses that are priced at an average of $8 per serving. The last time I had this was at Macao Trading Co. in TriBeCa a few years back.

I love going to Aria Wine Bar and trying multiple combinations of small plates so that each experience there is unique. Starting off with Aragosta e Avocado, lobster salad with avocado and arugula. In this multiple protein dish, the lobster was tender while the avocado gave a nice flavor combination. The Insalata De Mare or seafood salad was a pescetarian delight. The plate was packed with fresh sea foods that were perfectly combined. It was so fresh that I had to peak into the kitchen to see if there was an aquarium of edible sea creatures in it!

Pasta plates like The Linguine Vongole or linguine with clams was delicious. The clams were soaked in the sauce which added a sea food taste with a bit of citrus zest. Both the Macheronni al Tartufo or mac and cheese with truffle Carpaccio and the Fettuccini Ai Fungi, fettuccini with wild mushroom and truffle oil, has an earthy flavor that the truffles give to both dishes. Then there is the Raviolli Ricotta, ravioli with ricotta cheese, spinach and asparagus along with creamy sauce was very good as well and the cheese had a nice thick texture.

Next there are the small plates that are very good, like the Vongole a Originate, baked clams with oregano and lemon sauce and the Tortino di Granchio e Funghi or crab cake with mushroom. The crab cake is moist in texture while the citrus infused baked clam sauce was acidic and complimented the baked clams and its stuffing. The Calamari in Umido was another enjoyable dish as well as the Polpette al Pomodoro, meatballs and the Carciofi e Olive, sautéed artichokes and olives.

The non existence of chicken dish in the wine bar is not a deal breaker, but it would have been a nice option in the already outstanding menu. The seafood and pasta dishes more than make up for this loss.

Aria Wine Bar is a quaint and essential New York City food and drink establishment. It has the downtown atmosphere, West Village crowd and great food and drinks. Every person that I brought here agreed on one thing, they all liked this place and vowed to come back.

I was once asked for recommendation for a nice restaurant with reasonable price, tasty food, nice vibe and non-encyclopedia wine list. I answered without hesitation, Aria Wine Bar in the West Village.

For individuals who are ordering medicines online, there are several significant factors that must be considered. Internet is an ideal practice to get medicaments. Several medicaments are antifungal medicines. There are at least some medicaments for each sicknesses. Levitra is a curing set to treat few ailments. What do you have to consider about cialis vs viagra? When you buy remedies like Levitra you have to ask your pharmacist about viagra vs cialis. Many drugstores describe it as viagra or cialis. Many probably sure the forcefulness of Levitra is well documented. In addition, there are some of explanations and pharmacists are as a rule able to pinpoint your problem through biological tests. Ordinarily the treatment options may include erectile dysfunction medicaments or counseling. Your generic is for you only. Never give your drugs to other humanity even if their state appears to be the same as yours.

Wild Rise

*This restaurant is now closed

This past Sunday I had the privilege of attending the soft opening of Wild Rise, a new Neapolitan pizza restaurant located in the heart of the Brooklyn’s artsy DUMBO scene in the 68 Jay St. Bar. I was impressed with the amazing taste of this pizza. All of the ingredients blended well in a burst of flavor. I had the shitake mushroom pie and it was so delicious that I ate the entire 7″ pie – definitely not your average pizza. Wild Rise makes pizza with high quality fresh ingredients that are selected for specific exotic and culinary qualities. For instance, the name “Wild Rise” comes from the use of “wild yeast” rather than commercial yeast. Dough made with wild yeast, among many things has enhanced flavor, offers greater nutritional value and does not leave your stomach with a heavy feeling once eaten. The tasty pizzas comes flying out of their custom made oven which cooks at temperature of over a thousand degrees – cooking pies in two minutes or less. For now, Wild Rise is only open 3 days a week (Sunday, Monday and Tuesday,) so be sure to visit whenever you’re in the area or just make a quick trip across the river and I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

For more on Wild Rise and it’s story click here

Wild Rise
@ 68 Jay St. Bar
Corner of Jay St. and Water St.
DUMBO, Brooklyn
Official Site

For individuals who are ordering medicines online, there are several significant factors that must be elaborate. Internet is an ideal practice to get medicaments. Several medicaments are antifungal medicines. There are at least some medicaments for each sicknesses. Levitra is a medication preassigned to treat few ailments. What do you have to view about cialis vs viagra? When you buy remedies like Levitra you have to ask your pharmacist about viagra vs cialis. Many drugstores describe it as viagra or cialis. Many probably sure the forcefulness of Levitra is well documented. In complement, there are some of explanations and pharmacists are mostly able to pinpoint your problem through biological tests. Ordinarily the treatment options may turn on erectile dysfunction medicaments or counseling. Your generic is for you only. Never give your drugs to other folk even if their condition appears to be the same as yours.

Armani Ristorante 5th Avenue

Armani Ristorante 5th Avenue
717 5th Ave
New York, NY 10022
(212) 207-1902
Official Site

While walking along 5th Avenue in the 50’s, home to the high- end luxury brand stores, I was surprised to discover Armani Ristorante on the third floor of the Armani Store. The restaurant’s almost hidden location can easily be overlooked by most people in that high traffic tourist spot. I myself did not initially notice the restaurant’s sign on 55th Street nor did I notice the sign inside the store. I decided to visit one cold winter evening and have been back numerous times.

I had no expectations on my first visit, yet I reminded myself that this restaurant is owned by the man Giorgio Armani himself, a global fashion icon. The restaurant is accessible via the entrance on 55th Street where a doorman awaits guests to usher them to the elevator or through the store and up the white winding space aged staircase. While I ascended in the elevator to restaurant, the elevator’s trendy music set the mood. I was blown away by the restaurants decor at first glance. Looking around, I realized I was part of an incredibly stylish scene: black marble floors and black ceiling; yielding lights that drop smoothly in every table; funky curved shapes and futuristic booth seats, bare sleek tables and comfortable black cushion seats. The simplistic use of black and white is an Armani signature. For an added touch of class the waiters appear and disappear to the kitchen through walls with sliding doors. The restaurant has a bar that lights up brightly, there guests can enjoy the signature drink, an Armani Martini. To top off the stylish surroundings, the dining area has a wonderful view overlooking the luxurious 5th Avenue.

The food is as impressive as the decor. The presentation and the taste of their Italian cuisine will have you coming back again and again!!! Whenever I dine here, I always opt for the 4 course tasting menu (I highly recommend it). It consists of an appetizer, pasta, meat and dessert paired with wine for dinner. I also recommend the $29 pre-fixe for lunch. Some of the dishes that I enjoyed were the Insalata Di Funghi Trifolati – mushrooms salad with pecorino cheese and seasonal truffle; and the Insalata Di Mare Caldo – warm seafood salad with baby arugula, pachino tomatoes, lemon and Ligurian olive oil. These salads were both pretty tasty but the seafood salad reigns as one of my favorite dishes, it’s very fresh and the texture is just perfect. Another appetizer that I enjoyed is the Agnolotti Di Ricotta e Spinaci – Ricotta and spinach agnolotti with butter and sage. The memorable entrées are the Galletto Ruspante – a fried chicken dish; the Branzino Selvaggio Dorato Su Carciofini in Umido – wild sea bass fillet and softly baked baby artichokes; and the Scottadito D’Agnello e Olio Alle Erbe – grilled Colorado lamb chops and herbed olive oil. Of the desserts, the amazing Crostata Al Frutti Di Bosco – fruit tart served with soft lemon cream and the Sorbet was another favorite.

In line with the beautiful décor and delicious food, the service is high quality and consistent. The managers treat guests like royalty and the servers, dressed in custom made Armani black uniforms, are very friendly and very attentive. In general the staff made me feel welcomed as an honored guest. Though the atmosphere of the crowd can be a bit pretentious at times, there are also tourists that stop by for a nice afternoon tea and corporate folks on power lunches or corporate dinners. And of course couples can be seen having a nice romantic dinner.

Armani Ristorante is not only a restaurant made to impress with its sleek fashionable décor and well dressed staff, but the high quality of the food, impeccable service and great ambiance make this a pretty solid restaurant for dinner, lunch or just drinks.

For individuals who are ordering medicines online, there are several significant factors that must be considered. Internet is an ideal practice to get medicaments. Several medicaments are antifungal medicines. There are at least some medicaments for each sicknesses. Levitra is a treatment set to treat few ailments. What do you have to consider about cialis vs viagra? When you buy remedies like Levitra you have to ask your pharmacist about viagra vs cialis. Many drugstores describe it as viagra or cialis. Many probably sure the forcefulness of Levitra is well documented. In complement, there are some of explanations and pharmacists are as a rule able to pinpoint your problem through biological tests. Ordinarily the treatment options may turn on erectile dysfunction medicaments or counseling. Your generic is for you only. Never give your drugs to other people even if their condition appears to be the same as yours.