L'Apicio

Last night The Brooklyn Bite was off to Manhattan (via the bridge  and tons of traffic) to a family birthday dinner at the new East Village hot spot, L'apicio. L'apicio is an Italian themed restaurant from Executive Chef Gabe Thompson and beverage director Joe Campanale both of L'artusi (one of my favs!), dell'anima, and Anfora fame. In addition to the great modern Italian fare, there is also an extensive wine list, and a deep cocktail menu. The space is modern and slick, and larger than I would have guessed. There is a comfy looking lounge area in the front, and a main room with a mixture of stand alone tables and cushioned booths.                  
                                  

We sat by the bar where the friendly and helpful bartender attended to us until our party arrived. I had the delicious Spicy Dirty Martini, with celery bitters and b & g peppers and juice. 
Spicy & strong, just my style.

We were 6 people which definitely has its benefits (now I can order the whole menu without anyone giving me dirty looks!), and order WE DID!          


Check out the full menu here. L'apicio menu

We started with the Grilled Endive salad with pecorino; Romaine salad with anchovy croutons, Escarole with pecorino-buttermilk dressing, and the Bosc Pear with blue cheese and hazelnuts. All were decent salads, though maybe a little cheesy and slightly redundant. Next we ordered the bruschetta with fried egg, and tuna carpaccio with olives and artichokes. Both were excellent. I'm a sucker for anything with a fried egg on it, and fresh tuna carpaccio is always a good thing.

The pasta course was by far our favorite. The best was the Mezzalune with cauliflower, capers and pine nuts, it had great texture and delicious flavors. The Spaghetti with spicy tomato sauce, was simple and excellent. The Orecchiette with ribollita ragu, and the pasta special with porcini mushrooms, were also both delightful additions. Each pasta tasted unique and exquisite in its own way. 

Next came the roasted mushrooms, chillies, and ricotta salata
from the "polenta alla spianatora" section. Another winner. 

The main course. By this point we were all pretty full, but the fish was fresh and all the flavors worked well. The Red Snapper was prepared with black lentils, sofritoo crudo, and frisee, and the Branzino was grilled with chickpeas, chilis, and olives. Maybe not the most memorable part of the night, but solid fish. The creamed kale was the only thing we had all night that was a flop. The roasted brussels sprouts on the other hand, were great and went well with the fish. 

The night ended with dessert including a banana chocolate torta,  chocolate cake, and some gelato. The chocolate cake was better than the banana torte, though honestly none of the desserts were exceptional. Coconut gelato was pretty good, pass on the rosemary gelato.

All in all, I would definitely recommend L'apicio. The place was cool and trendy, the food was excellent, and we had a beautiful birthday dinner. 

Neighborhood: East Village, Bowery 
Good For: Drinks, Date spot, Birthday, Large groups

Bite Mark: *** & a half

L'Apicio; 13 East 1st Street bet. Bowery & 2nd Ave 212-533-7400 www.l'apicio.com

Gallow Green

On a dimly lit west side street across from the infamous "Scores", lies a nondescript hotel,  a man with an ipad, and a line of eager tourists and locals, waiting to get a taste of New York's newest secret.
Get ready to be transported back in time...to a Jazz Age lawn party on the rooftop of the Mckittrick Hotel. Gallow Green, brought to you by the same guys as the interactive show "Sleep no More", is an experience to say the least. From the moment you step into the eerie elevator, walk past the valet with the ancient luggage, and travel up the stairs, it's as if you have traveled back in time. The decor is enchanting, and the Dixieland band is pretty awesome. There are also "characters" meandering around interacting with people and interjecting themselves into conversations. The whole experience is really fun and really different. The views of the city are amazing (we even had a fireworks show to watch Saturday night), the service impeccible, and the drinks delicious.
Definitely get Gallow Green flaming absinthe punch. It only comes in a large size and runs $100, but it kept our party of 4 happy and laughing the whole night, with extra to spare and watching the waiters set it ablaze was part of the fun.

The food is pretty decent, given that you are not going there for their culinary expertise. Skip the raw veggies with cheese dip and the chips, and instead opt for the cheese plate and warm pretzels. Smoked salmon roll ups were good but small, the summer tomato salad was refreshing and light, and the grilled corn crostini with creme fresca, lime, and cilantro was also pretty decent. 

Gallow Green is definitely an experience. Coming from a jaded New Yorker, this says a lot. It's a great place to hang with some friends, celebrate an occasion, or have a romantic night. Go on a nice night, don't go starving, but get the punch and some snacks, and you're sure to have a fun time. It does get pretty chilly on the rooftop, so dress appropriately, be on time, and get don't forget "fortune favors the bold"...

Neighborhood: Chelsea

Good For: Groups, birthday's, fun night out

Bite Mark: ****

Gallow Green; 542 West 27th Street; 212-564-1662