Otto’s puttanesca is too sweet from too many tomatoes and lacks the salty kick puttanesca lovers look for from anchovies (barely there) and capers and olives (making a brief guest appearance). Disappointing at best, regrettably.
Tag Archives: Italian
Otto Series 3 and 4: Norma and Gricia
Two dishes on this post: thanks to jury duty, my husband and I were able to have lunch together at Otto’s bar on a chilly, late February day. That was the first time I sat at the bar at Otto and I quite liked it. The burly barman’s service was correct and his demeanor distant; his lack of approachability kept the busy bar’s noise levels pretty bearable at lunch hour. Continue reading
Mercato
I always approach a restaurant that I love with trepidation. The memory of a great meal past might be entirely replaced by the reality of a subsequent bad meal, and the nostalgia, the lingering memory of the first experience, the one that made your mouth water, is forever gone.
Well, that was a bit dramatic. But it’s a real disappointment to go to a place that you thought was wonderful and get a meal that was just ok.
I became a fan of Mercato in Red Hook, up the Hudson River in Dutchess County in August last year. We went there after an ill-conceived visit to the Dutchess County Fair, where we had spaghetti and meatballs on a stick and fried ravioli, among other “specialties”. Nowhere to be seen were the prize-winning pies and jams. It was just, well. Hot and ugly. There. I said it. So our dinner at Mercato that night was beautiful. I can’t remember what we ate, but it was beautiful, and the impression stayed with me and made me excited.
We revisited Mercato last weekend — it was the one restaurant I had to go to during a short trip to the area. I was going to just enjoy my meal, but then I read in the special’s board that chef Francesco Buitoni was a semi-finalist for a James Beard award this year (under Best Chef: Northeast category), so I decided to take pictures as well.
And to report. I am not giving up on Mercato. Yet. Our meal was not bad, just not great. I will go back soon enough as we’ll be summering (and springing) in the area.
Lunch Special: Lupa
Stern is magically situated a couple of blocks away from each of Mario Batali’s Greenwich Village restaurant trifecta — Lupa, Babbo and Otto. So just to add variety to my Otto series and to take advantage of Restaurant Week, I went to Lupa and had the lunch special.
The "Orata con Cardi"
Now, I am not a fan of lunch specials, at least not those during Restaurant Week. Sure, it’s an opportunity to sample a famous restaurants at a low price, but the sampling they offer often makes me not want to go there and pay full price for it. For the current rate of $24.07 you get a choice of the lowest priced appetizers and entrees, plus dessert. The rooms are crowded, service is grumpy. Continue reading
Otto Series 2: Carbonara
As promised, the Carbonara.
Spaghetti alla Carbonara
I am a huge fan of spaghetti alla carbonara. Between the pancetta, eggs, cheese and cream (yes, I like mine with some cream) it’s a cholesterol bomb, and I try to only have it once every few months, and I enjoy every bite of it. Continue reading
Otto Series 1: Fusilli with Escarole and Sausage
I am teaching at NYU-Stern this semester. As such, I have much of the Greenwich and East Villages within a 10-minute walk radius, and I am looking forward to exploring the restaurants and markets in both neighborhoods.
One thing I know for sure is that I’ll be eating at Otto pretty often. With pastas at $9 ($12 for the weekly specials), I think there is hardly a better value in New York.
Otto's Fusilli with Escarole and Sweet Sausage
