U Emy Destinnové

U Emy Destinnové Review

An American cooking in the house where the celebrated Czech opera singer Ema Destinnová was born? Somehow chef Steven Trumpfheller makes it work at this basement restaurant. The interior replicates a 1950s Czech living room, right down to the natty couches and chatty diners eating as though enjoying a Sunday supper at mom's house. But the modern food is beyond mom's stovetop. It's a hybrid of Italian and Czech influences: Pistachio-crusted venison arrives with a cranberry sage reduction; tagliatelle comes with shrimp and asparagus. U Emy Destinnové's seafood selections are also top-notch, particularly the calamari stuffed with shrimp or crab and mushrooms.