new restuarant in NYC
 

heading to NYC in sept for a few days. Have reservations for a couple of restaurants but looking for something new. Not too spicy, love Italian, love seafood, continental. Any new favorites from you fodorites. we have reservations at Grano in the villeage,, Artinsalal bistro per recom from Fodors forum. Looking at river Café for the romance but open to new ideas. Not too concerned with $$$ if it is worth it.

River Cafe hasn't been open since the hurricane last Oct. It might reopen soon, but I wouldn't count on it. Costata is a new place I hear is great but I havent tried it. The same chef has Marea known for seafood.

Okay, random suggestion. Very new. Very. I haven't eaten there yet but hope to next week -

http://www.virgolanyc.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/virgola-new-york
http://www.zagat.com/b/new-york-city...p-your-alley#1

The Zagat review says they are opening on the 14th but they are already open with a soft opening. It looks unique, at the very least. I like oysters and wine and strawberries and chocolate and will be interested to see what's on the day's menu when I'm there.

How about The Nomad? A little more than a year old, and terrific.

I think you can do better than the ones you have mentioned.

Here are some of our current favorites, with a few comments:

The Nomad is wonderful. Wonderful!

http://www.thenomadhotel.com/#!/dining/menus/dinner



ABC Kitchen is excellent, too.

http://www.abckitchennyc.com/


Had an interesting meal recently at the new-this-year Alder, sibling of WD-50. Moderately priced and very casual. Can get noisy.

http://aldernyc.com/

We also llike Tertulia, for Spanish food. Very casual. No reservations for small parties.
http://tertulianyc.com/


Marea is my favorite for seafood and pasta. On the expensive side. We go for special ocassions, and treats. Also very good, is Ai Fiori, also under the helm of Chef Michael White. But the ambience is not as winning as some of the others mentioned.

http://www.marea-nyc.com/


Ma Peche is great for interesting food in a casual atmosphere, in midtown. Easier to get a table there than at some of the others I mention here. Part of the David Chang stable; strong on seafood and vegetables, in addition to the much-lauded meats.

http://momofuku.com/new-york/ma-peche/

We are huge Nomad fans too. It is wonderful.

Here is one more, PERLA, on Minetta Lane. Small, very casual. Excellent service. Excellent Italian fare; I would be sure to include one of the house-made pastas (they make all the wide noodles like papparadelle, which they offer in a duck ragu with shaved foie gras--we had this last night and it was outstanding).

Chef was previously at Babbo and the Eataly meat restaurant, Manzo. Menu is strong throughout, with many selections of fish, meat, pastas, seafood. Interesting wines, and beers.

Brick walls, attractive art, contemporary music. Difficult to book for two during prime hours, but they do save tables for walk ins. I plan to return.

http://perlanyc.com/#/home

Even though they suffered a near-total-floor-staff change a year or so ago, which rendered my wife and me nearly strangers after 10 years of patronage, I still recommend Pepolino.

Costata is very good if you don't mind paying too much for Italian food.

I've got a Saturday night rez at Carbone (hottest rez in NYC right now) coming up that I'm hoping I'll love.

The staff at Perla is too d**chy for me to deal with ever again.

Since Marinella closed, and the owner is concentrating on his smaller place, Porto Bello, that's become my go-to weeknight Italian fix.
That and Arturo's on Houston St.

Sorry for my ignorance, but what is d**chy?

My server last night at Perla was low-key and very informative but perhaps I was fortunate. Seemed to me to be a casual place without pretension. Prices are not too bad, either, for the quality.

Did you happen to see review in the Times today for Costata?

I have friends that love Perla, so maybe it's my problem. I may reconsider, after all.
**=ou

I love Perla too. I don't know what d**chy is either. It's probably worth another try, ciaony.

"ou" I must be really dense....could not for the life of me figure out what you meant!!

Do reconsider....I had ordered only an appetizer (octopus) and the day's special pasta (spaghetti with Gulf shrimp with a light sauce of Sun Gold tomatoes). Took half of the pasta home and surprisingly, it was just as good the following night.

(BTW: Sun Gold's are amazing this season!)

Alright, so Perla's back on the table.
FWIW, My wife and I went to Porto Bello last night and had one the worst garlic-soaked Italian meals of my life last night.
When I brought it up to the owner, he told me "Most people love garlic. Let me know next time and I'll tell them to put a little less."

I love NY

Recently had lunch at Rouge Tomate on 60th just east of Fifth Avenue. They offer a $32 three-course, prix-fixe, "business" lunch that's excellent. Stylish place, excellent service, beautiful presentations, large wine and mixed (including non-alcoholic) drink menu. One Michelin star.

To us, Artisanal = forgettable service (literally!). We haven't been there in a few years because of it and would never go back.