Hi all, I have heard about a particular restaurant in NYC that I am trying to find name and/or location for. The feature that makes it stand out is this. They serve, apparently, a risotto dish where they actually cook the risotto in a parmesan wheel. The only location info that I "know" is that it is supposed in the lower mid-town(ish) area - perhaps high 20's or low 30's and maybe not too far off of 5th Ave. Maybe more Gramercy area?

If any of this sounds familiar to someone and you can provide more info, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks,

Shane

Basta Pasta? 17th and 5th I think.

Cacio e Pepe on 1st ave and 12th Street, mixes their pasta in a hollowed out wheel of pecorino. It is a wonderful dish but you must like strong tastes.

This place sounds great. Thanks for the tip! I'll have to go check it out.

Cacio e Pepe is on 2nd Ave and 12th St. This describes their signature dish, tonorelli cacio e pepe, which is not risotto but a thin type of flat pasta, mixed in the wheel of cheese as Adu wrote. It is delicious, but very salty from the cheese.

Thank you SO much for the tips. Even if that's not THE place I was told about, it sounds great and I will try them both out. Love finding new and great places to eat in NYC.

Thanks again,

Shane

Just returned, last night, from NYC, and MUST say thanks again to Aduchamp1 and Ellenem for the info on Cacio e Pepe. WHAT A FANTASTIC PLACE!!! I have a new favorite restaurant, now, in NYC.

Anyone else reading this thread who has never been...GO. Great atmosphere (casual, but not tacky), great staff, fantastic service and every bite of all of the food was delightful.

This is not a place to rush through a meal. I was concerned that we were there too early, and would have a lot of time to kill before our show. I am so glad we got to the restaurant when we did. It was simply a wonderful dining experience, but without any pomp n circumstance.

100% recommend!!!

Glad you enjoyed it.

Eating there makes me feel like I'm on vacation in italy!

What did you have? Did you try the namesake dish?

Apps - Mozz. caprese (cliche, I know, but I love it), Baked cheese topped with prosciutto, tuna carpaccio topped with julienned mango

Pasta - YES, the "signature" dish - served in the pecorino wheel. OMG...how good is this stuff?!?!?!

Entree - Seared shredded beef with artichokes and garlic...deelish

Friend had baked salmon wrapped in thin sliced potato with red pepper sauce...he loved it.

Desert - Strawberry tiramisu and cold cantaloupe soup with sweet buffalo ricotta. Iced espresso.

As you can see, we skipped the salad. I can have "lettuce" anywhere. ;-)

So many things on the menu looked/sounded wonderful, it was VERY difficult to choose, but the choices made proved to be outstanding.

Bookmarking

Yes,--too many good choice to pick from. How handy that I live down the block and can visit frequently . . .

Do you need reservations to Cacio e Pepe? I keep trying to call but the phone number won't work. Wondering if I could just walk in tonight and be seated...

It is hard to get into Cacio e Pepe on the weekends after 7 PM and they have a nice little garden in the back.

Surprisingly, many East Village restaurants have gardens in the back, some look at laundry hanging, others have installed a little fountain. Personally, I like both.

Those East Villages back gardens are where the outhouses used to be . . .

Cacio e Pepe only takes reservations for a party of 4 or more. We arrived at about 6:30 on Saturday night and very few tables were occupied. That changed quickly. I would say that by 7, or shortly thereafter, it was getting quite busy.