Location: 696 Madison Avenue
Cuisine: Italian
Best Dish: We adored the Lamb chops and the Ossobuco, but the Calamaretti was the star. The stuffed was a unique dish that would appeal to any seafood lover.
Overall: A fine space for a dinner with friends or relatives but not ideal for rambunctious kiddies. Families can dine at Nello and often do but the menu may be problematic for the little ones. Nello is a good choice for a very special date night with your spouse or a meal with out of town guests who would enjoy people watching.
Nello is a small Italian Eatery on Manhattan’s exquisite Upper East Side. The restaurant was founded by restaurateur Nello Balan over 25 years ago and is now solely owned by Thomas Makkos. Since its opening, the venue has been visited by politicians, diplomats and some A-List entertainers. Many of their prominent guests are featured on a collage near the host station. While waiting for our table we looked over the photo gallery of the stars who ate here before us. Some notable Nello diners include Usher Raymond, Beyonce, Angelina Jolie and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Looking at the wall intensified our excitement for the evening’s meal. If the food was good enough for the Terminator, it would certainly be great for us.
We settled into our table and surveyed our surroundings. Nello is a neighborhood favorite, several guests laughed and chatted with staff like old friends, even sharing a joke or two. The front window was wide open allowing us to view the patrons enjoying bistro style seating at the entrance as well as the arrivals of some of our fellow diners. SUV’s, Sedans and gorgeous sports cars are the norm for some Nello patrons and we enjoyed watching drivers drop off and pick up their passengers throughout our meal.
For our first course we ordered the Mare Monte. Traditionally this pasta dish features ingredients harvested from the mountains and the sea. At Nello this dish features shrimp, scallops, calamari, arugula, radicchio, pomodoro, and spaghettini. Nello is best known for its pasta and for good reason, it was divine. The sauce was tasty and herbaceous with the al dente pasta.
For our second course we had the Calamaretti. We have enjoyed plenty of interesting dishes but stuffed squid was new to us. Calamaretti is tender baby squid stuffed with shrimp, scallops and salmon. The stuffed squid is covered in delicious marinara and served with a small salad and potatoes. The flavor was surprisingly mild and reminded us of traditional stuffed shells. This dish is a good option for someone looking for delicious low carb options.
Once we saw lamb chops on the menu, we knew it was a must have. We were not disappointed. The chops are served medium on a bed of buttery Au Gratin potatoes. The supple chops were juicy and delicious. They were well seasoned and melt in your mouth tender.
For our last savory course we had the Ossobuco. This dish is comprised of a cross cut veal shank braised in broth and wine. Cross cut shanks feature a marrow filled bone in the center which is where the name comes from Ossobuco loosely translated is bone with a hole.
Thankfully we had just enough room left for a sweet treat. For dessert we ordered the napoleon. The layers of sweet cream and thin crisp pastry were a nice end to a sumptuous meal.
Nello’s is a traditional New York eatery and you’re sure to have an amazing dining experience. You may not need to dress up to gain entry but it wouldn’t hurt to look better than usual. The clientele varies from politicians to entertainers you never know who you may run into. No matter what your profession, you can expect the staff to be attentive but not intrusive. The location is just a short walk from major retailer Bloomingdale’s and some of the best designer shops in the city making it an ideal venue for an after shopping meal. Also, given its history of serving celebrities, Nello is an ideal place to take out of town guests for the chance to dine with the stars.