Location: 47 west 39th street
Cuisine: Refined Northern Italian
Items: 2 Appetizers, 1 pasta, 2 entrees, 1 Dessert, 3 cocktails
Best
Overall: A intimate space with the charm of white table cloths and attentive servers. The space also has a warm, comfortable vibe, like visiting good friends who happen to be excellent cooks. A great space for a quiet date night or a family dinner. You can honestly bring anyone here and they would be satisfied.
Monday evening my companion ventured into midtown for a quaint dinner in one of Midtown’s best Italian eateries. For 22 years the family owned and operated venue has served up delicious Northern Italian cuisine. Southern Italian dishes have a Mediterranean flair with eggplants peppers and olive oils. Northern Italian cuisine uses more unsalted butter, creams and fresh herbs. Both regions have a signature flavor and provide a unique mixture of tastes and textures. While reviewing the menu we enjoyed a round of cocktails. I had the sweet Appetito Margarita and my companion had the Banana Split Martini.
The menu is authentic Italian and as a result much of it is in Italian, don’t panic. The menu also provides an English description for many of the dishes. The menu is also divided by course and protein for additional help. We started with some hot Antipasti (Appetizers). We chose the fried calamari and one of the evenings specials. The calamari is cooked beautifully, crunchy light and never greasy. The fried morsels come with a generous helping of Marinara sauce for dipping. I happen to love calamari but if it isn’t your thing you should at very least order a small serving of the Marinara sauce for your complimentary bread basket. It is sensational, you will not be disappointed!
The nightly specials are subject to change. On the night we were there we enjoyed the shrimp with penne. The shrimp are sauteed in a light wine sauce and tossed with spinach and tomatoes. This is a really light and fresh way to start a meal. If you want something tasty and not heavy this dish is also available as a full size entree.
After the Antipasti we ordered Farinacci (Pasta). As a lover of all things Fettuccine we couldn’t pass up the chance to sample the Salmon fettuccine. In this dish the salmon is cooked lightly then tossed in a Vodka sauce with warm fettuccine. I expected this dish to be slightly fishy but I was pleasantly surprised by how light and fresh the fish tasted. The sauce was rich and creamy and the portion more than enough for two to share.
After the pasta we ordered our entrees, the main dishes or meat dishes are divided by protein. Pollo (chicken), Carni (red meat), and Pesci (fish or seafood). We ordered the Scaloppine Appetito one of their signature dishes. The Scaloppine is thin sliced veal smothered in a delicious brandy and cream sauce with porcini mushrooms.
For our last entree we went with another special. The striped Seabass was served as a fillet with a generous helping of mussels, clams and tomato white wine sauce.
After such a rich and decadent meal we wanted something light for dessert. We ordered a refreshing orange sorbet to end a glorious meal of Italian delights. If you have room for more than sorbet, Appetito Ristorante also offers several other desserts to please your palate. I think on my next visit I’ll try the profiteroles. All in all a trip to Appetito Ristorante is a trip to Northern Italy prepare for a comfortable relaxed culinary experience. The venue is warm and inviting, the service is impeccable and the food is heavenly. Whenever you go make sure you arrive before 8:45pm as it is their last reservation. Be sure to visit them on the web at www.appetitoristorante.com