Location: 214 East 49th Street, New York, NY 10017
Cuisine: Northeastern Italian
Best Dish: Veal Milanese. A breaded veal chop pounded to a quarter inch thinness served on the bone topped with arugula. Served with lemon to add acidity and marry flavors of the fresh greens and tender veal chop.
Cost: $$$
Overall: A new restaurant with old world charm. Barolo East has opened just six months ago but has already become a neighborhood favorite. The welcoming outdoor patio makes for a wonderful al fresco dining experience. The brick and wood indoor décor makes for a calming dining environment.
Grilled Octopus
The grilled octopus was tender and the obvious grill marks accompanied the smoky flavor. Octopus was accompanied by an Italian potato salad made with olives and capers. The salad mimicked the saltiness of the sea and paired nicely with the flavorful octopus.
Black Mussels & Clams Steamed in Garlic & White Wine
A twist on the classic this dish adds fresh clams to the usual mussels pot. The freshness of the seafood and the well-seasoned broth come together to make a great start to your meal. Don’t forget to use the toasted fresh bread to soak up the garlic broth.
Cavatelli with Lamb Ragu
The spongy cavatelli is made in-house and has an ideal flavor for fresh pasta. The ragu is made with fresh lamb and tomatoes simmered for hours. The dish is best served with grated parmesan to bring out the earthiness of the lamb.
Squid Ink Fettuccine with King Crabmeat
The second pasta was, of course, made in-house as is all the pasta on the menu. The black pasta and tossed with olive oil fresh herbs and a generous portion of king crab was a dish that could have been served seaside. I wish I had a bowl every time I went to the beach this summer. The unique dish was a favorite of the night.
Veal Milanese
The Veal Milanese is a deceptively simple dish that is too often done wrong. Barolo East takes the classic approach and serves up a true winner. A breaded veal chop pounded to a quarter inch thinness served on the bone topped with arugula. Served with half a lemon to add acidity and marry flavors of the fresh greens and tender veal chop. The plate-sized portion can easily feed two people. However, I would not be surprised if one diner devoured a whole entrée as I was tempted to do.
Dessert
We ended our meal with a Chocolate soufflé with fresh vanilla ice-cream. The delicate soufflé was infused with traces of hazelnut to keep the palate excited.
Cocktails
Barolo East has a well-curated wine list to pair with dinner. The bar also has a cocktail menu featuring modern mixology versions of classic cocktails. The Basil Martini is a herbaceous drink made with gin and garnished with a whole basil leaf. The Rye Pleasure is made with two varieties of Rye and muddled cherries, this drink is perfect for a Manhattan drinker looking for something different.
Barolo East is open 7 days a week from 11:30-11:00pm. Suitable for special occasions, date night or a drink at the long polished wood bar. Visit baroloeast.com for more information.
-Sia Battle