Location: 509 Third Ave New York, NY 10016 (Between 34th & 35th St)
Cuisine: Mediterranean and European
Best Dish: The Blueberry Risotto was outstanding and worth a try. It was a special on the night we visited; if it is available we recommend that you treat yourself.
Price: $$$
Overall: An ideal location to impress your foodie date or explore Italian Cusine beyond basic spaghetti and meat sauce.
Last month we visited Vago in celebration of their first year anniversary. The owners hosted an intimate cocktail party, serving up tasty finger foods and decadent Tiramisu Martinis. Our brief encounter with Vago ignited out curiosity about their dinner menu, so we returned a month later for a delicious meal of traditional Italian and Mediterranean flavors. The decor is simple but impactful. The White brick facade of the exterior is a welcome break from the gray-black sidewalk. The interior is just as bright and inviting with white walls and soft mood lighting. The staff is friendly and attentive, providing a complimentary bread basket with a house made lentil spread. The menu is full of familiar favorites as well as a surprising assortment of reimagined dishes with modernized ingredients and flavors.
The Feast
Zucchini Fries
Dinner began with a generous serving of crispy zucchini fries. The zucchini was cut into thin strips resembling shoestring fries then given a thin bread coating. The fries were crunchy and delicious
Polenta topped with Spicy Sausage Ragout
Polenta is a cornmeal porridge that is often served as part of a savory dish. The texture is similar to southern grits but softer. At Vago, the polenta was rich and creamy with a velvety mouthfeel. The spicy Sausage added a peppery kick.
Baked Scallops in Shell
Having never been served scallops in their shell this was a rare treat. The scallops were topped with a tasty Machelle cheese and baked to perfection
Rigatoni with Oxtail Ragu + Blueberry Risotto +
Cavatelli with Broccoli Rabe and Sausage
Unless otherwise specified the pasta is served al dente. If you require softer pasta simply let your waiter know when you order. The rigatoni was delicious the oxtail was sumptuous with the right balance of sweetness and acidity. The blueberry risotto was outstanding. Having never experienced blueberry’s in a savory dish it was a surprising addition that added complexity and a fascinating color to the risotto. The cavatelli was the lightest of the three dishes but just as delicious. The bitterness from the broccoli rabe worked well with the herbaceous sausage.
Lamb Shank
We’ve never passed up a lamb shank and this night was no exception. The shank was fork tender and meaty served with a tomato and red wine sauce we recommend having this with bread, risotto or potatoes as you will not want to waste a drop of the tasty sauce.
The Cocktail
Coastal Kiss
We washed down our meal with a selection from the fully stocked bar. The Coastal Kiss is a sweet but strong cocktail of raspberry vodka, Frangelico, Malibu rum and coconut cream.
Vago provides an appetizing feast of classic Italian cuisine. In addition to its Al a Carte offerings, Vago also serves a pre-fixe menu for under $25. The meal includes an appetizer entree and dessert.
Dining Hours: Mon-Sat: 11:30am-3:00pm & 5:00pm-12:00am
Sunday: 11:30am-3:00pm & 5:00pm-10:00pm
Brunch: Sat,Sun: 11:00am-3:00pm
Check out their http://vagorestaurant.com.