When you are out on the town with a group of friends, it is not always easy to pick a place that appeals to everyone’s tastes. Finding that perfect, go-to spot or local “best kept secret” that everyone loves can be the key to an amazing night.
Ristorante Aglio, recently opened in downtown Tribeca, offers fine dining Italian cuisine with all the comforts of an intimate, neighborhood spot, which is sure to be an all-around crowd pleaser.
If you are looking for an all-inclusive affair, then here are a couple of great dinner selections and pairings that demonstrate the full range of the extensive menu.
To start, enjoy the Minestrone Soup appetizer, enriched with the flavors of cannellini beans and bacon ($9); or perhaps if you are in a fanciful mood, the Carpaccio Di Manzo ($18), thinly sliced Kobe beef topped with truffles and truffle-vinaigrette, might be a more appropriate call.
Moving on to the intermediate pasta course, there is a wide selection of Italian noodles to dive into. Whether it be the peppered Spaghetti Alla Bottarga ($20), with chilli peppers, garlic and bottarga slices, or—for you traditional fettucini lovers—the Fettuccine Ai Funghi, featuring handmade pasta with mixed mushrooms wrapped in a creamy sauce, there is sure to be a delectable choice to explore.
Finally, you are ready for your entrée. To put a quick end to the meat-seafood divide, share the Bistecca Alla Griglia ($32), a succulent grilled dry-aged Ribeye Steak, and the Branzino All’ Acqua Pazza, an entire fish—cooked with cockles, semi-dried tomatoes and black olives—prepared fresh to order and deboned table-side.
And any of your entrées can be paired with a side ($4.50 each), including: Spinaci in Padella (sautéed garlic spinach), Arrosto Di Patate (rosemary roasted potato), and the Funghi Misti in Padella (sautéed mixed mushroom with balsamic).
Yet, the meal is simply incomplete without a decadent Catalana ($8), a creamy vanilla custard with caramelized sugar crust. Or of course, there is always the simple and elegant Affogato ($8): vanilla ice cream drowned in freshly roasted espresso. And nothing concludes the night like a dessert wine to finish, such as a fragrant moscato or sparkling dolce wine.
The perfect meal is just a bite away, so be sure to dine with Ristorante Aglio the next time you are out in the city, and add it to your favorite’s list soon!
