20th anniversary dinner/lunch

[anniversary]

Plan to be in the city may 31st-june 3rd and am looking for nice italian food. I have been to Becco and enjoyed it....also need nice spot in the village. We are staying in financial district....money not really an issue. Don't mind lunch as well. So Italian and nice chineese place as well..thanks

also lookng for nice breakfast place in village....money no object again.

[solarlane]

i'm a big fan of il mulino

[LFeinberg]

Italian: Crispo, Gonzo, Po, Lavagna
Breakfast in Village: Good

[jsmitty]

i like all choices. tell me about lavagna,,,, not familiar

[LFeinberg]

Great wine selection, very charming and warm atmosphere, intimate space, great Italian food in the East Village. Give it a try!
What did you think about EU?

[jsmitty]

disappointed. uneven. when i get the wind ill write something up. but loved the space and service... almost enought to go back. thanks for the good word on lavagna. my list has become daunting. not sure when it will fit in....

[LFeinberg]

Oh no...I'm sorry. What meal did you go for? We had brunch there and really enjoyed it. I have not had any other meals there.

[jsmitty]

Dinner. Really I loved the place so much that if it's possible to have lost my self in spite of just ok food I did it that night. Anyway I'll write more another time. The truth is some dishes were good...

[anniversary]

2 more things...wife just added....what about nice dinner AFTER 8pm show and what is nice italian on Arthur street in bronx

[anniversary]

ok...just landed reservations at Lupa for 7pm friday night later in may....now need to know would it be worth if to try crispo for more itali? another questions would be nice place for dinner AFTER 8pm BW show....open to itialian, chinnesse, etc...nice bistro....

[kobetobiko]

Babbo is indeed the best of all Batali's establishments in NYC. The quality is more consistent and the service is IMO better than Lupa and Otto. Though I haven't had any incredibly bad service at Lupa / Otto, there were plenty of hounds who had mentioned about spotty / snotty service at Lupa. If you can get reservation at Babbo definitely go for it.

I also agree with jessfood on L'imperio. Great food and good service, festive without being over the top.

Other more casual Italian restaurants, Crispo will be my pick.

[anniversary]

who of the above has the best squid. and on another topic...any suggestions on nice breakfast place (balazar maybe) and best chineese in chinatown.

[kobetobiko]

For Chinese, what kind are you looking for? (Dim sum, Cantonese, Shanghainese, etc.)

For Brunch, there are many great places to go:
For more upscale, Eleven Madison Park or Cafe at Country. A lot of hounds like Norma.
Other choices include cookshop (egg dishes!), freeman, Prune (Looooong Wait), Jane, Clinton St Bakery, the list is endless...

[anniversary]

What about felida for Italian....i need the good and the bad. Wife is big fan of Lydia

[anniversary]

and what about Steak Frites for mussels...as opposed to an italian place

[RGR]

The food at Steak Frites is mediocre at best. I have not been to Felidia, but there have been posts about it, so try doing a search.

[NiKoLe1625]

I would say Babbo for an Italian dinner.

[anniversary]

Is it that much over the top as compares to Lupa etc....are there others that maybe come close

[NiKoLe1625]

Babbo is Mario's best restaurant by far. The food at Lupa is great, but it just doesnt compare. Also, Lupa is much more casual, and i don't know that it will have that "special" factor that you might be looking for for an anniversary. Honestly, if you can get a reservation, go for it. Its worth it. Babbo is just in a completely different league

[jessfood]

del posto or l'impero for the anniversary dinner; lupa if you're looking for an italian lunch spot.