Upscale Italian for lunch/dinner: Marea/Scarpetta/Convivio?

[projectcookie]

Hi, I'm a Baltimore Chowhounder who's looking for a somewhat upscale Italian restaurant for a day during the holidays. My budget is < $100 for two people without wine. I've been to Batali's Osteria Mozza in Los Angeles and found it to be a good place, but wasn't particularly wowed by anything other than the grilled octopus.

I'm particularly torn between having lunch at Marea or a dinner at either Scarpetta or Convivio.

I'm heard about the sea urchin crostini, lobster burrata, and the octopus fussili at Marea, but was wondering if they are as good as people have said about them enough that eating there for lunch would be worth it. Scarpetta's spaghetti w/ basil is another signature dish that sounds tempting. The fact that it is easier to score a reservation there for dinner also makes it that more appealing. Convivio's prix-fixe is also a very tempting option, but Michael White's departure from the restaurants makes me wonder if it's still as good as people have said it used to be.

Thanks in advance!

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Scarpetta
355 West 14th Street, New York, NY 10014

Convivio
45 Tudor City Place, New York, NY 10017

Marea
240 Central Park South, New York, NY 10019

[scotty27]

I'm trying to figure out how you get away with $100 for two at the places you mention, but if you say it's possible...I believe you!

Why not add Locanda Verde, Esca, or Lupa?

I love Maialino, too...

www.shrinkinthekitchen.com

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Lupa
170 Thompson Street, New York, NY 10012

Esca
402 West 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036

Locanda Verde
377 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10013

[ChefJune]

New York surely has no dearth of excellent italian restaurants. We've been liking Locanda Verde lately. And I Trulli is a perennial favorite. I also enjoy the pastas and game at Felidia.

Besides, there are a whole bunch of holes in the wall that fly under the radar. ;)

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Felidia
243 E 58th St, New York, NY 10022

I Trulli
122 East 27th Street, New York, NY 10016

Locanda Verde
377 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10013

[steakrules85]

You really can't go wrong with any of them. They are all top Italian restaurants in the city and rank among my favorites. Here is what I would suggest:

Scarpetta- The cod entree is superb and doesn't get mentioned enough like other signature dishes- the polenta and the spaghetti. The polenta with mushrooms is incredible and as a polenta lover I can tell you this is probably the best I have ever had. Definitely a must order. The spaghetti is a very very solid dish, but again for me it was not life altering. Maybe it is because I am 100 percent Italian and feel I can get even better right at home but it wasn't something I would order again. But to try it once it was a solid dish. Again their bread basket is delicious- great stromboli and I love that they give you the eggplant, tomato, and mascarpone butter for dipping. Skipped dessert.

Marea- I went for lunch and it was spectacular. The quality sure did not suffer, although I have never been for dinner. The lobster, burrata, and eggplant is certainly one of the best appetizers in the city. The fusilli with octopus and bone marrow is unbelievable and seriously original- nobody else does anything like this. Finally, the halibut entree I had in the summer was one of the better fish preparations I have eaten. It came with chanterelles, peas, and a delicious pea sauce. Skipped dessert so I cannot attest to them.

Convivio- Seriously maybe the best bargain in the city. You get 4 courses for $62, what value! Everything I ate there was outstanding. Michael White is some chef and even though he is leaving I am sure it will still remain a great restaurant. I had the quail, malloreddus with crab and sea urchin, and one of the most fabulous duck dishes ever. They cooked it perfectly rare and it was outstanding. Looking at their menu, the entree selections change often and they usually feature a certain special every other day. For dessert, DO NOT MISS the Affogato- sinful!

As for the other recs of Maialino- another favorite of mine. The fried artichokes and lasagna are fantastic starters. But the main event- the maialino for two is one of the top 5 things I ate this year and definitely one of the best dishes in the city.

Some other recs for Italian are Il Mulino, Alto (another Michael White gem), and of course Batali Babbo. Although not as pricy or fancy as others, I think Crispo is a great restaurant especially for the price point.

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Babbo
110 Waverly Pl, New York, NY 10011

Il Mulino
86 W 3rd St, New York, NY 10012

Crispo
240 W 14th St, New York, NY 10011

Scarpetta
355 West 14th Street, New York, NY 10014

Convivio
45 Tudor City Place, New York, NY 10017

Marea
240 Central Park South, New York, NY 10019

Maialino
2 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10010

[scanmike]

I have only eaten at Convivio during restaurant week for lunch. We all found it excellent. I do remember someone ordering the pasta with pork ragu and they loved it. I can't remember what others had since it was some time ago, but the whole experience was great and every dish delicious. We all felt we would go back and really should now that I think about it. Waitstaff great and not pretentious.

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Convivio
45 Tudor City Place, New York, NY 10017

[uhockey]

Been to all three - preferred Scarpetta to Marea or Convivio, but then again I did the Michael White spots for lunch and Scarpetta for dinner when Conant was still in the kitchen, so perhaps things have changed.

http://uhockey.blogspot.com

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Scarpetta
355 West 14th Street, New York, NY 10014

Convivio
45 Tudor City Place, New York, NY 10017

Marea
240 Central Park South, New York, NY 10019

[rrems]

All of these would be a good choices, but I don't feel that Marea is worth the price difference over Convivio. I like Scarpetta, but given the choice between it and Convivio, I find Convivio more interesting (with the exception of the bread, on which Scarpetta wins). I wouldn't worry about Michael White's departure. The chef de cuisine and the rest of the kitchen staff are doing fine.

[erica]

..and the fusilli with pork ragu and caciocavallo at Convivio might be the best pasta dish in the city, along with his octopus/marrow fusilli at Marea. Those two are certainly the best pastas I've ever had here.

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Convivio
45 Tudor City Place, New York, NY 10017

Marea
240 Central Park South, New York, NY 10019

[selenster]

at less than 100$ for two w/o wine, you should do marea for lunch - two courses each, 42$ pp.

[martyl9]

Convivio is as good as ever; we were there on Friday night. As you know, Michael doesn't cook every meal. The line chefs are trained to make each dish the same each time; those are the folks who truely cook your meal.

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Convivio
45 Tudor City Place, New York, NY 10017

[gutsofsteel]

Personally, I'd choose Maialino.

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Maialino
2 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10010

[FoodieFolks]

Agreed. I would also choose Maialino. Excellent atmosphere as well.

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Maialino
2 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10010

[erica]

While I liked Maialino, I think that there pastas are not even close in quality to those turned out at the Michael White kitchens... Even considering that the orientation at Maialino is Roman and there fore not as lush...

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Maialino
2 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10010