Birthday Italian choice (more difficult than expected)

[NYJewboy]

I pose it to you, beloved experts, to help me on this. My birthday. Fine Italian (any region). Manhattan.
Here are my criteria:

1. No small precious portions (I eat BIG)
2. Reservations accepted please (optional, but prefered)
3. As good/better than Del Anima, Scarpetta, Babbo, you get the idea....
4. Open to places all over the price scale, and I am NOT looking for expensive places exclusively

This is harder than I thought it would be. I am very open to suggestions. Thanks in advance.

[RGR]

My vote goes to Ciano. And you can eat BIG by ordering the whole chicken for two (comes with large portion of farro and mushrooms) and not sharing it.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/11863391@N03/5998928640/in/set-72157627332687474

http://thewizardofroz.wordpress.com

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Ciano
45 E 22nd St, New York, NY 10010

[Sneakeater]

Manzo

Osteria Morini

Maialino

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Maialino
2 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10010

Osteria Morini
218 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012

Manzo
200 5th Ave, New York, NY 10010

[peter j]

Have you tried Manzo? It's very casual but the food is just as good as Babbo, etc.

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Manzo
200 5th Ave, New York, NY 10010

[NYJewboy]

Manzo...hmmm. I think I am goig to do a preliminary run. Thanks!

[thegforceny]

I'm gonna go with Ciano - though portions aren't "big'. Here's something: Morandi

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Morandi
211 Waverly Pl, New York, NY 10014

Ciano
45 E 22nd St, New York, NY 10010

[Simon]

hmm...Scarpetta is my fav...and i like Dell'Anima...not sure...

Perhaps Marea...haven't been, but it's on my to-try list...i've looked at their menu and while i have no idea on portion size, i imagine the four course menu wouldn't leave one hungry...

But i wouldn't worry about the portion size: it's your birthday: if you're concerned, just order a second entree, or a few extra starters for the table to share :)

sidenote: my own birthday is coming up in April and i imagine i'll post something similar...

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

Marea
240 Central Park South, New York, NY 10019

[ml77]

If you're open to fine dining then I think Del Posto would be an excellent choice. I don't know if portions would be big enough for you, but I wouldnt call them precious.

Another excellent choice would be Maialino. If you enjoy pork, then you should get their signature dish, roast suckling pig.

Finally, Ciano is another great option. The veal meatballs are amazing, and the pastas are very good.

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Del Posto
85 10th Avenue, New York, NY 10011

Ciano
45 E 22nd St, New York, NY 10010

Maialino
2 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10010

[kathryn]

When is your birthday?

[NYJewboy]

The 22d, but the dinner can be anytime thereabouts. I am not in any way fixated on the date. I would even have my birthday dinner next month...for the right food.

[foodwhisperer]

It is difficult, you are right. We all have different opinions on what is amazing food. I wonder if you need a busy kind of hot spot , with nice decor to feel special on your birthday , or is the food the thing. I think on my birthday i want a place that hard to get a reservation with good food.
Like Rao's for example, where the food is decent, but it nice when I get in. That said, Il Mulino has good food and good size portions. Osteria Morini i like a lot. Ristorante Aglio is excellent, but the dishes are not huge. But if you were able to handle the miniscule dishes at Babbo, then Ristorante Aglio would be acceptable, but there is no decor and it is not crowded.Just perfectly made food. Da Andrea has very good food, my new "go to" place, since Ennio and Michael closed. I think all of the above are better than Crispo, which is a big favorite of CH

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

Rao's
455 E 114th St, New York, NY 10029

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

Da Andrea
35 W 13th St, New York, NY 10011

Osteria Morini
218 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012

Ristorante Aglio
277 Church St, New York, NY 10013