Bar La Grassa--First time

[Haricotsv2]

I'm being taken to Bar La Grassa for my birthday, and would appreciate knowing your favorite things. I'm sure there's a tread somewhere, but can't find it, so thanks in advance for your thoughts.
Margi

[Haricotsv2]

Thank everyone! Dealing with the fact that I can't eat as much as I used to, here goes! We had: Crab and avocado salad. Egg and lobster bruschetta. Calamarata pasta with tuna. Gnocchi. The brucshetta and calamarata were our favorites. By the time the gnocchi came, we were full and couldn't enjoy it as much as we might have. We think this was also partly because the tuna had so much flavor and the gnocchi are more subtle. We thought the service was great. Our server was slammed with tables, including one for eight. She stayed friendly, knowledgeable, and efficient throughout. When I was too full for desert, a good excuse for another trip, she brought me a single candle standing upright on a plate! The ambience and noise level reminded me of New York (in a good way). I'd love to go back and sit at the bar. This place definitely goes in my top 10!

[scoopG]

The ambience and noise level reminded me of New York (in a good way). I'd love to go back and sit at the bar. This place definitely goes in my top 10!
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I agree wholeheartedly. Glad you enjoyed it.

[Brad Ballinger]

Just ate here Saturday night. The farfalle with sweetbreads no longer on the menu. Had a new pasta dish I greatly enjoyed, though. The mushroom and talegio agnolotti. The agnolotti are stuffed with mushrooms and talegio, and the "sauce" has think shaved and crisped oyster mushrooms. You might just be tricked into thinking the shaved mushrooms are shredded meat.

Started with the blue marlin crudo, which was heavenly.

[Seige]

The mushroom and tallegio agnolotti has been on the menu for awhile, but I agree - it's a winner. That's one of the pastas I mentioned above.

[Brad Ballinger]

Server told us it was new. Well, maybe she only recently tried it.

[semanticantics]

I had this dish about a month ago (for those that pay too close attention, it was the meal I decided on as a present and I had sought input from the board). I love mushrooms (I forage wild ones), taleggio and pasta, but this dish was disappointing.

The agnolotti were the biggest I've ever seen, which would normally be great, but the ends of the pasta where they were sealed were almost like having a bow tie pasta piece tacked on. They weren't cooked very well and were gummy. By the end of the dish (shared 3 ways), it became a chore to polish off.

The gnocchi blew our socks off though.

[Brad Ballinger]

No gumminess for the agnolotti on Saturday; nor did I find them to be excessively large. The gnocchi, on the ohter hand, have been better. From piece to piece, they were uneven. I suppose it all depends on what night you go, and who cooks your portion.

[kevin47]

I will second the agnolotti. One of the best things I have eaten in the cities, frankly. The shaved mushrooms are genius. The crudo, as well, is excellent.

[Quince]

I recommend the pasta negra with sea urchin, mussels and tomato and the red wine spaghetti, along with the lobster and egg bruschetta.

As a more general recommendation, I would say stick with the pastas and the bruschettas and skip the secondi. The half portions of pastas are great for variety, and for two people three half portions and one bruschetta was plenty of food. I know many people love the gnocchi, but if you don't like a strong orange flavor in your pasta you may not care for it.

[astadtler]

I'll second the pasta negra. This is usually where I take people that don't usually go to nice restaurants and this is what I make them order to step out of their comfort zone and I've heard nothing but rave reviews.

A personal favorite is the foie gras tortellini but if you don't like foie gras or haven't had it I'm not sure I can recommend it.

For an appetizer I like to get the prosciutto and cheese, it sounds boring and I suppose it kind of is but if you've never had good quality prosciutto and cheese it awesome. Its also a big appetizer so its a good one to share for a few people.

[Brad Ballinger]

Carbonara, and, if you like sweetbreads, the farfalle. Also, if you order smaller portions, you might be able to try one or two extra things.

BTW, if this thread continues long enough, I'm sure most of the menu will be listed. :o)

[Seige]

Ha! I agree with Brad. At some point everything will be mentioned. I would say you can't go wrong, but I have had 1 pasta dish there that I didn't really care for - the saffron pasta w/anchovies. I think that's an acquired taste. As for favorites, I used to love the lobster/egg bruschetta, but the last couple times were too heavy-handed with the truffle oil. But what I really do love - and there's a lot - the rabbit pasta, the carbonara, the mushroom agnolotti, the 'ndjua raviolo, and they used to have a mushroom halibut that was TO DIE FOR, but I haven't seen that in awhile. The gnocchi is also very good and my hubby loves the sausages. And for the love of all that's holy, get the salted caramel crispelle for desert. I would do shots of that caramel sauce alone and be a happy girl. Have fun!

[Seige]

Replying to myself, but we just got back from BLG. Had the lardon bruschetta and 1/2 order of penne w/shrimp and vin santo to start. Then the carbonara, veal ragu and trout w/speck and ramps for the second course. And then the chocolate caramel custard cake, lemon tart, pineapple cake for dessert. It was all phenomenal, but favorites were probably the penne, the trout (SO good) and the chocolate caramel custard cake. But again, you really can't go wrong there.

[Tom Hall]

So just checking: you had two appetizers, three main courses and three desserts?? I think that would make anyone would happy ; )

[Seige]

Yes, although to be clear, I didn't eat that all by myself. The beauty of BLG is that you can order as much or as little as you want, but the sharing is the most fun. :) If I were you, I'd add BLG to your list of places to visit when you're here.

[Tom Hall]

So, how many were there? Two, or more?

[Seige]

3 plus we had leftovers.

[St3ve]

The orange/cauliflower gnocchi is a must. It's sooo good!! I'd also recommend the Calamarata pasta with raw tuna. Yum!

[scoopG]

That egg and lobster dish is great! This looks to be the most recent thread:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/796470

[KTFoley]

Soft egg & lobster bruschetta, and the gnocchi.