Italian – Page 2 – Rays Picks NYC

Aria Wine Bar

Aria Wine Bar
117 Perry St
New York, NY 10014
(212) 242-4233

Tapas or small plates have been a staple of Spanish cuisine for ages. I consider this concept an ala carte version of the tasting menu. It is an excellent way to experience multiple dishes a restaurant has to offer without being committed to an entrée that may be lack luster. In New York City, Spanish restaurants are not the only ones who specialize in this concept. In the case of Aria Wine Bar, it has perfected the small plate offering in Italian style.

I know what you’re thinking… wine bar… soft relaxing music… sipping a glass of wine… maybe nibbling on a Panini… WRONG! Aria Wine Bar is far from your typical wine bar. It is loud… it is cramped! You are literally elbow to elbow with strangers and you are enjoying your food and wine right next to the bartender as he mixes cocktails. You are so close to your neighbors that in addition to your own conversation don’t be surprised if you also hear from one ear the angst of a young adult struggling for independence from overbearing parents and out of the other ear band mates planning their next session. Aria Wine Bar is always packed with beautiful West Villagers on a nightly basis. It nixed the loungey piano music for hip hop and pop music. This is truly an enjoyable atmosphere.

The wine bar is a replica of a cellar in a 19th century home. There are wooden beams that run from end to end of the ceiling, exposed brick walls and worn out wooden flooring for a rustic, chic interior. A wooden communal table next to steel pylon in the middle and a white tiled bar where people can sit in front of each other are paired with industrial metal high chairs. Hanging cured meats and wine bottles that are neatly placed behind each other are visible throughout the place. There is also a weathered wood counter that runs along the windows where diners can choose to sit and do some people watching along Perry Street.

The menu is affordable and extensive. It also includes a selection of cheese plates and cured meats that are available throughout the day staring at 12 PM daily. There are no dishes that are priced over $12 which is a bargain by New York City standards, especially for the quality of the ingredients that are used.

The non-encyclopedic wine lists at this place are mainly consisting of Italian wines with a few from other parts of the globe. The wines are served in an unorthodox style: stem less wine glasses that are priced at an average of $8 per serving. The last time I had this was at Macao Trading Co. in TriBeCa a few years back.

I love going to Aria Wine Bar and trying multiple combinations of small plates so that each experience there is unique. Starting off with Aragosta e Avocado, lobster salad with avocado and arugula. In this multiple protein dish, the lobster was tender while the avocado gave a nice flavor combination. The Insalata De Mare or seafood salad was a pescetarian delight. The plate was packed with fresh sea foods that were perfectly combined. It was so fresh that I had to peak into the kitchen to see if there was an aquarium of edible sea creatures in it!

Pasta plates like The Linguine Vongole or linguine with clams was delicious. The clams were soaked in the sauce which added a sea food taste with a bit of citrus zest. Both the Macheronni al Tartufo or mac and cheese with truffle Carpaccio and the Fettuccini Ai Fungi, fettuccini with wild mushroom and truffle oil, has an earthy flavor that the truffles give to both dishes. Then there is the Raviolli Ricotta, ravioli with ricotta cheese, spinach and asparagus along with creamy sauce was very good as well and the cheese had a nice thick texture.

Next there are the small plates that are very good, like the Vongole a Originate, baked clams with oregano and lemon sauce and the Tortino di Granchio e Funghi or crab cake with mushroom. The crab cake is moist in texture while the citrus infused baked clam sauce was acidic and complimented the baked clams and its stuffing. The Calamari in Umido was another enjoyable dish as well as the Polpette al Pomodoro, meatballs and the Carciofi e Olive, sautéed artichokes and olives.

The non existence of chicken dish in the wine bar is not a deal breaker, but it would have been a nice option in the already outstanding menu. The seafood and pasta dishes more than make up for this loss.

Aria Wine Bar is a quaint and essential New York City food and drink establishment. It has the downtown atmosphere, West Village crowd and great food and drinks. Every person that I brought here agreed on one thing, they all liked this place and vowed to come back.

I was once asked for recommendation for a nice restaurant with reasonable price, tasty food, nice vibe and non-encyclopedia wine list. I answered without hesitation, Aria Wine Bar in the West Village.

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Wild Rise

*This restaurant is now closed

This past Sunday I had the privilege of attending the soft opening of Wild Rise, a new Neapolitan pizza restaurant located in the heart of the Brooklyn’s artsy DUMBO scene in the 68 Jay St. Bar. I was impressed with the amazing taste of this pizza. All of the ingredients blended well in a burst of flavor. I had the shitake mushroom pie and it was so delicious that I ate the entire 7″ pie – definitely not your average pizza. Wild Rise makes pizza with high quality fresh ingredients that are selected for specific exotic and culinary qualities. For instance, the name “Wild Rise” comes from the use of “wild yeast” rather than commercial yeast. Dough made with wild yeast, among many things has enhanced flavor, offers greater nutritional value and does not leave your stomach with a heavy feeling once eaten. The tasty pizzas comes flying out of their custom made oven which cooks at temperature of over a thousand degrees – cooking pies in two minutes or less. For now, Wild Rise is only open 3 days a week (Sunday, Monday and Tuesday,) so be sure to visit whenever you’re in the area or just make a quick trip across the river and I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

For more on Wild Rise and it’s story click here

Wild Rise
@ 68 Jay St. Bar
Corner of Jay St. and Water St.
DUMBO, Brooklyn
Official Site

For individuals who are ordering medicines online, there are several significant factors that must be elaborate. Internet is an ideal practice to get medicaments. Several medicaments are antifungal medicines. There are at least some medicaments for each sicknesses. Levitra is a medication preassigned to treat few ailments. What do you have to view about cialis vs viagra? When you buy remedies like Levitra you have to ask your pharmacist about viagra vs cialis. Many drugstores describe it as viagra or cialis. Many probably sure the forcefulness of Levitra is well documented. In complement, there are some of explanations and pharmacists are mostly able to pinpoint your problem through biological tests. Ordinarily the treatment options may turn on erectile dysfunction medicaments or counseling. Your generic is for you only. Never give your drugs to other folk even if their condition appears to be the same as yours.

Armani Ristorante 5th Avenue

Armani Ristorante 5th Avenue
717 5th Ave
New York, NY 10022
(212) 207-1902
Official Site

While walking along 5th Avenue in the 50’s, home to the high- end luxury brand stores, I was surprised to discover Armani Ristorante on the third floor of the Armani Store. The restaurant’s almost hidden location can easily be overlooked by most people in that high traffic tourist spot. I myself did not initially notice the restaurant’s sign on 55th Street nor did I notice the sign inside the store. I decided to visit one cold winter evening and have been back numerous times.

I had no expectations on my first visit, yet I reminded myself that this restaurant is owned by the man Giorgio Armani himself, a global fashion icon. The restaurant is accessible via the entrance on 55th Street where a doorman awaits guests to usher them to the elevator or through the store and up the white winding space aged staircase. While I ascended in the elevator to restaurant, the elevator’s trendy music set the mood. I was blown away by the restaurants decor at first glance. Looking around, I realized I was part of an incredibly stylish scene: black marble floors and black ceiling; yielding lights that drop smoothly in every table; funky curved shapes and futuristic booth seats, bare sleek tables and comfortable black cushion seats. The simplistic use of black and white is an Armani signature. For an added touch of class the waiters appear and disappear to the kitchen through walls with sliding doors. The restaurant has a bar that lights up brightly, there guests can enjoy the signature drink, an Armani Martini. To top off the stylish surroundings, the dining area has a wonderful view overlooking the luxurious 5th Avenue.

The food is as impressive as the decor. The presentation and the taste of their Italian cuisine will have you coming back again and again!!! Whenever I dine here, I always opt for the 4 course tasting menu (I highly recommend it). It consists of an appetizer, pasta, meat and dessert paired with wine for dinner. I also recommend the $29 pre-fixe for lunch. Some of the dishes that I enjoyed were the Insalata Di Funghi Trifolati – mushrooms salad with pecorino cheese and seasonal truffle; and the Insalata Di Mare Caldo – warm seafood salad with baby arugula, pachino tomatoes, lemon and Ligurian olive oil. These salads were both pretty tasty but the seafood salad reigns as one of my favorite dishes, it’s very fresh and the texture is just perfect. Another appetizer that I enjoyed is the Agnolotti Di Ricotta e Spinaci – Ricotta and spinach agnolotti with butter and sage. The memorable entrées are the Galletto Ruspante – a fried chicken dish; the Branzino Selvaggio Dorato Su Carciofini in Umido – wild sea bass fillet and softly baked baby artichokes; and the Scottadito D’Agnello e Olio Alle Erbe – grilled Colorado lamb chops and herbed olive oil. Of the desserts, the amazing Crostata Al Frutti Di Bosco – fruit tart served with soft lemon cream and the Sorbet was another favorite.

In line with the beautiful décor and delicious food, the service is high quality and consistent. The managers treat guests like royalty and the servers, dressed in custom made Armani black uniforms, are very friendly and very attentive. In general the staff made me feel welcomed as an honored guest. Though the atmosphere of the crowd can be a bit pretentious at times, there are also tourists that stop by for a nice afternoon tea and corporate folks on power lunches or corporate dinners. And of course couples can be seen having a nice romantic dinner.

Armani Ristorante is not only a restaurant made to impress with its sleek fashionable décor and well dressed staff, but the high quality of the food, impeccable service and great ambiance make this a pretty solid restaurant for dinner, lunch or just drinks.

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