I think it’s impossible to find a person wh0 doesn’t like Italian food — which makes sense because it’s so darn good, and not to mention, extremely prevalent in New York City. Da Marcella Taverna, located in Greenwich Village, is an intimate and rustic spot for those looking for some homestyle Italian dishes. Restauranteur Manuel Moreno opened up shop using mainly original family recipes and chef Francesco Mueses does them justice. The dimly lit restaurant makes you feel like you are dining in a real Italian taverna. And while the atmosphere and old photographs on the wall will charm you, the food is what is really impressive at this locale.
Manhattan with a Twist was pleased to attend a tasting dinner in which we were able to try a large selection of dishes from the menu. Some of our favorite items included the Scottish Wild Salmon & Avocado Tartar with Lampedusa Capers and the Mini Veal Ossobuco with Arborio Superfino Risotto. The tartar makes for a wonderful starter, easing you into the heartier dishes soon to come. The ossobuco was wonderfully tender and played harmoniously with the accompanying risotto.
While all of the pastas we tried were devilishly good, one that stood out amongst the rest was Raffetto’s Fresh Taglierini with Giant Lump Crab Meat and Herring Roe. Never before have I seen or tried a pasta as unique as this and I just fell in love. The crab tasted as if it had just jumped out of the ocean and the roe not only added fun color to the overall presentation, but amazing flavor, as well. Another dish we couldn’t get enough of was the Braised Short Rib of Beef ‘al Barolo’ with Creamy Polenta. Always a sucker for a good short rib, this version, along with the polenta, did not disappoint.
Additionally, Da Marcella has all your standard Italian favorites, such as meatballs, fried calamari, pasta bolognese, gnocchi and chicken. For dessert, we were lucky enough to get our forks in two superb staples — Tiramisu and Pannacotta, both of which were hard to put down (even after all that food!). We recommend employing the assistance of wine director Alessandro Bandini to help pair your dishes with some regional Italian wines for the ultimate experience.
We’re salivating just looking at the pictures, so it’s safe to assume you are, too. There’s a good reason for it, so don’t waste any time and head to GV to get some authentic Italian like you’ve never experienced before.
Twisted Talk: What’s your favorite Italian spot in NYC? Will you check out Da Marcella? Discuss below!
