New York City has no shortage of Italian cuisine. One of the city’s favorite staples has been Dopo Teatro, a trattoria in the famous theater district of Manhattan. Dopo Teatro has been synonymous with fine Italian cuisine for many years and they decided to bring their extraordinary cuisine to the Upper East Side. Italian being my favorite food, I was all too thrilled when Manhattan with a Twist was invited to a tasting at Dopo Teatro East.
With an enchanting chandelier at the entrance, white linen table clothes, framed paintings and a grand piano, the newly opened restaurant keeps its traditional Italian esthetic, while appealing to the more elegant and high-end taste of the Upper East Side. And when the weather is just right, they also have beautiful outdoor seating in the back.
After being introduced to the very talented head chef, Patrizio D’ Andrea, who made some wonderful recommendations, we ordered a stellar bottle of Italian wine and started on our multi-course meal. Traditionally, an Italian meal has five courses, so we did our very best to save plenty of room for all. We started with the Caprese salad. Then made our way to Bordetto di Pesce, an Italian fish stew. The best ravioli I’ve ever had was the Ravioli Di Mais, which is ravioli in a savory black truffle sauce. The main course was the Gamneroni Alla Primavera, grilled Maya shrimp with vegetables. And no meal is complete without dessert. Dopo Teatro East offers the traditional Italian dolce like Tiramisu, but we opted for the Tortino di cioccolato, Victorian-style chocolate cake.
The service was friendly and attentive. They have a vast selection of Italian wine that makes you want try them all. The food was prepared perfectly and was phenomenal. And the atmosphere had just enough of that Upper East Side charm. Being a resident of the UES and a lover of Italian food, Dopo Teatro East will be one of my favorite spots from now on.
Dopo Teatro East is located at 345 E. 62nd Street.
