Photos By Gail
This gorgeous Red Grand Piano can be found in the lobby lounge at the NYLO Hotel NYC, Located at 2178 Broadway (entrance on 77th Street), on the Upper West Side.
Tag Archive | Lounge
Segafredo Zanetti: Espresso, Cocktails and More!
Tiramisu Martini, Anyone? (This and Interior Shot Courtesy of Susan Blonde PR. All Other Food Photos By Anne Raso)
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS LOCATION HAS CLOSED
Hot Town, summer in the City – no Manhattanite will deny that our blissfully brutal summer weather has officially landed. We were seeking respite from last week’s hazy, hot and humid trifecta when we stumbled upon the newly opened Segafredo Zanetti Espresso Café and decided that an early evening cocktail might be just the ticket to provide relief on several levels.
Just a few minutes after being quickly seated in the very welcoming retro-modern space, the enticing aromas of fine Northern Italian cuisine, and an extensive menu boasting a variety of comestibles from traditional Italian antipasto to Custom Meat & Cheese plates, Muscles, Burgers and Steaks had us thinking about ordering dinner.
A little official background on the brand: Segafredo Zanetti Espresso was founded by Massimo Zanetti (the number one private coffee roaster in the world!) and is a leading worldwide espresso chain with Italian credibility. Segafredo NYC (the café’s debut foray into the competitive NYC restaurant scene) offers classic hot espresso beverages as well as specialty drinks and cold espresso cocktails! Where else in NYC will espresso lovers find so many options, and also be able to enjoy an upscale dining experience, all in a “Space Age Bachelor Pad” setting? Answer: Nowhere else.
6th Ave Cocktail
Our cocktails arrived as we continued to peruse the menu: I ordered a 6th Ave ($14) made with Pineapple Vodka, muddled pineapples, ginger ale, Limoncello, coriander and lemon juice. This chilled, sweet and tart yellow elixir was just as refreshing as it sounds. My dining companion chose one of Segafredo’s Italian classic cocktails called a Spritz ($12).
Spritz Cocktail
The Spritz is a mixture of Aperol (a bitter orange aperitif), Tiziano prosecco, club soda, olives & orange garnish. We were advised that Aperol has a bitter taste, but I would say that ‘bitter’ is not strong enough of a word in this case. If you enjoy the taste of straight Campari this might be the cocktail for you but it was a bit too much of an acquired taste for us.
To start, we ordered the Fried Artichoke appetizer ($8) of 4 quick-fried artichoke hearts, drizzled with lemon saffron aioli. This dish is must-try for any fan of artichokes or similar green veggies, and with no breadcrumb or batter coating, it’s as light as any fried dish can be, so you don’t have to feel too guilty.
Northern Italian means there is no pasta on this menu (save for a four-cheese Macaroni with Pancetta – $12, which we are sure is delicioso), but it is hardly missed. Choosing two entrees to share, we enjoyed the Chicken Milanese ($12), a pounded-thin, breaded and pan-fried chicken breast topped with arugula salad, ripe chopped tomatoes and crisp red onion. With the chicken being juicy and fork tender, and the breadcrumb coating being perfectly, lightly fried, this is a satisfying dish that arrives ala carte, so heartier appetites could always add a side of sautéed Spinach, Parmesan Truffle Fries or Basil Mash Potatoes (all $6 each).
We also shared the Bisteca ($24), a hangar steak accented by a balsamic drizzle and accompanied by Yukon Gold Potatoes and garlicky Broccoli Rabe. Mmmm.
The dessert menu is extensive, so we selected two specialties. Segafredo’s chef does Italian cheesecake ($11) in a decidedly modern way. The cake has a creamy texture rather than the dry/crumbly texture of traditional ricotta cheesecake, and it has no bottom crust. Instead, the plate is strewn with a dust of “caramel crumbles” that (owing to magic of molecular gastronomy) mixes on the tongue to create a moist, crumb crust-like texture. Adventurous!
We could not resist ordering the White Chocolate Bread Pudding ($10), a blend of brioche and croissants baked together white chocolate, and served warm, topped with homemade vanilla gelato. Sweet!
Segafredo Zanetti NYC is an excellent addition to this centrally-located Village neighborhood: providing a venue for espresso lovers as well as offering a trendy but relaxed bar area, with a breakfast, lunch, dinner and an impressive weekend brunch menu that will cement the already recognized brand in NYC as one of the hottest cafés to see and be seen in. Service is friendly and accommodating as well!
Update: Please note that this restaurant has permanently closed
Segafredo Zanetti NYC is Located at 504 6th Avenue (Southeast corner of 13th Street) in Manhattan. Open seven days a week, Hours are Sunday through Wednesday from 7:00 AM-2:00 AM and Thursday to Saturday from 7:00 AM-4:00AM. For more information and to make a reservation please visit: www.sze-nyc.com or call 646-596-9142.
DL Restaurant & Lounge: A Secret Too Good to Keep!
In popular slang, the initials “DL” are commonly understood to stand for “Down Low,” indicating something that should be kept secret or given a low profile. In a neighborhood that’s quickly developing its own Restaurant Row (see Essex Street), The DL is a recently opened restaurant / bar located at the corner of Delancey and Ludlow Streets – the DL moniker deriving from this intersection – serving remarkably delicious food and offering a hip dining alternative completely free of any oppressive hipster attitude. Even if you’re reading about The DL for the first time in this review, once word gets out, we can envision this place being one of the most buzzed about dining spots on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.
One of the first things you’ll notice on entering The DL is how gorgeous the room is. Bordered by floor to ceiling glass windows, the open-plan space features a long bar and plenty of intimate tables and banquet-lined booths amid a gothic elegant décor of crystal chandeliers, dark wood and ornate metal filigree that lends an attractive nightclub feel to the room without sacrificing a cozy vibe. DL’s menu, presented tapas-style on small plates, showcases a varied selection of modern American comfort foods that manage to be both wildly innovative and pleasingly familiar. Plan your visit with one or more friends so that you can share and sample a variety of dishes.
Here’s what we enjoyed on a recent Thursday evening visit:
Shown: Half Portion. All Food Photos By Anne Raso.
An American classic combination, DL’s Grilled Cheese Sandwich served with a cup of heirloom tomato soup ($12.00) features Humboldt fog, a creamy goat’s milk cheese on 12-grain toast, and the warming soup has a slightly peppery kick to it. Our server was happy to request that the portion be split for two so that it could be easily shared.
Everyone loves macaroni and cheese, and The DL does their Ludlow Mac (Elbow macaroni, with creamy béchamel sauce and cheese) three ways: Lobster and Chive ($16), Bacon and Green Apple ($14) and Truffle and Mushroom ($15), which was our selection. This is a classically oven-baked dish with crispy panko crumb topping and the plentiful slices of fresh mushroom added a complimentary flavor boost to the rich, truffle oil-infused sauce. A sampling of all three Ludlow Mac varieties can be ordered for $24.
The slider-sized DL Burger was perfectly juicy, topped with cheese and crisp pickle on a fresh potato bun, with jalepenos, pickled turnips & avocado puree garnish and a side of extra crispy fries ($12.00). Had this been a full-sized burger it would certainly be among the best in Manhattan, the dry aged ground beef being excellent quality and the burger having an appealing char-grilled taste! If you plan on sharing ask for a sharp knife to cut the burger evenly in half, otherwise it could get a bit messy.
For fish lovers, we recommend the nice-sized portion of mild-tasting Rice Crispy Crusted Monkfish served with sautéed vegetables, crispy rice noodles and a flavorful Lobster broth accented with fresh baby coconut milk ($15.00).
A playful take on traditional green salad can be found in the Green Leaf Salad Rolls, where bib lettuce is wrapped around avocado, mango and julienne vegetables and served with a really unique sweet and tart citrus dressing ($11.00).
One of the house specialties, the middle eastern-style Merguez Pizza is served on a grilled soft flatbread topped with crumbled house-made lamb sausage, greens and fresh tzatziki sauce ($14.00). Perfectly spiced with hint of fresh fennel, this creation reminded us more of a tasty flatbread gyro than a traditional pizza.
For dessert, we were easily tempted by the Blueberry and Banana Pudding Tiramisu ($10.00). Aside from being a scrumptious dessert comprised of layers of cake and custard, this fresh fruit studded delight bears little resemblance to its namesake flavor-wise, but is nevertheless fantastically delicious.
We also couldn’t resist the Chocolate and Pistachio Cake ($10.00), a traditional leavened cake that’s a welcome break from the ubiquitous flour-less chocolate cake you find on nearly every dessert menu in the city
Service from both our waiter and the restaurant’s accommodating Maitre D’ was exceptionally friendly and attentive in every way. Chef Wesley Wobles (formerly of Cafe Del Mar, among others) even made a stop by our table to ask how we were enjoying the food and to chat with us briefly about his approach to cooking with fresh, local ingredients. With his delicious, creative cuisine and fun personality, we think Wesley would make an ideal contestant for Bravo TV’s Top Chef!
The DL is located at 95 Delancey Street (Southwest Corner of Ludlow and Delancey) in New York City. Happy Hour Drink specials are featured nightly from 5 – 8 PM. Reservations (starting at 5 PM) can be made up to thirty days in advance. Please call (212)228-0909 for all information regarding dinner and table reservations. Visit The DL on the Web at This Link.
