So given the fact that my fiancee is Italian, of course I am going to be biased and say that there is no food better than Italian food. But, in all seriousness, there really isn't.
I was lucky enough to be taken to Tuscany last summer (my first time in Italy) and I can say without a doubt, that it was the best vacation I had ever had. I ended up staying for a whole month and I ate out - breakfast, lunch and dinner - every single day. I put on quite a few pounds that's for sure.
After returning to New York you can imagine my cravings for real Italian dining. This is when my fiancee introduced me to a trio of restaurants, which have saved my life. I feel it is my duty to make these restaurants even more well-known than they already are.
They are all owned by the same Italian Stallion and all reside on the Upper East Side, within blocks of each other. These restaurants are;
1) Bella Blu - 71st and Lexington Avenue
2) Per Lei - 71st and Second Avenue
3) Baraonda - 75th and Second Avenue
I will first give you an insight to Bella Blu. This is the more sophisticated and traditional restaurant. It is always crowded and full of animated chatter, which also comes from the waiters and bus boys! There is a beautiful, rustic Pizza Oven in the center of the room, which is made out of brick and decorated with colorful mosaics. The food is literally a masterpiece and I sincerely recommend the Branzino, it just melts in your mouth. The atmosphere is warm and engaging, the perfect place to take your inlaws, have a friendly dinner and be with those you sincerely love.
Now for Per Lei - my favorite of all three. I cannot begin to describe the decor of this place. It's just fantastic and incredibly modern. 'Per Lei' means 'for her' in Italian, and it is the perfect place for a romantic date. The paintings on the wall are of beautiful women and a few in particular are actually of the owner's wife. So this restaurant is quite literally per lei. There is always such an electric atmosphere and the wait-staff have always been amazing to chat to when your dinner date goes to the bathroom! I adore everything on the menu but if it is your first time, take the veal and porcini raviolli and indulge!
Baraonda! This final restaurant is just pure, Italian, crazy, fun! The seating hostess is always dressed in elaborate and colorful outifts which completely set off the rest of the decor in the room. Its colorful and festive, and the ideal place to bring the girls (and the boys) for a night out of drinking and deleicious food. When it turns 10.20 pm the lights dim, the volume of the music increases, and you can continue partying and dancing with the entire restaurant- including the staff! There is also kareoke on particular nights, which I love, and makes a huge change of scenery from the dire, kareoke dive bars that swamp the city. Oh, and before I forget - the creme brulee is better than any creme brulee you will find in a French Restaurant - believe me I would know.
---- And if you want to take Italy home with you, all three restaurants sell the original, true Italian, Tuscan olive oil, used in both cooking and dressing. SOGNO TOSCANO; Super Tuscan Olive Oil.
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