Beppe 45 E. 22nd St. (Broadway & Park Ave. South)
Flatiron
212.982.8422
Beppe:
Like pink flamingo lawn ornaments in Westchester, the hearty orange, quaint exterior of Beppe often gets a double take. On a walk-by you’ll catch jarred tomatoes and baskets of oranges up front, just like your grandmother’s windowsill. Aside from cozy attributes, Beppe often gets the nod on its Tuscan fare. Seafood-heavy dishes come from the heart and soul of Chef Cesare Casella, who’s so ingredient-obsessed he imports and harvests Italian seeds. While older couples and groups gather in the broad back dining area by the fireplace, a bespectacled gaggle of literary types and indie record label execs take inspiration from the foyer atmosphere of chopped wood piles and glass-encased wine cabinets topped with bookshelves beside a heavy wooden bar. Old-school, lend-an-ear bartenders safely store the drink menu in their cerebrums; it includes seasonal twists on mojitos, and adjusts easily to your preferences.
