Grotta Azzurra: Just like the Grotta Azzurra in Capri, what lies below the Grotta Azzurra restaurant in Little Italy is a real attraction. The perfectly tempered and low-lit cellar holds over 200 bottles of wine in a cave-like space where diners have romantic dinners under the vintages surrounding them. Upstairs, black and white tiles cover the floor and pressed tin lines the ceiling. Frank Sinatra used to feast here with his Rat Pack back in the day, and after a meal you'll know why. Old-world Italy is evoked in the simplicity of traditional dishes. Mussels float in a zuppa of garlicky white wine, tomatoes, and cannelloni beans, while pasta dishes of lasagna and spaghetti Bolognese are rich with the flavor of homemade tomato sauce. Plump pieces of bright lobster are served with clams and mussels in a spiced red sauce over linguini for the most decadent lobster fra diavalo this side of the Adriatic. |
