It was a Friday night, all the good restaurants were fully booked, the waiting lines were long but one place seemed nice and was close to empty... Why not try it, you say to yourself, until you taste and understand that an empty restaurant is not a coincidence.
Tarallucci is a restaurant located at 163 First Avenue and serving Italian specialties and wine. This Italian cucina has a dining area, a bar and an outdoor seating.
We were seated outside on the sidewalk on this pleasant, cool evening in New York City.
On the menu:
- Stuzzichini
- Salumi
- Formaggi
- Bruschette
- Piatti
We ordered:
- Risotto: Rice cooked al dente, wild mushrooms mascarpone and Parmesan cheese. Tender mushrooms and portobellos mixed with the risotto with some green cress adding something a little unappetizing to a plate that usually needs to be clean and clear with some finesse. The cream was tasty, lightly salty and the mushrooms had a pleasant texture. A good risotto that's not exceptional.
- Zucca e Crema: A burrata cut into four pieces, each topped with butternut squash, spicy honey, which I didn't feel, prosciutto di Parma and pumpkin seeds. A plate that doesn't look too appetizing and needs flavor and taste.
- Bruschetta salmon: Salmon laid on a crunchy and chewy bread with yogurt and dill. Bizarre to say the least.
- Bruschetta figs: Figs, goat cheese, almonds and black pepper. Too dull , the yogurt is not pleasant with the sweet figs.
- Panna cotta: Lavender, honey, vanilla and pine nuts. Nothing to write home about.
That's one of the few deceiving restaurants I've been to in New York. Not an Italian I recommend.
