Craving a Post-Theater Nightcap? You’ll Love this NYC Italian Food Gem
Cafe Fiorello, with its plush cushioned seats, soft lighting, and of course, excellent Italian food, is the place to cozy up after catching a show in New York’s historically famed Lincoln Center.
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Cafe Fiorello | Upper West Side, NYC | $$$
Instagram: @Cafefiorellonyc
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On a Tuesday night, I shuttled from my comfortable apartment in Astoria, Queens to the bustling streets of Lincoln center, right in the heart of the Upper West Side in New York City. I was meeting someone I cherish dearly: a confidant, mentor, and friend - let’s call her JC - who shaped me during the most formative, malleable years in university. Work brought her from Philadelphia, and I was eager for the rare opportunity to catch up. I believe for many, myself included, nothing is better than sharing a comfort meal with a loved one. And thus, I proposed meeting at Cafe Fiorello’s.
Fiorello’s, a wood-paneled Italian establishment, famous for pre and post-theater dining due to its proximity from the Lincoln Center, is sophisticated and cozy. We started off with the tomato goat cheese bruschetta ($16.50), an appetizer ideal for two. It comes with 4 squares of bruschetta thickly layered with savory goat cheese, welcome acidity from sweet tomato halves, and topped with a nest of sprouts for texture and lightness. JC ordered the Spaghetti with hearty Short Rib Meatballs ($29.00), and I chose the Rigatoni Alla Vodka ($25.00) which, topped with Guanciale (Pork Jowl) bread crumbs, tasted divine.
The service at Fiorello’s is excellent. Our servers were quick to refill our cups and ask if anything further was needed. Our table was tucked in the corner, a bit sectioned off from the loudest part of the restaurant, but we were served with the same attentiveness as if we sat in the middle. The lighting and decor created a versatile, yet intimate, atmosphere perfect for two friends catching up, a date night, or celebrating a birthday after a show. We finished off the night with the Petit Chocolate Mousse (~$20.00), served alongside a generous dollop of rich cream with dark chocolate shavings. We left delighted and warm from the joyful ambiance, food, and conversation Cafe Fiorelli hosted.
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See what other New Yorkers think on Yelp here.
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