Dining Out: Trattoria Dell’Arte

Customers will immediately note the restaurant’s unique décor when they are greeted by the giant nose sculpture that hangs above the front doors. The nose highlights a major theme in the decoration and overall feel of the restaurant, which is strewn with several paintings and sculptures of body parts (don’t worry, they are not too graphic) and somewhat resembles a Tuscan artist’s studio. While the decoration may be a bit unusual, it adds to the excitement of the dining experience, and makes customers feel like they are in a truly unique setting.

 

Trattoria’s menu is filled with all of the essential Italian dishes: antipasto, soup and salad, thin crust pizza, pasta, fish, steaks and chops and other protein choices, generally providing an ample number of selections within each category. The dishes are on the pricey side, and with the exception of a handful of choices, customers can expect to pay at least $25 for their main courses.

 

One of the great features of Trattoria Dell’Arte is its antipasto bar, which the restaurant claims is the largest in New York City (it prepares over 30 dishes daily) Customers are able to view the dishes at the bar and then select their desired choices, which the waiter conveniently brings back to the table. My party picked scallops and shrimp, lox, calamari, roasted potatoes, sautéed mushrooms and sausage and peppers. The appetizers came on one large plate for the table to share. Every item left my palate satiated. The taste, however, comes at a price. The seven-item platter cost $36, which seems to be a rather large amount for antipasto and puts a burden on the wallet even before the bulk of the meal.

 

For my main course, I decided upon the Maine lobster carbonara ($34), a house specialty comprised of one pound of lobster meat, house-made ribbon pasta, asparagus and pancetta. The food was presented without anything ornate or overly complicated, but the taste was anything but average. Pasta lovers everywhere would enjoy it. The pasta was cooked al dente, and huge, succulent chunks of lobster meat were interspersed throughout the dish, providing an even distribution of delectable flavors. Rich, creamy carbonara sauce topped off the pasta and added a great texture and taste. Combined with the other elements, there was a divine blend of flavors in every bite.

 

Dessert is a must at Trattoria Dell’Arte. Even though the restaurant recently removed its best choice – a scrumptious chocolate cheesecake topped with raspberries – from the menu, its other options (chocolate mousse, a cannoli plate, and key lime pie, to name a few) are also excellent. We ordered the chocolate mousse ($5), which was accompanied by a pile of homemade whipped cream. Although it had an odd and rather plain presentation, it was certainly delicious enough to satisfy any chocolate lover, with the fluffy heap of chocolate melting with every spoonful.

 

If customers don’t find the food satisfying (which is improbable), they can take delight in the large number of celebrities that typically eat at the restaurant. Indeed, we saw Bill Cowher, ex-coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, dining on Saturday night, and have seen Harrison Ford in a past visit to the restaurant. The maître d’ even said that Jerry Seinfeld, whose office is across the street, stops in weekly to eat lunch.

 

I guarantee that customers who dine at Trattoria Dell’Arte will leave contented by the fullness of their stomachs and the memories of delectable Italian food. Although on the expensive side, Trattoria is a fabulous restaurant that any diner searching for exquisite cuisine and unique ambience in the New York City area should experience.