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monday 07.23.07
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| .nightout: il buco, winebar |
twoDINE: Il Buco
What began as a charming antique shop on a quiet cobblestone street transformed into a delightful restaurant that has been satisfying loyal patrons for more than a decade. New Yorker Donna Lennard and Umbrian Alberto Avalle started out selling American crafts and occasionally sharing midday meals with lucky customers. Soon the couple expanded their antique store into a beer and wine bar with tastes of Spain and Italy, which grew even further into the popular Mediterranean restaurant Il Buco, where you can enjoy a romantic meal today.
The spirit of the original shop still remains. Diners are made to feel at home, surrounded by antiques, warm woods, exposed brick, and romantic candlelight. The rustic setting extends to the terrific menu, a mix of classic old world favorites and modern creative cuisine. Chef Ignacio Mattos has honed his skills working at Chez Panisse in San Francisco and The Spotted Pig in the West Village, as well as by calling upon lessons gleaned from his Italian grandmother's cooking on the family farm.
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Start with Baccala Calamari ai Ferri, grilled squid with Umbrian chickpeas, tomato, peppers, onion, and cilantro salsa, or the beef carpaccio with radicchio trevisano, truffles, lemon garlic sauce, and parmesan. Next savor the Risotto di Salsiccia e Rapini with house-made pork sausage, broccoli rabe, lemon, and parmesan or the grilled grass-fed ribeye with roasted garlic and wild arugula salad. For dessert, keep things savory with their fine selection of Italian, Spanish, French, and domestic cheeses or panna cotta drizzled with 10-year aged balsamic vinegar.
Il Buco: 47 Bond St.; (212) 533-1932
twoDRINK: WineBar
There's a whole different kind of charm at WineBar, the tasting room offshoot of the Vintage New York wine store. Instead of rustic chic, the multilevel space invokes Swedish design for a cool and modern style. They have more than 200 local wines by the glass, several wine flights, and a weekly special for just $5 a glass, making WineBar the perfect place to sample some vintage New York.
WineBar: 482 Broome Street ; (212) 226-9463
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