Sunday, March 9, 2014

Cesca: My New UWS Italian Gem

The upper west side is not known as the best “foodie” neighborhood in NYC. In fact, it’s a bit of a joke how (in comparison to the rest of the city) uptown hoods are a bit lacking in the amazing restaurant department. That being said, if you look, there are some pretty good gems. Case in point-Cesca. One of my colleagues used to assist with their wine program so she suggested we go by and grab a drink. Of course, a drink turned into a full on food fest. Upon arrival I noticed how busy they were, always a good sign. It was packed. Lots of suits and local upper west siders. We nestled into a booth in the back, ordered our wine and perused the menu. We ordered the following goodies.

The Oyster Fritto-Crunchy, perfectly fried oysters topped with pickled onion and frisee over a creamy tartare sauce. Yum-O. A perfect start to the meal. 

The Prosciutto Parmesan Fritters-Fried buddles of absolute joy. Filled with salty prosciutto and creamy parmesan, these guys are a must try. I could’ve eaten 5 orders. Life-changing.

The Braised Rabbit with Creamy Polenta-OMG. The rabbit was juicy and tender. The Polenta was topped with roasted carrots, arugula and parmesan for an outstanding balance of flavors. 

The Carbonara-The pasta fresh and the sauce simple but divine. I will absolutely order this again on my next visit. 

A side of Brussel Sprouts-Ya know, for good measure:-)

I can not wait to take Ryan here. A great neighborhood date spot, reasonable prices and portions and a fantastic wine list. They take reservations, which I suggest making in advance, seeing how busy they can get.  Eat up!



Oyster Fritto! It’s like a huge fried oyster salad. Ahhhhhmazing.


The life-changing Prosciutto and Parmesan Fritters...


My fave! Savory Brussel Sprouts. 

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