Montenapo Offers Up A Taste Of Milan In Midtown Manhattan

This past Thursday evening I had the pleasure to check out one of the most talked about new dining experiences to hit Manhattan. Montenapo, which borrows its name from a popular shopping street in Milan, is a stunningly beautiful restaurant located in the city’s theater and fashion districts.

The roughly 5,200 square-foot, glassed-in space, overlooks the Renzo Piano designed Birch-tree garden in the New York Times building. Montenapo has a modern and simple decor mixed with an elegant and laid back atmosphere. The waitress that served my wife and I was extremely friendly and equally helpful with picking out the perfect wine to start the night. Her selection of a particular white wine was spot on and a very delicious way to prepare us for our meal.

We enjoyed some of their warm bread and “finest olive oil imported from Italy” while looking over the menu. The appetizer was an outstanding 24-month aged Parma ham with fresh mozzarella, baby arugula, organic cherry tomatoes and extra virgin olive oil. Just the right amount for the two of us to share.

Up next was one of the restaurant’s pasta tasting specials, which is two or three of the pastas from the menu. We decided on two (always save room for dessert) and picked the gnocchi and cheese filled ravioli. Both were so tasty and  hit the spot.

The gnocchi was covered in a rather rich Gorgonzola cheese sauce and spinach, while the ravioli was filled with ricotta and Parmesan cheese and  served in a sweet tomato sauce that had hints of honey and mint.  I thought that the addition of the aforementioned honey and mint would not work with a tomato sauce, I was proven wrong and absolutely savored this dish.

For entrees, my wife went with a perfectly baked filet of red snapper that was just so soft and mouth watering. It was served with cherry tomatoes, fingerling potatoes, black olive tapenade & fresh thyme. My wife found this to be of her favorite seafood dishes in some time and luckily gave me a little sample of it before finishing it all.

I decided on the baked free range boneless young chicken that was stuffed with chestnuts, fresh herbs, black truffle, and chicken liver. Bravo! The chicken was so soft and juicy. It came with a side of creamy mashed potatoes and organic vegetables.

Bring on the desserts! My wife is the one with the sweet tooth in the relationship and she knows a thing or two about desserts. When she saw tiramisu was on the menu, she instantly knew what she was ordering. Quite possibly the best tiramisu she (and I) have tasted. They even sprinkled a little edible gold on top. I went with the creme brule and found it to be extremely delectable. The topping of raspberries and blackberries added a nice touch to an already tasty treat.

We washed down all of this goodness with a cappuccino that had a great foamy top and reminded me of being back in Italy. It was a great way to end one stellar evening in an outstanding new addition to the culinary scene of New York City.

Go…here…now!

Restaurant information:

• Name: Montenapo
• Address: 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY
• Phone Number: 212 764 7663
• Website: MontenapoRestaurant.com
• Price Range: $$$$ (Expensive)