I began my NYC pasta adventure last night all the way downtown in Tribeca at the newly opened Locanda Verde. Locanda Verde used to be the critically panned Robert Deniro owned spot Ago, but now Deniro has brought in a stellar new team of culinary heavyweights to revitalize the restaurant. The team of Josh Pickard (Lure,Chinatown Brasserie) Ken Friedman (The Spotted Pig, The John Dory) and chef Andrew Carmellini, have done an amazing job. I never went to Ago, but Locanda Verde is awesome!

I can feel a vibe when I initially walk into any restaurant, and the vibe I got here was casual, festive, and fun. It was surprisingly unpretentious, which for some ill-conceived reason I thought it might be, but I was very comfortable as I took my seat at the bar.

I was lucky enough to try two pasta dishes here (recommended by Mr. Picard); the Maltagliati with pesto and parmigiano-reggiano and a ravioli dish that was actually titled My Grandmother's Ravioli.

The Maltagliati was a light, delicious pasta, sprinkled with pine nuts to give it a little crunch. It was simple and vibrant, and a pleasurable Summer dish.

The ravioli dish was outstanding! This was one of the best ravioli dishes I have ever had. Each ravioli was filled with pork, veal, and beef, and they practically melted in my mouth. The tomato sauce had a great sweetness to it which I loved.

(Non-pasta related note- I was also hand fed, by a table of gals (yes, the NYC FOODIE has some great game!), the sheeps' milk ricotta with sea salt and herbs, which was orgasmic and addictive! A must!)

This was an amazing start to my NYC pasta adventure. Locanda Verde is not only a great place to go for pasta though, it's a great spot to go for some wine and a fantastic and fun Italian meal.

Locanda Verde
379 Greenwich St. (bet. Franklin and N. Moore)
New York, NY 10013
212-925-3797