Mr. Capri

I Eat at Sole di Capri in NYC for the Photo-Realistic Tablecloths | Bon Appétit

"A Tribeca Italian-American spot that shifts from romantico-rustico evenings—with white tablecloths and cloth napkins—to a whimsical, nostalgic lunch service featuring one-of-a-kind flannel-backed vinyl coverings printed with photo-realistic trompe l’oeil images of pasta (orecchiette, fusilli), cheeses and loaves of bread. Owner Eduardo Erazo, who has run the restaurant for 13 years, says his wife discovered the coverings in a Northern Italian town three years ago; tourists even ask to buy them, but he refuses to sell. The placemats appear only at lunch because they’re easier to clean and daytime prices are lower. Diners praise the bread display as “fantastic” and “so strange,” and the kitchen serves classic dishes such as tagliatelle alle acciughe; while some consider the pasta-themed décor excessive, many find that it enhances the experience and makes the actual food look even better, with the lunchtime tablecloths alone being a strong draw for patrons." - ByLauren Larson