

68

"More renowned than its sibling Lupa, this Batali-era destination helped define the careers of Mario Batali and Mark Ladner by presenting New York diners with a fresh take on Italian cuisine, complete with a Batali-endorsed rock playlist; after sputtering out in the wake of the 2017 Batali scandal, it quietly reopened in late October under new owner Stephen Starr, with Ladner back on the New York scene alongside a high-profile restaurateur." - Melissa McCart