"What It Is: A well-designed Italian spot with great pasta and seafood Perfect For: Date Night, Dinner With The Parents, Girls Night Out A new Italian place opening in NYC is sort of like a fish being born in the ocean. It’s nice, but it isn’t that notable. It turns out, however, that Scampi is. It’s a new spot near Union Square, and when we stopped by recently, it exceeded expectations. First off, the space is very well-designed, with high ceilings, gold accents, and some nice potted plants. Also, the food was great, and we especially like the mezzaluna with big pieces of guanciale. Overall, Scampi is great for a night with friends, parents, a date, or someone you’re indebted to because they held the subway door for you. The Verdict: All of your friends will want to eat here. We’ve added it to the Hit List." - hannah albertine, bryan kim, katherine lewin, hillary reinsberg, chris stang, matt tervooren
