Maruzzella

"The ceiling appears to suffer from slight water damage, and the tablecloths are a little wrinkly, but those details only add to Maruzella’s charm. Open since 1988, this is one of the many niche neighborhood classics of the Upper East Side. It’s the sort of place where you drink water out of a wine glass, receive complimentary bread in a small wicker basket, and eat serviceable Italian food that you’ll remember for exactly 24 hours. Stop for a last-minute date night, and try the signature rotolo di pasta with abundant ricotta and a candy-sweet sauce. The chicken and sausage in a rosemary jus is also a nice, homey dish to enjoy while you watch families dine by candlelight and listen to a saxophonist absolutely gun it on a ‘90s Italian pop song. photo credit: Bryan Kim Food Rundown Rotolo Di Pasta Every Italian restaurant that’s been open for at least 20 years on the Upper East Side has that one dish you absolutely need to order. Here, it’s the pasta roll filled with a wealth of spinach and ricotta. Nothing groundbreaking, but infinitely enjoyable. Tagliatelle Alla Bolognese A heap of bouncy noodles in a loose, chunky bolognese. It’s exactly what you expect from a place with above-average-sized pours of wine. No more, no less. Polla Alla Contadina At first, this seems like a standard plate of chicken, with a bit of sausage mixed in. But the potatoes on the side are impressively crispy, and the sheer volume of garlic and rosemary keeps things interesting." - Bryan Kim