"Over on the East Side, Il Brutto’s menu of classic Italian fare encompasses just about everything from burrata antipasti and wood-fired pizzas, to semifreddo desserts and handmade pastas—the last of which has completely won us over. The cacio e pepe—with just three key ingredients—excels in its execution. Most notably, the combination of black and pink peppercorns added an almost-spicy element and a distinct flavor that felt original, while still staying squarely in the “cacio e pepe” lane. " - raphael brion, nicolai mccrary