"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 feels original while still staying squarely in the “cacio e pepe” lane." - nicolai mccrary, raphael brion