Anella - Review - Greenpoint - New York - The Infatuation

"If you want to spend more time in Greenpoint, you should start with a day spent on Franklin Street. And if you want to be convinced to move to Greenpoint, you should end that day with dinner at Anella. That isn’t to say that Anella is some mind-blowing destination restaurant. It’s the opposite: a never-too-crowded neighborhood place that serves the kind of crowd-pleasing food you would be happy to eat multiple times a week. Pastas? Check. A burger? Yep. Roast chicken, and a kale salad that actually tastes better than one you could make for yourself at home? You get the idea. Plus, the warm dinner bread comes in a little flower pot that you would have to be dead inside not to like. And while the framework of the menu is always the same, the individual dishes change with the seasons. So when you move here and inevitably become a regular at Anella, you also won’t get bored. Even if you don’t find yourself in the neighborhood very often, you should still make a mental note about Anella for one key situation: outdoor brunch. They have a great back patio, and you can usually get a spot on it without too much of a wait. Just don’t tell too many people and ruin it for the regulars. Food Rundown Butternut Squash Soup A rich and creamy soup that is definitely how you should start your meal here if you’re reading this and it’s winter. Kale Salad This is always on the menu - because it’s actually good. Thin strips of kale massaged with enough dressing that you can actually chew them pleasantly, tossed with chunks of sweet potato and cranberries, and topped with lots of parmesan. Not the healthiest move you could make, but also not the least-healthy. Fried Calamari When’s the last time you ordered fried calamari? Just do it - it’s really good here. Rigatoni Anella’s pastas are all simple, and all pretty great. This one is tossed in a spicy tomato sauce and is an excellent choice. Cacio e Pepe Not going to disappoint you. Then again, cheese and pepper and pasta don’t ever disappoint you. Spiralized Vegetables We fundamentally oppose vegetables pretending to be pastas. But we also have to admit they’re pretty good here. This is an ideal sort of healthy order. Burger If you’re craving a burger, by all means go ahead. But it’s not our favorite thing on the menu. Roast Chicken Solid, and big enough to split between two if you get a couple appetizers as well. Skirt Steak Probably our favorite entree here. Another great choice to split between two - if only to keep yourself from shoveling all the fries it comes with into your mouth on your own." - Katherine Lewin