Locanda Verde Hudson Yards - Review - Hudson Yards - New York - The Infatuation

"The second location of Tribeca institution Locanda Verde adheres to the unbreakable formula pioneered by the original: Open a spacious restaurant with impeccable service and crowdpleasing Italian food, and the people will come. Factor in all the offices near Locanda Verde Hudson Yards, and you’ve got yourself a post-work, corporate-card destination. photo credit: Quentin Bacon photo credit: Quentin Bacon photo credit: Willa Moore Pause Unmute There are tourists too—visiting families gathered around the table that faces a working fireplace. They’re here because of its proximity to the Vessel, or because it’s backed by Robert De Niro, or maybe a little bit of both. As in Tribeca, paintings by Robert De Niro Sr. line the walls, all the way up to the second floor, and massive chandeliers illuminate the menu’s greatest hits. Hello again, lamb meatball sliders and sheep’s milk ricotta. Flavorwise, nothing’s reinventing the wheel, but when was the last time you and your boss went to a restaurant that really pushed the envelope? This is a useful restaurant, and you can have a good meal here—especially if you focus on the pastas, order at least one salad, and have just the right number of Palomaritas. Food Rundown Sardinian Sheep’s Milk Ricotta A hit from the original location, and a great starter to share with people you don’t know that well. The cheese is smooth and cold like ice cream, and the griddled bread on the side is crusty and slick with olive oil. photo credit: Quentin Bacon Dressed Radicchio Our favorite salad. Radicchio leaves are stacked with robiola cheese between each layer, like glue, and adorned with lightly seared dates. The Green Caesar Another great salad. This one has a pesto-adjacent green caesar dressing, and paper thin slices of toasted bread that break like chips at the bottom of the bag. photo credit: Quentin Bacon My Grandmother’s Ravioli Andrew Carmellini’s grandmother’s ravioli is fairly simple, and very delicious. Red sauce provides just a slight tang, and the cheesy filling tastes somehow like more than just ricotta. Some of the other pastas change with the seasons, but this one remains. Make it yours. photo credit: Quentin Bacon Crispy Eggplant Hero A solid option on the lunch menu. Fried until it elicits a crunch like Pop Rocks in your mouth, the eggplant perfectly balances calabrian chili aioli, and creamy stracciatella cheese. Broccolini Every time we visit Locanda Verde (either location), a server recommends the broccolini. If that happens to you, give in. The vegetable is smoky tasting with a satisfying bite, sweet knobs of garlic, and lots of lemon." - Willa Moore