"Il Fiorista ('the florist,' in Italian) is not a subtle place. Well into November, a large potted hydrangea tree sat on the sidewalk beside the entrance. Inside, diners are met by an enormous table topped with a towering arrangement of budding branches, plus botanical-themed products and bouquets for sale. Both food and drinks follow suit, with almost every dish and cocktail featuring some combination of leaves, herbs, seeds, berries, and blossoms. Il Fiorista—which bills itself as an 'education center' (there are workshops covering subjects like wreath-making and flower fermentation)—is the brainchild of an Italian couple, a former lawyer and a former private-equity investor who moved to New York in 2017 with no prior restaurant experience. They had the good sense to hire a chef, Garrison Price, from Il Buco, one of New York’s best Italian restaurants, and his pastas are wonderful." - Hannah Goldfield
