L’incontro by Rocco

"Trattoria L’incontro is basically what you’d imagine Little Italy in Long Island to be. Everything is over the top and overstated. The walls are sponge painted, the hosts and servers wear earpieces like they're part of the secret service, and there are more “specials” than there are things on the actual menu. But none of that turned out to be bothersome because it’s all just really good Italian food and really nice people. So listen when we tell you to jettison any preconceived notion and take some friends out to dinner here. Trattoria L’incontro is the perfect place for one of those “once a year” kind of meals where you eat way too much and come home with a purple mouth. Especially during the holidays. Food Rundown Bread Basket Inside this basket are little triangles that the restaurant refers to as “focaccia.” To us it almost resembles little wedges of fried pizza dough. Either way, slather on the tomato spread that comes with it and be happy you’re alive. Tomato Salad A basic and tasty tomato salad that will be doled out to everyone at your table with care, assuming you’re all sharing. Really can’t go wrong with this one. Grilled Fig Salad This excellent grilled fig salad was one of the thousand “specials” read off to us, but we’re betting it will be available if you’re there when figs are in season. Spaghetti and Meatballs You can’t go wrong here when you go simple. The red sauce at L’incontro is incredible, and it’s on display in this simple plate of pasta. The meatballs are big and meaty too. This is exactly what you want if you’re craving spaghetti and meatballs. Lasagna Another classic test of a good Italian restaurant. The lasagna here is absolutely huge, and really good too. Bucatini Lucky for me, this bucatini with mushrooms and cabbage was on the specials menu on my visit. All you really need to do is look at it to know it was awesome. I also ate as much as my body would possibly let me, and still took home enough left over to fill a bathtub with. Seared Veal Chop L’incontro has about fifty ways to eat veal, both on and off the menu. Lots of it is stuffed with things like cheese and spinach, and then more cheese and spinach. This, however, is a seared chop that’s about two inches thick and simply prepared. Sometimes simple is good. Here it’s great. Gelato You’re going to want to hit some gelato at the end of your meal, and you’re going to want the hazelnut flavor. It’s made in-house, and there are real chunks of hazelnut all up in it. Napoleon On the other hand, you don’t want to mess with this napoleon. It’s layered with a banana cream, which we were not expecting. Nobody likes a surprise banana. And this just isn’t very good." - Chris Stang

"Trattoria L'incontro, a 25-year-old Italian restaurant, has closed its Astoria location and is moving to the Upper East Side of Manhattan. The new restaurant, L'Incontro by Rocco, opens on June 4, fulfilling the owner's long-time dream of owning a restaurant in Manhattan." - Luke Fortney

"Another upscale option is this Italian spot with a ton of outdoor seating set up in their parking lane on 31st Avenue. They make excellent spaghetti and meatballs (in addition to many other pastas). If you’re looking for a place to eat with your family after everyone has gotten sick of each other’s cooking, come here." - Hannah Albertine