Uva

"Are you currently planning a trip to the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy with 25 of your friends? Probably not. So go have a wine-fueled private dinner in Uva’s cellar room on the Upper East Side instead. Order a lot of pasta and some cured meats to share, and you should be in good shape." - neha talreja, bryan kim, hannah albertine, will hartman

"Not counting that time we ate a bagel next to Tony Danza on a bench in the park, the back garden at Uva is our favorite outdoor dining situation on the Upper East Side. Sit in what looks like a Tuscan courtyard, and eat delicious housemade ricotta gnocchi doused in creamy black truffle sauce." - team infatuation

"I wish more restaurants had slogans. Like, “Minetta Tavern - All The Meat That’s Fit To Eat,” or “Carbone - No, You Can’t Have Dinner Here.” It would really help give you a feel for a place before you experience it firsthand. To that end, if Uva, a popular Italian restaurant on the Upper East Side had a slogan, it would definitely be, “Uva - Don’t Be A Hero.” Why? Because whatever plan you are cooking up for a really impressive date night at a hot new restaurant is probably going to fail. You aren’t going to get a reservation with such short notice, and even if you could, the restaurant is probably going to be too loud, or not loud enough, or too expensive, or too romantic, or not romantic enough, or Jesus, why does this have to be so hard, we’re just having dinner? Don’t be a hero. Just go to Uva. Uva is that restaurant that you turn to for date night when all else seems impossible. It’s a rustic, cozy little Italian spot in the East 70s that’s always lively and always full of other people just like you - people just who want a solid meal in a nice environment with someone they’re sizing up for breed-ability. The food is good - not the best Italian in the city, but certainly satisfying, and also somewhat reasonably priced. The wine list is affordable and not intimidating, and the menu is big enough that pretty much anyone can find something that suits their needs. There’s even a nice garden in the back for a pleasant evening, or a daytime date if you really want to keep things PG. It is worth noting that when crowded, Uva can be a bit loud, and it’s also very dark. But unless you’re planning on giving some sort of presentation at the table, that shouldn’t be an issue. What that all adds up to is that by going with Uva for your next date, you can focus on what’s really important, and that’s being as impressive as any human can possibly be. So maybe that’s your slogan. “Don’t dress like an idiot.” Uva will handle the rest. Food Rundown Meats & Cheeses Uva always has a good selection of cured meats and cheeses, and we like to start a meal off here with a little bit of both. Pick what sounds good, but we typically go with some combination of taleggio, Pecora Nera, and about half a leg worth of prosciutto. Insalata Caprese Just what you expect it to be. No more, no less. This is a safe place. Insalata Di Carciofi Our favorite salad from the Uva menu, this is basically a big pile of artichokes and arugula, and nobody has ever been mad about that. Gnocchi Di Ricotta A simple, tasty homemade ricotta sitting in a black truffle and chive sauce. It’s rich, but so are you, on the inside. Cavatelli Del Norcino A solid cavatelli pasta made from scratch and tossed with some sausage. Proceed with confidence. Strozzapreti Di Grano Arso Looking for a whole wheat pasta? Here you go. This strozzapreti (a medium-sized, somewhat tubular noodle) is a simple dish, served with some fresh tomato and mozzarella. You’ll hardly know you’re eating somewhat healthier. Pollo Alla Partenopia A cheese-stuffed chicken breast. Do you want this, or the other chicken dish that is pounded flat and served with a lemon wedge? That’s what we thought. Brunch If you’re hitting Uva for brunch, you will be presented with a pretty good deal. $19.50 will get you an entree, a side, and a drink. It’s not full-on boozy brunch, but it’s a nice way to get some food and a little hair of the dog in your system on a Sunday afternoon." - Chris Stang

"If you’ve ever been on a third date or to a casual dinner with your old roommate on the Upper East Side, you’re probably familiar with Uva and its reliable Italian food. Next step: get familiar with its back patio." - katherine lewin, hillary reinsberg

"Uva, an essential Upper East Side date night restaurant, won’t change your life, but it will provide you a nice, romantic evening with some solid Italian food on 2nd Avenue. It’s open until 1am almost every night, so it’s ideal for when you’re sitting around your house at 10pm, get a little antsy or ambitious, and decide you want to go out and eat pasta with someone who has the same urges you have." - bryan kim, will hartman, willa moore, sonal shah