I think I’ve talked a million times about my love for Italian food. How not to love a good pasta? Whenever someone recommends Carmines or Olive Garden as Italian restaurants to visit in New York, I get sad and, I confess, I think they are a waste of time and money. An Italian restaurant has to offer some fresh pasta. My opinion is that you should not restrict your dining experiences to restaurants that make the very same food – chains… And New York has so many incredible choices of Italian restaurants that it is a waste to come here and not to try them. I particularly love exploring the options here! Last week, we were at Pisticci, which is located in West Harlem – very close to Columbia University, which turns out to be a fantastic option for lunch or dinner in the area.
Before presenting the restaurant itself, I think it is very interesting to talk about its history, because Pisticci has an interesting concept involved. When it was opened in 2002, the goal was simple: create a neighbor restaurant, the type people enjoyed going to. Later, they stopped looking at Pisticci as only a restaurant but as a place for a change. They started profit sharing with the employees, set up flextime so they control their own hours and respect their goals. In addition, it is a Green Certified Restaurant and also uses renewable energy. Pisticci also has its own urban farm, Pisticci Full Circle Farm, without the use of chemical inputs or heavy machinery. The inputs are derived from organic matter from the restaurant, and grow by sustaining strict organic principles. Organic matter is derived from scraps of food, napkins and all paper products. I did not know this before going to the restaurant, but I found this information by searching for the post and I loved it. I was even more of a fan.
As we are talking about an Italian restaurant, obviously the highlights here are the pasta, whose price ranges from $ 10 to $ 16, depending on your choice. Thiago chose the Tuscan Bean Ravioli ($15), stuffed with ricotta, with tomato sauce. Generally, in the restaurant we go to, the portion of ravioli is never generous. At Pisticci, the dish was super well served. I chose a special of the evening, a pappardelle pasta with truffles, mushrooms, and meat. One of the best pasta I’ve eaten here in New York – and also super huge. The drinks cost an average of $ 14 and we ordered one with pomegranate which was a delight. We do not usually order dessert, but we did not resist the Coconut Pie, on a great slice that was enough for both of us. We spend about $ 60 with tips, which is a fair price for a dinner including a drink and dessert. Also, the service of the restaurant is great and the atmosphere is also a cutie. The region where it is located is super charming.
Pisticci opens for lunch, dinner and brunch! You can check more details on the website.
Address: 125 La Salle Street.
Laura Peruchi is a Brazilian blogger, author, and entrepreneur. She has lived in Manhattan with her husband since 2014. Since then, she has shared on her blog varied content about the Big Apple. From travel tips, including unusual things to do, shopping tips, etiquette, restaurants, and a lot more, her blog has become a reference in Portuguese (also available in English) for anyone planning a trip to New York City.
