Scarpetta: Inviting, airy, and elegant—Scarpetta might just be the saving grace of the Meatpacking District. One of the city’s top Italian chefs, Scott Conant (L’Impero, Alto) takes over the space left by Gin Lane to offer seasonal Italian cuisine. Highlights include slow roasted lobster, ricotta raviolini with squash blossoms, and boneless Osso Buco. S. Russell Groves designed the 70-seat dining room featuring a white marble floor and a retractable roof, while prime summertime seating will be in a 20-seat café in the front. Typical of the MPD, the menu is pricey—lunch and brunch dishes are $14 and dinner entrees range from $24-$37, but atypical is the friendly, attentive service. If you’re short on money but want to scope the scene, order a stiff one by the fully-stocked mahogany bar that supplies homemade potato chips. |
