Centro Vinoteca - Italian Comfort Food

I'm not normally a big fan of fried foods, but several friends have visited Centro Vinoteca in the past month and can't stop raving. I have to admit that having a place like this within walking distance in the West Village is dangerous, but we've been in need of good Italian that isn't too fancy or too heavy.

The Times' Frank Bruni reviewed the Perry St. hotspot last week, and he lauds Chef Anne Burrell for her foray into this genre of Italian-style tapas she calls "piccolini" (very small things). Fried cippolini onions, crispy cauliflower with parmesan, arancine stuffed with fontina and ham...reservations, please. Who's in?

Once I've had a chance to sample the various piccolini, I promise to report back in full. Bruni also mentions a delicious-sounding dish of pici with sweet and spicy pork sausage ragù, which reminds me of the summer I spent in Italy. The likelihood of resistance on my part is low, so I will share my impressions of this hearty dish after I've recovered from this gorge-fest.

Westville: Casual, Fun Spot in the West Village

This is, hands-down, my favorite restaurant in the city, maybe the whole world. It's tiny and you have to wait, but the atmosphere inside is so cheery and homey that it's totally worth hanging out until a table is available. While everything on the menu is good, their selection of vegetables every day is reason enough to make a special trip. Sauteed Brussel sprouts with caramelized onions, roasted artichokes with lemon aioli, spicy green beans with shallots, creamy mashed potatoes and garlic, the list goes on and on....



This is, hands-down, my favorite restaurant in the city, maybe the whole world. It's tiny and you have to wait, but the atmosphere inside is so cheery and homey that it's totally worth hanging out until a table is available. While everything on the menu is good, their selection of vegetables every day is reason enough to make a special trip. Sauteed Brussel sprouts with caramelized onions, roasted artichokes with lemon aioli, spicy green beans with shallots, creamy mashed potatoes and garlic, the list goes on and on....

This is, hands-down, my favorite restaurant in the city, maybe the whole world. It's tiny and you have to wait, but the atmosphere inside is so cheery and homey that it's totally worth hanging out until a table is available. While everything on the menu is good, their selection of vegetables every day is reason enough to make a special trip. Sauteed Brussel sprouts with caramelized onions, roasted artichokes with lemon aioli, spicy green beans with shallots, creamy mashed potatoes and garlic, the list goes on and on....


This is, hands-down, my favorite restaurant in the city, maybe the whole world. It's tiny and you have to wait, but the atmosphere inside is so cheery and homey that it's totally worth hanging out until a table is available. While everything on the menu is good, their selection of vegetables every day is reason enough to make a special trip. Sauteed Brussel sprouts with caramelized onions, roasted artichokes with lemon aioli, spicy green beans with shallots, creamy mashed potatoes and garlic, the list goes on and on....