One of the best NYC has to offer - Babbo
110 Waverly Place
New York, NY 10011
(212) 777-0303
www.babbonyc.com

I have been going to Babbo for the last five years and to this day it remains my favorite restaurant in NYC. The combination of warm and attentive service, the cozy yet elegant setting and the amazing food result in perfection as far as I'm concerned (Yes, I like the music too) . My wife and I have eaten together here many times, and if I'm having a nice sit down meal with her, I prefer sitting upstairs under the skylight. However, lately with her having a more hectic schedule and not being as obsessed with place as I am, I have discovered a new way to enjoy Babbo that has made being and eating there a new joy - eating a full meal at the bar. I find that the bar staff is always knowledgeable, friendly and make the experience more enjoyable. Eating at the bar has a way of making you forget that you are eating at a place that people from around the world come to and instead makes it feel like a more intimate local joint.

I started with a glass of Grasparossa Lambrusco, something that I have been enjoying a lot lately. The fruity, slightly sweet, effervescent red wine is nice to relax at home with or in my case, to enjoy before the meal. I decided I would indulge tonight and started off with a duck egg on top of toasted, crusty bread and covered with shaved truffle. The oozing yolk with the bread moistened lightly with olive oil and the earthiness of the truffles (which I normally don't care too much for) were a decadent and delicious combination. This starter only served to rev up my appetite and soon my Lamb Brain Ravioli was in front of me. I've eaten almost everything on the menu and this was probably one of the last pastas I hadn't tried. Many people might be intimidated because the hear a lot about how offal is used in many dishes, but again, part of what makes this place perfect is that if you actually order the "scary" sounding dishes, you find they are prepared in a way that allows you to enjoy and savor the flavors without being freaked out by some overly organic presentation. These chefs don't want to scare you off; it is obvious they want you to experience new foods and expand your horizons beyond the norm of what Italian cuisine is perceived to be. Bottom line - my Lamb Brain Ravioli was wonderful - the ricotta and lamb filling were moist and the pasta was perfectly cooked. I don't like overly firm or squishy pasta and I don't like large amounts of firm filling...that is never a concern at this place.

Despite telling the bartender that it was just me eating tonight and that I needed to make my way home, she thought it would be better for me to enjoy a quartino of red by myself. I smirked and let her go for it. Unfortunately, I don't really remember it too much about that red. I do remember the Veal Loin wrapped in Pancetta that I had as my main. I haven't had Veal for awhile and had been craving it. The veal was served as several small loin medallions wrapped in meaty, salty Pancetta (cooked with the veal). I know it is cliche to say that anything wrapped in bacon is better, but it is true. The veal was medium rare, tender and has a more subtle flavor than beef - the pancetta didn't overpower this. I ended with a dessert of Bomboloni served with Maple Custard. Babbo's Bombolonis are light and sweet and the maple custard was pretty good. It was thick and had a bit of an overly sweet taste. Maybe I should have stuck with my all time favorite of whatever Torta they have on the menu...or the Apple Budino.....ahhhh, next time. During my dessert course, the bartender was kind enough to provide me with two complimentary glasses of a muscato. She must have been having fun watching me have so much fun and descend into a drunken state. Like I said, the bar staff is awesome.

So once again, I had another memorable and wonderful meal at Babbo. The total bill with tax and tip was $185.

Pros: Good service and decor and excellent food
Cons: Can be expensive
Overall user rating: 10