Tucked away in the trendy neighborhood of Tribeca lies a rustic Italian restaurant called Locanda Verde. Run by Andrew Carmellini, Locanda Verde offers all the comforts of Italian food with a swanky Manhattan flare. And the biggest draw? The truffles.
While perusing the menu, be sure to ask your waiter or waitress about the truffle special. During my dinner, the menu featured "A Celebration of Black Truffles from Umbria" - Italian black truffles shaved on any plate you desire, as well as two specials topped with truffles. Though milder in flavor to their relative, the French black truffles, Italian truffles add decadence to any meal.
When I dine out, I like to build up to the big event of my main dish with several appetizers. Conscious not to be too full for my entrée, I enjoy sampling a few of these smaller works of culinary art. At Locanda Verde, you definitely want to sample several different plates. To start, I ordered the Terrina di Foie Gras, served with an almond crisp, vin santo (a wine reduction glaze) and toasted brioche. For those not familiar with foie gras (pronounced "f-wah grah"), it is a duck liver pate or mousse. The foie gras was very light and creamy and the sweetness of the glaze cut through the fattiness of the mousse.
Keeping with the theme of the menu, I was bound to try anything that featured the truffles. The Steak Tartara Piemontese, topped with a quail egg and thin stripped bacon, incorporated hazelnuts and even more black truffle. The freshness and crunch of the chopped celery, sharpness of the chives, and tender, juiciness of the wagyu beef add even more elements to the palate. The plate is served with crunchy toast to enjoy with every bite.
For the main event, I ordered the night's special - Strangozzi al Tartufo, topped with an egg yoke, parmesan cheese and a generous portion of shaved black truffles. Strangozzi is a thin, wavy and irregular, hand-cut long pasta made in Umbria, which seems fitting given the truffle selection. When the plate was brought to the table, you cannot help but pause a moment to inhale the stunning aromas of the dish. Upon breaking the yoke, I mixed in a bit of the egg and truffle with my first swirled forkful of pasta. Luscious sauce, zesty parmesan, and rich truffles made for a decadent bite. This dish is bound to leave your mouth watering, even after the last bite!
Locanda Verde is a wonderful date night, celebratory dinner or girls night out. Come for the bold Italian flavors and leave feeling full, but craving more! The waitstaff was patient (I am not very quick with a menu), knowledgeable and attentive. I would definitely recommend Locanda Verde for a dinner one night this winter.
Fun Fact
Did you know 'Locanda' in Italian is a local place to eat, drink and maybe stay the night. Directly translated, Locanda Verde means "green inn."
