Cafe Fiorello — NYC Paula

Aug 3

Aug 3 Cafe Fiorello

My partner, Lou and I are celebrating our anniversary today. Obviously we’re a bit limited in what we can do to mark special occasions at the moment. Since taking a weekend trip or going to see a show wasn’t an option Lou took me to my favorite restaurant Cafe Fiorello which is now open for outdoor dining.

A number of restaurants throughout NYC are now open with outdoor seating. Fiorello’s has one of the best setups that I’ve seen so far. They’ve traditionally had a large outdoor dining area, but have reimaged the space. Tables are set further apart and have plexiglass dividers that are camouflaged by plants.

Since we were going on a Saturday and the only day that is predicted to be sunny for the next several days we went on the early side to beat the lunch crowd. Fiorello’s in recent years started serving breakfast items. We arrived a little before noon when the main menu is available. Lou isn’t big on breakfast dishes so the staff kindly accommodated him by putting in his order for chicken parm a little early. I had the sausage and broccolini omelet which came with a side salad and crispy fries.

Other favorite menu items of mine include ordering an assortment from their rotating antipasto bar menu. The zucchini parmesan, mushrooms, and sicilian eggplant caponata are dishes I always look forward to. Their pizzas are thin, crispy, and full of flavor. Portions here are huge so splitting is always a good idea.

Fiorello’s is the only bar I will order a cosmopolitan from because they are perfect. They just have a splash of cranberry juice so the triple sec and lime really come through for a cocktail that is more tart than sweet. I’m also a fan of Fiorello’s dessert menu. Like the antipasto menu, this rotates. My all-time favorite is the lemon tart which is more like a lemon creme brulee pie served with a scoop of cream. That wasn’t on this weekend’s menu so we had their strawberry cheesecake which is served with a side of hot fudge.

Fiorello’s is also open for take out and delivery. They have set up a small Italian market in front of the restaurant where you can purchase dry pasta, sauces, prepared foods, and ice cream. Fiorello’s is located on the Upper West Side right across from Lincoln Center. You’ll have an incredible meal that you won’t forget any time soon.