If you’ve been lucky enough to sample the ethereal cuisine of Emilia-Romagna, you’re in for a treat at Chef Stefano Secchi's cherished osteria. Nestled into a well-designed space in the Flatiron District, this cheerful spot brings the Italian region’s signature cuisine stateside.
Rotating specials and pastas top the charts, and the regional pasta tasting is a sleeper hit. It takes guts to serve a handful of penne with pomodoro sauce or two tortellini in chicken brodo, but when pasta is as refined as this, nobody is complaining. Starters like the feather-light gnocco fritto with mortadella and Prosciutto di Parma, bookended by an appealingly restrained dessert like parmesan cheesecake crowned by citrus gelée all but guarantee a return visit.