I came here on an impromptu date night where we were seated in the enclosed outdoor patio. When you first walk into this restaurant, it seems quaint with a couple tables and bar seats, but the backyard is huge. People host weddings, birthdays, and special events here with the space. Since we came during happy hour from 5-6pm on weekdays, we took advantage of the deals. We each had a glass of house wine (HH $10 each), which was solid. We also started off with some Sourdough Bread ($10), which was not complimentary. The bread is pretty big with half a loaf though and the sponginess of the bread was perfect to dip into the olive oil. For our main course, we both got the happy hour pastas. I had the Carbonara ($15) and he had the Amatriciana ($15). The pastas are really good and fulfilling with lots of flavor. The pasta is definitely worth it during happy hour for $15 each, but pricey at regular price. For the value, I'd come back again but only during happy hour. The thing is that there's so many Italian spots in the neighborhood to make this place stand out from the rest, especially with the higher price point. read more

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I was intrigued by this restaurant with the giant piece of fried chicken cutlet. But you know I love pasta so I was like is this my heaven? Then we went crazy and ordered basically almost all of the pastas just to try it all. We also ordered the hanger steak. The chicken dish duh, and a fish dish. Also, we ordered the cocktails. Our waiter recommended and it was on the weaker end in our opinion, but it was still tasty. We actually ordered from their wine list which was amazing and we got about three bottles for a party of seven. FYI!!! I just want to let you guys know that you need to pay for bread. Unfortunately, no free bread or butter or oils. We ordered arancinis (rice balls), a salad, bread for starters. It was crazy that the arancinis only came in an order of 3 and they were tiny. The pastas came all at once and fast. For the pastas, the portions were fair and I think the flavors were OK. The star of the entrée came out, which was the chicken cutlet, and I was so excited for it. But it was a little bit bland on my end in my opinion and it was actually very thin. The steak and fish entrée was on the smaller end. Overall, my party felt like it was an OK dining experience, the staff was friendly and nice, but we would not probably come back. (3.75/5) read more

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This has been on my list for some time now but the distance from the subway has deterred me. We were a party of two and were seated in the front which is a smaller space. There is apparently a bigger party space inside which makes sense since Popina hosts weddings! We shared the sourdough bread which came with a very soft butter and olive oil dip. There was only one salad option but it was perfect with a subtle anchovy dressing. We shared the short rib fettuccini. It was surprisingly just ok. The sauce was lacking. The hot chicken Milanese definitely stole the show. We can definitely see ourselves coming back for the chicken and trying another pasta. read more

Popina - Southern Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Great Italian-American spot near the waterfront. Nothing fancy, just good food and friendly service. The atmosphere is more sophisticated that the area might otherwise warrant. Nice garden in the back. read more

My brother works in Brooklyn and had been meaning to try Popina for a while. The idea of fusing Southern and Italian cuisine intrigued him, and since I was off from work the other day we thought i was a good idea to meet up for dinner. I'm not too familiar with all that Brooklyn has to offer, so I was excited to check this place out. Popina is unassuming from the outside, and the somewhat simple aesthetics continue after entering the restaurant. It's not a large space - there is a banquette to the left with tables set up, and a large bar to the right which has additional seating. I'm assuming there's a backyard area since some people were being led there after we were seated, and several reviews suggest so. There's a mostly grey color scheme with lots of clean lines and minimal decor. The menu isn't large, but there's a good variety of apps, pastas, and mains. But first, drinks; I ordered a mezcal margarita which was smooth and had great flavor. For food, we decided to start with two apps: the arancini and the stracciatella. The rice balls were served traditional style sprinkled with cheese and came with marinara sauce on the side. They were tasty but their marinara was slightly too acidic for my taste. the stracciatella was good too - it was paired with asparagus, peas, and some light greens which complemented the creamy texture of the cheese. I wanted to try their pasta as a main - the orecchiette stood out to me the most so I went with that. The dish was good - the pasta was served al dente and with pesto sauce and also contained fava beans. I admittedly did not get the most Southern dish on the menu, but there was definitely a good representation. My brother got the pappardelle with braised ham hocks which I tried a bite of and really liked. For dessert they only had two choices: cheesecake and panna cotta so we got both. The cheesecake was noting too outstanding IMO, but the panna cotta was great. When I attempted to order a coffee with dessert I was informed that they don't serve it - kinda strange and something to keep in mind if you're dining here. Service was great, everyone was friendly and the food came out at a good pace. Overall, I enjoyed my experience at Popina. I wouldn't necessarily hike it out to Brooklyn just to dine here - this is more of a neighborhood spot from my perspective. However, if you are in the area this is a great option with delicious food and a welcoming atmosphere. read more

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I had passed by Popina on the way back from Red Hook a few weeks ago. The cozy environs on an otherwise industrial stretch of Columbia Street appeared inviting enough for me to bookmark the address and suggest dinner here with a friend a few weeks later. Compared to most chic Italian restaurant in the area that claim some garbled Brooklynized "Roman" heritage, Popina offers a seemingly unique Southern influence, with appetizers like a pimento cheese dip and potato rolls, or the arancini made from Carolina gold rice. These were the less tasty but more unique and intriguing constituents of our meal. In contrast, I found both the kale paccheri and Gorgonzola tortellini decently tasty, if a bit uninspired. With a bit more funk in the latter, I think this dish could really be a home run. read more

Popina - Southern Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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High quality food and experience at this little place with a magical outdoor dining area and now with extended seating (we've been going for a while). You can't go wrong with anything on the menu, starting with their bread service--if you just ate their fresh sourdough and fresh butter, that would be enough. Save room for their ricotta cheesecake - again--worth going just for this. And if you're lucky, they''ll make their burnt butter pie (forgot the name) when you're there. Ask early and reserve a slide - limited supply when they make it. Wine selection is perfect. Go. What are you sitting there for? read more

Exceptional wine selection! I mentioned my favorite types of wine and they suggested a wonderful Italian wine that was perfectly crisp and easy to drink. I loved the hamachi crudo, but I cannot stop dreaming about the hot chicken milanese, and the pappardelle was heavenly. We capped off the meal with the basque cheesecake (must order item alert!). It's a cozy spot with incredible service. I now understand why my friends have become regulars at this spot (coming sometime twice in the same week). This is a neighborhood GEM. read more

Made a reservation for two people on a Wednesday evening for their outdoor area. Not overly decorated but a nice atmosphere nonetheless for a quiet dinner. Concise menu of several Italian dishes, as well as a large drink list. Decided on the Hot Chicken Milanese ($28) and an IPA ($9). The chicken is flattened and thinly breaded - not dry, lending well to a bit of lemon juice. The side salad is overly bitter, not helped by the dressing. Had to order dessert as well, getting a slice of the Chocolate Chess Pie ($10). Incredibly rich, cut by a dollop of fresh whipped cream. Great flavor that's not overbearing in sweetness. Service is good and the ambiance outside is welcoming. Nice spot for a slightly upscale dinner. read more

Popina - Chocolate chess pie - Southern Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Fantastic wine list. They even have some high end wine bottle specials. Biggest issues were the arancini. 3 tiny bite sized balls for $12 is absurd. If you are going to push the supposed wonderful bread you have, the least you can do is warm it up. It wasn't even room temperature. Not much of an effort required to warm up bread. The Basque cheesecake was too cold and too dry. 3 people didnt bother to finish 1 piece read more

Wow, I didn't realize Popina had such an insanely amazing backyard!! If you've eaten here, you know their main dining room is a little petite - so when I came last weekend I was not expecting to see a massive backyard with dozens of tables! They've been taking advantage of the backyard ever since the pandemic - and when I came at 8pm on a Friday night it was packed in the best way. I can't really tell you what to order because everything on the menu is awesome, so just order it all. And if you don't finish with the olive oil cake, you're not living. read more

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This was excellent. First visit, we got olives, ham & melon, pimento cheese with rolls and pickles, and carolina gold arancini to start, then got three pastas: paccheri with tomatos/ham/pecorino, fettuccine with squash/pine nuts/mint, and maltagliati with lamb/olives/chilis/greens. We finished with both desserts: their olive oil cake, and chocolate chess pie. We really liked all the apps, particularly the arancini, and would consider getting any of them again. Among the pastas, we weren't that crazy about the fettuccine, but the other two were absolutely outstanding -- perfect summer pastas. Both desserts were great as well -- my wife was in love with the chocolate pie, but I actually preferred the olive oil cake. read more

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Fantastic dinner at this unassuming little place- don't let the scary wolf/dog logo scare you, the food and atmosphere was warm and inviting with amazing Italian food with a Southern touch. Our group of three was seated outside on the patio behind the restaurant (while it was a warm evening when we went, they had the heat lamps situated and ready to go.) For appetizers, we ordered the arancini and anchovies. The arancini's crunchy exterior with the warm, rich center of rice-y goodness were delicious- only one per person though so savor it! The anchovies (filets of anchovies served atop a potato in cream) were delicious, kindof like a deconstructed anchovy gratin but I wonder if the cream took away from the anchovies a little? For our mains, we are decided to get PASTA! We ordered the gnocchi, maltagliati and spaghetti. Everything was cooked to al dente perfection of course, and the flavors really packed a punch but in a subtle way. My spaghetti had bits of kabocha squash in it, and was surprisingly very hearty. Dessert was a slice of chess pie and olive oil cake shared between the three of us. While the olive oil flavor was a bit too strong for me (I mean, what did I expect, right?) so it wasn't my favorite but the chess pie... divine! Service is very friendly and attentive. Curious to see if any more tinned fishes (Chef McDade's specialty?!) make more appearances in future dishes. Sardines spaghetti? Some smoked mackerel? More appetizers featuring anchovies?! yes please! read more

brilliantly balanced dishes, everything we ordered - hamachi crudo, hot chicken milanese, ham hock papardelle - was stellar. lovely ambience, fantastic service, and I'll always appreciate good hip hop with my meal thanks, y'all...will be seeing you again soon! read more

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So driving home, trying to avoid the nonsense at the tunnel, I head over the Brooklyn Bridge. Traffic is a bit more than usual, so I snake down Adam Street and turn left on Columbia street. I pass Popina, Yelp it and decide, what the heck looks. Ice let's drop in. A small place, six seats at the bar and 20 table seats. Now this is described as a wine bar and the wine list is quite extensive I order the champagne at $25 a Glass. Pinot noir savant l'ouverture nv. Wow! Delicious. For dinner they have a pork chop on the menu. With peaches, chicory and fennel. It's 16 Oz. And it comes quickly. Really quite good, but has a lot of fat. Which I always avoid. So that's a bit disappointing. I'd say 1/2 the chop is fat. Inedible I also order the filone scape butter. And while cutting the bread, a big piece rolls off and boom hits the floor. Oops!!! My bad My waiter, Zack, ever watchful comes right over and asks if I'd like it replaced? Yes please! Ok so far the food is good except for the fat, which I let my waiter know. (He'll let "them" know). Ha He asks how I like the scape butter, it's new, and yes it's great! I order another glass of that delicious champagne! The champagne is more than making up for the fat! What fat!?? Ha ha Well not sure about dessert. No espresso on the menu!. So ok what can you do? Let's give them the benefit of the doubt! 4 stars. On loan..,, btw the big draw to this place is the stunning back yard which I only discover at the end of my meal. Ok so next time Outback!! But... I end the meal with a delicious chocolate chess pie. It's covered in extra virgin olive oil. Really different and scrumptious. Zach has thrown in a glass of read more

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The rest of the backyard: 20 somethings that were born with more money than I currently have. Us: Two mid-30-somethings with a gift card. The vibe here was snobbier than I expected, and although the backyard was telling me it was casual dining, it felt like it was an oversight that led me to be invited to this party. Although we had a reservation and it wasn't a busy Saturday night, the hostess first tried to sit us next to the kitchen and air conditioner. The table service was excellent. The appetizers were overpriced (3 arrancini for $12 and a small panzanella for $18), I'd skip the arrancini if I went back. The hot chicken milanese staple on their entree menu was a fun spin on southern cooking. I'd reccommend going here with someone who likes to share, so you could try a couple different dishes. (The hot chicken is a big dish, easy to share). I also enjoyed their Chocolate Chess Pie, which hit sweet and salty. But for me, this falls in the middle ground of Italian restaurants in gentrified Brooklyn neighborhoods. And the prices are pretty high/similar to others. It's a nice place to go if you want somewhere fancy and off the road after walking through Brooklyn Bridge Park - sit in their backyard with a Spritz and expensive pasta dishes. But I probably won't be returning any time soon. read more

Great outdoor space to hang out in. Came here in the early evening, and it felt like eating on your friend's backyard patio in the best way. The food is also solid, and the pastas are appropriately hearty. Really enjoyed their signature ham hock pappardalle, even if reminded me more of some strange Italian-meets-the-Carolinas fusion. Will be returning! read more

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3.5 stars for what I thought was a good, but pretty average, Sunday dinner. Of the notable things, they had one of the best glasses of chilled red wine I've had in awhile. So good that I actually wrote the name down for later. Additionally, the egg & anchovy toast was a sleeper hit. Tangy, creamy, herby, spicy, salty, sweet... it had all the flavors on top of a very good slice of bread. The lemon posset dessert was also solid, a nice light palate cleanser. The fettuccini with ramps was glossy and saucy and best when you got an actual bite with ramps. Then of course we had to try the hot chicken Milanese (it was fine) and the arancini (sadly they tasted like hot rice and that's about it). So, all in all, it was a decent meal, and I think has the potential to be really good if they perhaps stray away from the items that have been on the menu forever and allow themselves to create and innovate a bit more. read more

Came here with a group of friends. First off it's a little hard to get to but once here warm and inviting atmosphere. We started with a variety of cocktails, all of them were very nice. For first course we tried the crispy corona beans, a big hit with everyone. Winter chicories salad, had an excellent anchovy dressing, I would buy a bottle of that. Everyone went nuts for the charred prawns, great flavor and lastly the fish crudo, the sauce was amazing. Second course we had 3 pastas, all delicious, it's hard to choose a favorite between the spaghettini with clams, agnolotti with braised duck leg or bucatini alla gricia. Last course we tried the long island duck, cooked to perfection and excellent sides. Black garlic bavette was also cooked perfectly, we all really enjoyed the sauce and the side potatoes were fantastic. But I think the crowd favorite of the night was the whole branzino fish! We paired our meal with a wonderful red wine the waiter recommended. Then to finish we had cheesecake, rich and moist. The panne cotta was some of the best I've had, it was smooth, creamy and lemony and the currents added a little hit of tart. Great meal experience! read more

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Popina is basically a perfect restaurant, to me - consistently excellent food, hospitality, overall vibes. I've celebrated a friend's birthday and my rehearsal dinner in Popina's lovely private dining space a few doors down and the wonderful experience carried seamlessly for those private events, too. You can't go wrong with any of the pastas; hot chicken, nonnegotiable. My husband mourns the loss of his beloved chocolate chess pie as Popina made chef/menu changes this year - but neither snow nor rain nor heat etc will keep us from dinners here read more

Popina - Southern Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Cozy interior. Fast service. Friendly staff. Super tasty!! Hot chicken Milanese was awesome and perfect level of spice. Rigatoni was flavorful too. Arancini appetizer not worth. Great spot read more

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All the dishes we got were tasty. Beautiful restaurant, great service. Definitely recommended sitting outside in the back. read more

Popina - Chicken - Southern Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

It's the first time didn't take pictures of the food during the meal, we couldn't stop eating. Love the hot chicken Milanese, arancini, pasta tastes good too, and the service was perfect. read more

Popina - Menu - Southern Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

This place feels like it really thought through how to safely do outdoor dining during covid times. They implemented a one way traffic flow, spaced the tables far apart in their outdoor yard, and only allow one customer (or group if you're all together) in at a time (masks required). They have huge dispensers of hand sanitizer sitting around. They also stopped taking tips since they've switched to a take-out model which was such a shame because the staff are all so nice and I want to support! But it also minimizes the amount of exchange (passing receipts and pens). I ordered the fried chickpea sandwich and the bruschetta both of which were delicious! I can't remember which cocktail I got but it was super refreshing and came with a silly swirly straw (which I loved despite being an adult). Come here if you're cautiously foraying into outdoor dining again! These folks are doing it right! read more

Popina is capitalizing on the success of Cafe Spaghetti. If you would like to open a restaurant the Columbia Waterfront District is the place to do it. The space is tiny, as is the menu. The decor is bland (to say the least) and the portrait on the wall is Popina's answer to the Mona Lisa. So let's begin. I ordered a glass of Nebbiolo to pair with my Arancini appetizer. The Nebbiolo was very average and the Arancini could have been decent had the Chef not splattered honey on them. I wasn't sure if I was eating Rice Balls or Struffoli. For my next course I ordered a glass of Dolcetto to pair with my Maltagliati. The Dolcetto was decent as was the Maltagliati. This is a one time experience for me and I wish everybody on Columbia street lot's of luck. read more

Popina - Southern Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Extraordinary Restaurant. We enjoyed every aspect of the experience. We had the tasting menu that was perfected pared with wines. The standouts included the foie gras which was just incredible. Also loved the farm to table greens in every dish. The shrimp and scallop appetizer on bed of baby asparagus was incredible as was the sea bass. The Foie gras on chanterile mushrooms also incredible. They should have a Micheline star for sure. And the staff was so friendly and helpful and just happy to please. Can't wait to return! read more

My friend and I came to Popina around one week after NYC went into phase two of reopening. They don't take reservations, so we showed up at 1:30pm on a Sunday. They have specific rules for eating and ordering, including ordering food in the storefront while no other customers are inside, so we waited a few minutes before going. All staff were wearing masks inside. They have a basic menu for daytime food, with not many vegetarian options. I picked the one vegetarian main option they had (the fried chickpea sandwich) although I wasn't particularly interested in it. My friend got a couple of the toasts and said they were good. The chickpea sandwich actually ended up being excellent - it consisted of a thick, fried chickpea patty with lettuce and provolone cheese on soft sandwich bread. I loved it and finished the entire thing quickly. The staff are really friendly and the outdoor courtyard has good distancing measures, and is also very cute. Would recommend getting food from here, or even their cook at home pastas. read more

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Man, Where to even start. Came here shortly after the winter pause for outdoor dining. The experience was absolutely incredible. My wife and I started with chicken liver mousse, anchovy crostini and a drink. The mousse was among the best I've ever had, and the anchovies on toast with cultured butter was absolutely perfect. If you see something like that on the menu, get it. The chef has a cookbook coming out very shortly called "the magic of tinned fish", using that as an ingredient is clearly a passion of his. We also had the trout as a main course, and my wife and I could not stop raving about the dish, and how perfectly with the trout was cooked. Bottom line, come here often, we will be back ASAP. read more

Popina - Chocolate Chess Pie - Southern Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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This is a new spot combining American Southern cooking with Italian cooking in a really nice spot on that quiet strip where Pok Pok kills it and everything else new closes quickly (most recently Carla Hall's Southern Kitchen). It's actually a pretty small restaurant, but the backyard patio is huge and one of the best in NYC, as it is also equipped with a big bocce court. They don't actually serve dinner out there, but they do serve drinks and dessert, similar to Olmsted. Service was great, but most importantly the food was all excellent. It's a short menu with four starters, four pastas, two entrees and two desserts. We started with the Arancini ($7 for 4), Burrata ($16) and Pork Meatballs ($14). The most standout fusion aspect of these was the Arancini coated in honey and butter and filled with gold rice, which were also the best of these three, though the meatballs were great too. For the pastas, we got the Linguine ($18) and the Cavatelli ($17). While both were great, the Linguine was definitely the standout and the must try. The other must was the Hot Chicken Milanese ($23), which is nice and crispy with a really good amount of kick. We tried the Citrus Custard ($9) for dessert, but unfortunately the Chocolate Chess Pie you might have also seen in previews wasn't available. I would definitely come back for that and some of the other pastas. read more

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Loved this spot. Hard to get to, but worth the trek! The pastas and schnitzel are musts!

Antipasto shine- cucumber with tahini, hamachi crudo with cucumber curl, kale salad, straciatella with asparagus fava beans , pasta with golden tomatoes, hot chicken milanese comes with a yummy little gem salad. Homemade limemade, and so surprised to see Pres'quile Pinot Noir - good one. Basque cheescake was burnt perfectly and moist ( a nice touch), lemon verbena flavored panna cotta, and special of the day strawberries three way with meringue and whipped cream- inspired. read more

Great dining experience - food, wine, service all 5 stars. Can't wait to come back soon! read more

Popina - Hot Chicken Milanese - Southern Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Very nice hidden place in Brooklyn on Colombia street big backyard very quiet and family oriented read more

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My date surprised me here when we were out in red hook one night. It's a really cute restaurant with a nice outdoor space in the back. The outdoor space is big and they set it up nicely with a game of boules and nice lights. Popina is a new American, Italian and southern restaurant. Interesting, right? We started off with vegetables and had bucatini and hot fried chicken as our mains. The hot fried chicken was the most notable dish - it was paired with radicchio greens and the chicken was well fried. It was juicy and tender and very crisp. The drink menu is small but they have a decent selection of cocktails and wines. Service is great too, everyone is friendly and they are helpful with the menu. I'd check out popina if you're in the area - it's a cute spot with good food. read more

Popina - Southern Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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DELICIOUS. Papardelle, hot chicken milanese and arancini were to die for. Great backyard. Will definitely return. read more

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What a great place for high-end, seasonal, Italian-inspired cuisine. Try one of their unique and delicious apps, try not to eat too much of the fresh-baked bread (and fail), and follow it with homemade pasta or a whole fish (to share). The always-changing wine selection is steps above most Brooklyn restaurants (and that's no insult to Brooklyn restaurants--they just really know their wines). Be sure to book on the weekends, this place gets busy. read more

We loved the Octopus and the rigatoni on our first visit. The pasta was very good. The chef really tries to be creative and combine unusual ingredients together. On our second visit however I was less impressed by the arancini. The spaghetti was great too. read more

This was the perfect end to our anniversary weekend in the city. Food was fresh, flavorful, and perfect for a warm summer night. Staff went out of their way to make us feel welcomed. read more

Great spot: friendly staff, awesome food, spacious backyard which is nice for social distancing. We really liked the chickpea sandwich. Pasta is homemade. Wine and beer list is great. Definitely worth a visit! read more

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The Popina crew is in a league of their own. It's our go-to restaurant for pretty much any occasion -- from a mid-week family dinner, to my first option for out-of-town guests, to special events in their one-of-a-kind outdoor space (had my birthday there on more than one occasion); we are there all the time. Chef Chris, James and the entire team treat us like we're a part of the family -- they really take care of us every time we're there. Of course, the food, the wine! Top notch. I love that the menu changes with the season and they always have new items on rotation that keep options fresh. My shortlist includes the arancini, the hot chicken Milanese, all of the pastas (amatriciana, cacio e pepe, the pappardelle with ham and collards) and their chess pie when it's on the menu. Their wine list is amazing and filled with interesting selections, and their bottled Negronis are always a great option if you're in the mood for a cocktail. What more can I say, other than see you there! read more

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