The  West Village neighborhood of Manhattan is  a very unique and historic place.  Throughout the last centuries its streets have been the home to famous New Yorkers, artists, musicians and has a rich cultural history.  The area is quiet and intimate unlike so many other parts of the city. The streets are narrow and lined with wonderful antique homes and shops.  The West Village has been home to countless famous people as Aaron Burr (third Vice President of the U.S.), and even fictional characters such as Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City.   The area is also home to some interesting dining options.

In a space that is partially below sidewalk level, we dined recently at Osteria 57, an Italian restaurant that is unique in that its menu is seafood and vegetarian with no meat served.  This is a refreshing and very different take on traditional Italian fare.   The space occupies a former cellar in an antique building and it is instantly intimate and cozy.  Walls are of white washed brick, exposed 19th century wooden beams and wooden floors add to the comfortable ambiance. After being seated in our front corner table we felt as if we had been transported to Northern Italy.

The kitchen takes great pride in its menu selection, fresh ingredients, elegant presentation of each dish and the unique plating.  The observant diner is in for an evening of culinary excellence.

We started with the Crispy Cauliflower, a delightful dish of  lightly battered cauliflower and served in with smoked paprika sauce. An excellent veggie dish loaded with flavor and gluten free as well.

Staying in the veggie mode we sampled the Burrata Primavera.  This blending of soft fresh burrata cheese, spring vegetables, salsa verde and pinenuts. A very innovative pairing of the ingredients to create a unique taste.

Another excellent app that could be a main dish was the Scallops, that was an elegant presentation.  Fresh sea scallops were seared and served with a delicious tower of English peas, fregola, pickled shallots and sprouts.

For main dishes there is seafood, pasta, and a vegetarian offering.   We tried the wonderful and tasty Mushrooms in a smooth vegetable puree.  The dish was hearty and was hard to  believe no cream was used in the rich puree.

The Black Cod was delicious and was this thick fillet was cooked to perfection and served with red bell pepper, romano beans, mustard seed and mashed potato.  The light cod matched with the zest of the red pepper made for a memorable dish.  Highly recommended.

Though Osteria 57 does not have a cocktail menu at this time, in keeping with Italian tradition it offers a fine selection of wines and we enjoyed a glass of Gavi with our meal.  It was  selected by our host and was a perfect complement to our meal.

Osteria 57 is a wonderful restaurant.  It is where rustic Italy meets old New York.  It’s intimate setting is the perfect place for good food, great wine and friends to gather.

Osteria 57

57 W 10th St, New York, NY 10011   tel. 212- 777-0057

web http://osteria57.com/

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