Lunella Ristorante
If you enter Little Italy from Canal Street, Lunella Ristorante is located several blocks in on the left-hand side. To get there, you may have to pass several other enticing and flashier restaurants, but the journey is worth the wait. While the other restaurants cater (loudly) to tourists, Lunella Ristorante offers a quieter, more intimate experience and a mix of New Yorkers and tourists as clientele. It would be a fine choice for a date night.
Lunella’s staff were extremely friendly and adept at making suggestions regarding food and drink. They were attentive without being annoying. The service at Lunella was consistently prompt. The servers delivered each course promptly and arrived with soft drink and water refills as needed.
The atmosphere of Lunella matched its outdoor sign—though primarily an elegant nighttime establishment, it would be a perfect respite from a bright, busy day in either hot or cold weather. In Lunella, the lights were low and customers received privacy (something at a minimum in public places in New York City).
The food itself was hot and fresh. In particular, the meals were served with the same preparation and care that one would expect to find in a fine sushi restaurant. At Lunella, the chef does not sloppily ladle pasta onto the dish, leaving spots on the edge—the impression is that each dish is prepared specifically to the customer’s preference.
Dishes including meat include an even distribution of the meat throughout the pasta.
The pasta was prepared al dente and the cheese added to the pasta dishes was completely melted and slightly browned (though not burned as sometimes seen in Italian restaurants). Because the cheese was not dry over the cheese ravioli, the dish tasted rather moist overall and much easier to chew. Although the chef served the ravioli in red sauce, it was creamy and complementary of the cheese rather than acidic—with a sweetness not entirely expected considering the completely red color of the sauce.
The bar rests in the left center of the restaurant. The staff prepared all drinks promptly and the customers seemed to respond positively. The bar seemed incredibly well-stocked and immaculately clean.
Additionally, the bathroom facilities at Lunella were clean and spacious. Although there is only one ladies room for the entire restaurant, the one available had a working lock, soap and also smelled very clean. This is particularly positive for tourists stopping for a meal.
Walking to Lunella offers visitors the opportunity to escape the hurried nature of the city after experiencing a short walk through Little Italy. Just look for the moon on the banner to find promises of a gentle environment and delectable dishes.
Posted by Tara M. Clapper
