Torrisi Italian Specialties, NoLita
“I made it! I made it with one minute to spare. It’s 5:59!” a dining companion exclaimed as he reached his friends, one minute before Torrisi opened for supper. Luckily only a handful of parties were gathered outside this Tuesday evening (still impressive because no one eats dinner at 6 in New York) versus the line of people sometimes queued up, patiently waiting for the no-reservations, small Italian grocer to open for dinner. We had already tapped on the door, put our name in with the hostess when she poked her head out, and were told we were guaranteed a seat when they opened.
In the cozy dining room, the nitely-changing prix fixe dinner ($50, and the only option) includes several appetizers, pasta, your choice of one of two main courses, and a dessert platter. No substitutions (not even no cheese sprinkled on top!) and choice or red, white, bubbly, or beer for an additional cost.
Trust me when I tell you the hype is true (NY Mag, The Times). Get here early, wait it out if you have to (as the Italian man sitting next to me loudly proclaimed into his cell phone “Yeah I’m in! I’ve never been able to get in, and I know everyone in this town!”), and pray they’re serving the mozzarella in olive oil (best darn mozzarella you’ll ever have).
Click through for more photos from our amazing dinner. Best experience I’ve had in New York in a long, long time.
Our menu (changes nitely and no substitutions)
Two of our four antipasti
Seafood pasta. Best ever, perfectly cooked.
Palate cleansers
Dessert platter, aka heaven on a plate
