This is the time of year that my mouth waters with anticipation, my hands long for a reprieve from the kitchen, and the enticement of a $24.07 lunch or a $35 for a dinner – both three courses – is just too tempting to pass up. Restaurant week is here and Henrietta is hungry!
Focaccia bread and ricotta
First up I chose A Voce for lunch. The ambience may be on the stuffy side but the unobstructed view of Central Park more than makes up for it. Instead of a bread basket, focaccia bread arrived on an artisinal wooden slab accompanied by a creamy ricotta spread. The bread was fluffy fresh and the ricotta spread spiked with olive oil, hints of mint and red pepper flakes; a happy marriage of flavors.
Linguine seafood sugo
Insalata : shaved pear and fennel salad, almonds, smoked ricotta
For the Antipasti we chose the Shaved Pear and Fennel Salad with Almonds and Smoked Ricotta, which made for a good clean start, along with the Linguine Seafood Sugo with Toasted Garlic and Breadcrumbs, which boasted a zesty, chewy texture and melded perfectly with the other app.
For Secondi we opted for the Salsiccia – Grilled Pork Sausage with Creamy Polenta and Dried Apricot Mostarda – which was simple yet complex, sweet but tart; and the Orecchiette with Duck Bolognese and Grana Padano, which was bursting with flavor – nice big chunks of tender duck and perfectly al dente orecchiette.
Salsiccia - grilled pork sausage, creamy polenta, dried apricot mostarda
Orecchiette - duck bolognese, grana padano
My borderline obsessive sweet tooth demanded the Chef’s Dessert Selection, comprised of Vanilla Panna Cotta with Grapefruit, Aperol and Pistachios – refreshingly tart and nutty; and the Budino – Chocolate Bread Pudding with Orange and Hazelnuts, which was drier than I’d like, but the orange glaze was fabulous.
Panna cotta - vanilla panna cotta, grapefruit, aperol, pistachios
Budino - Chocolate Bread Pudding with Orange and Hazelnuts
By the end of lunch, my friend Melly and I were completely stuffed, A Voce did not disappoint. With great food, attentive waiters and friendly patrons, it’s easy to see why A Voce is a go-to eatery. Restaurant week is still going strong, so pop by and get some Italian with modernist twist.
A Voce
10 Columbus Circle
3rd Floor
New York
Tel : 212-823-2523
