Da Silvano: Italy's Finest in NYC

Da Silvano, NYC's celeb-happy, place to see and be seen spot for the last 30 years, is as good as I remember it. Located on one of the few broad sidewalks in NYC, Da Silvano is a little Tuscan oasis in the midst of the Village. You can have a good meal there even if you're not "someone" as long as you're prepared to pay for it.

It was our girl's trip to NYC. Having grown up in NY, I wanted to bring Jane and Diana to one of my favorite places. Da Silvano is certainly one of them. It's a quintessentially NYC spot while remaining steadfastly European. No hurry, no rush. Just good wine and good food.

We arrived after a leisurely walk around the mews of Washington Square to build up an appetite. It was a deserted hot Saturday afternoon, all the natives in the Hamptons, Connecticut or upstate. That's okay, we had the place to ourselves. The three of us grabbed a table outside of the Cantinetta (their bar next door) which was packed with cute Italians watching the World Cup. Anthony Bourdain was seated a table away too, so we even snagged a celebrity sighting, on a weekend when they are in scarce supply.

A glass of Prosecco later, all was right with the world. While the parade of NYC characters drifted by, we dug into some of their classics: Zucca di Fiori (zucchini blossoms filled with cheese), ensalata di rucola (an ethereal arugula salad—light, lemony and earthy. A summer delight). Then osso buco, gnocchi, seafood risotto...washed down with a lovely Super Tuscan (Summus I think). No hurries, no worries.

It's a special place. We usually hate sidewalk cafes in NY: they're noisy, dirty, and cramped in most cases. I could sit here forever.

Da Silvano
260 Sixth Ave., New York, NY 10014 
between Houston and Bleecker Sts. 
212-982-2343