This small restaurant on Christopher Street is fabulous.  The food is great:  the meat lasagna wasn’t remotely heavy, the spezzatino was delicious, the Cornish game hen perfectly marinated and cooked, the salads and sides creative and excellent.  The owner’s olive oil from near Florence was wonderful – and we’re picky about olive oil.  There’s also an interesting wine list and the service is efficient and friendly.  A great find.

Tiella, on First Avenue and 61st Street, is a welcoming and intimate Neapolitan restaurant – run by Neapolitans.  The food is a creative twist on typical fare from Naples.  The orata baked in a potato crust is delicious as is the home-made pasta, especially the red-wine fettuccine.  There’s a good selection of Italian wines too.  The coffee is strong and appropriately bitter, just like in Naples. Tiella is a great addition to the neighborhood.