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Caffe dei Fiori

  • Restaurants
  • Lenox Hill
  • price 3 of 4
  • 3 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Photograph: Courtesy Caffe Dei Fiori
Photograph: Courtesy Caffe Dei Fiori
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Time Out says

3 out of 5 stars

A block away from Hunter College on Lexington Ave, Caffe dei Fiori hosts a seasonal menu that rest comfortably between traditional and modern. Offerings include elevated classics such as house-made tagliatelle with bolognese sauce ($26), a crunchy potato string–topped tuna tartare with lightly spiced avocado mousse ($22) and a salad of octopus, eggplant and basil ($23). While the scratch-made pasta offers the ideal fork tenderness, some of the protein-centered entrées fall short—lamb chops with wild mushrooms ($40) lack enough seasoning to complement the earthy flavor of the meat while the duck breast with pickled cherries ($44) screams out for greater attention to technical detail. On a recent visit, the skin wasn't properly crispy, the fat had not rendered and the meat wasn't fully cooked. However, the restaurant's reaction was immediate, as the maître d'hôtel quickly made amends for the failed dishes with two fresh plates of pasta covered with white truffles and parmesan.

Dessert fares better. The cheesecake ice cream layered with fresh raspberry compote and buttery crumble ($12) tastes creamy and decadent and the panna cotta ($12) is lusciously smooth. The restaurant also offers an extensive wine list, with bottles ranging from $50 to $630. Though a few dishes fall short, the staff more than makes up for it with your choice of freshly baked bread, tableside fish deboning and an attitude that makes you feel right at home. All in all, Caffe dei Fiori is a charming and promising addition to the Upper East Side dining scene.

BY COMMUNITY REVIEWER: SHELLY FLASH 

Details

Address:
973 Lexington Avenue
New York
10021
Transport:
6 to Hunter College
Price:
$31 to $50
Opening hours:
Mon-Fri 11:45am-3:30pm, 5:30pm-10:30pm; Sat & Sun 11:30am-4p, 5:30pm-10:30pm
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