Grotta Azzurra Restaurant – New York

Passing through Little Italy, and wasn’t in the mood to eat at a place heaving with people. This seemed as good as any.

The prix fixe lunch was $12.95, I got a penne with mozz, basil and eggplant to start. Moved onto the basa, a white fish in white wine sauce, and vegetables. Very filling, totally decent.
My dining companion got the cold antipasti, $15, and two glasses of wine. No complaints.

Grotta Azzurra - astica suavignon blanc Grotta Azzurra - penne with mozz, basil, eggplant - first course from lunch prix fixe
Grotta Azzurra - Basa and veg Grotta Azzurra - cold antipasti
Top: Cynthia’s wine, on left. Penne with mozzarella, basil and eggplant, on left.
Bottom: Basa fish, and veg, on left. Antipasti and cleavage, on right.

Service was attentive and friendly, they went out of their way to seat me at the outdoor table I wanted. It was worth the 20% service charge they added on, and it was good I saw it on the bill, so there was no need to add another tip on the credit card slip.

Bonus: maybe they didn’t see me waiting for the restroom down in the lower floor. But I got a preview of my waiter preparing to strip out of his work clothes. We made eye contact, which stopped him mid belt-buckle, but since it made me laugh, he laughed it off and did a little dance. Didn’t have a dollar on me to tuck into his skivvies – consider it added to the service charge.

Grotta Azzurra Restaurant