Giorgio's of Gramercy
Veal Parmigiana
On East 21st St, between Broadway and Park, lies a cozy Italian eatery with old school interior, featuring dark wood and close tables. It’s casual, yet still very much white tablecloth. I grew up in Boston, and it reminds me of something I’d find in the North End.
Reasonable prices
It’s not cheap, but also not super expensive. Appetizers are around $20—salads, about $15. Pasta is about $17-$30. Entrees range from $18-85.
My top picks
For appetizers, my favorites are:
Burrata served with cinnamon roasted acorn squash, truffle honey, toasted pine nuts, and crisp sage.
Grilled octopus served with capers, pickled onion, roasted pepper, asparagus, blood orange, olive oil, lemon, and parsley.
Salad
I like the Farmer’s Salad. It features butter lettuce, radicchio, grilled asparagus, radish, fennel, queso fresco, lemon, and truffle oil. It’s very similar to one I make at home, so I usually only order it if I’m here for a business dinner and craving vegetables.
Entrée
My absolute favorite is the veal parmesan for $39. I get it almost every time. It’s a HUGE cutlet, still on the bone, with a heaping pile of pasta on top. While I can eat a full one, it’s a struggle; the portion is massive. If I’ve had appetizers, I’ll take half home—yay for leftovers! I’ve tried some of the specials, which are good, but nothing compares to the veal parmesan. It’s one of the best I’ve had—thin (but not too thin), crispy but not crunchy. It’s the perfect blend of flavors and textures. If you like veal, you can’t go wrong with this choice. And if you don’t, they offer steak, chicken, and seafood entrees as well.
Sides
To be honest, I’ve never ordered them. The portions are so huge, that between appetizers and entrees there’s been zero need for them. I’m sure they’re equally delicious, however.
Wine not
For all my fellow drinkers, the bottles of wine are pretty reasonably priced. There’s a full bar too, for anyone looking for something a bit stronger.
Dessert—if you have room
When it comes to dessert at Giorgio’s, it’s something I typically skip. I’m always waaaay too full. With that said, MilkBar built their NY flagship store down the street, so sometimes I’ll pay them a visit to get cookies, or a slice of cake for a late-night snack…and of course steal a bite of my friend’s ice cream.
