By ANDREA STRONG
Posted: 3:21 am
August 24, 2008
Allegretti
46 W. 22nd St.; 212-206-0555
Provençal cuisine is the hook at newly opened Allegretti, the namesake restaurant of chef Alain Allegretti, a Nice native who's cooked in the kitchens of Ducasse and Maximin. His inviting restaurant features visions of his beloved hometown, decorated with dark teak wood and marine blue and sunflower-yellow accents, plus an open kitchen that displays a limestone brick oven where he roasts whole fish and slabs of beef.
Must-have meal: Mediterranean ceviche with Taylor Bay scallops, citrus gazpacho and avocado ($16); roasted Chatham cod with ragut of baccalà, chickpeas and piquillo peppers, crispy chorizo, romaine hearts and sweet pepper jus ($25); and lemon brioche with lemon chiboust and poached seasonal fruit ($10).
Soundtrack: Mellow "coast music."
Hours: Dinner: Mon.-Sat., 5-11p.m.; Lunch coming soon.
Vintage Irving
118A E. 15th St.; 212-677-6300
As its name suggests, Vintage Irving has a distressed-chic look: Exposed brick walls, dark wood tables, mix 'n' match chairs and warm candlelight, all of which give chef Jason Bunin a nice backdrop for his menu of European-style small plates. He'll also host weekly tastings with sommeliers, guest celebrity chefs and mixologists in a private tasting room that seats up to 12 people.
Must-have meal: The contamplano salad (Spanish chorizo with white beans, white asparagus, buffalo mozzarella, red pepper and olive tapenade, $8); truffled chicken meatballs ($8); escargot Valencia rice with yellow split peas and saffron vinaigrette ($13); and jelly doughnuts with fresh fruit and vanilla anglaise ($8).
Soundtrack: Everything from Elvis, Stevie Wonder and Sinatra to Indie artists like Death Cab for Cutie, Radiohead and Vampire Weekend.
Hours: Mon.-Wed., 8 p.m.-2 a.m.; Thurs.-Fri., 8 p.m.-4 a.m.; Sat., 11a.m.-4 a.m.; and Sun., 11 a.m.-2 a.m.
