THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED D.O.C.G. Awards

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED D.O.C.G. Restaurant Review:

Chef Scott Conant's D.O.C.G. takes its name from the Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (denomination of controlled and guaranteed origin), the top classification for Italian wines. The name fits, for the restaurant shares a voluminous 3,000-bottle wine cellar with sister restaurant, Scarpetta, which is located just next door. Wines from Tuscany, Piemonte, Puglia and Lombardia are emphasized, though French wines and a few nods to Spain can also be found on the wine list. The restaurant exudes a casual and relaxed ambience and is simultaneously simple and soulful, with rustic brick walls, a hardwood floor and marble tabletops. The menu delivers high-quality eats at affordable prices. Don’t miss the margherita pizza, with a crust that’s thin and chewy and tomatoes that pop with flavor. An appetizing starter is the grilled octopus with bay scallops and cannellini beans. A standout fresh pasta is the cavatelli with sausage and porcini mushrooms. Appealing meat dishes include the roasted veal chop Parmigiano, served with tomato and burrata; the Italian rubbed Prime filet with Tuscan herb potatoes and red wine sugo; and the braised lamb shank with mascarpone potatoes. A grand finale is the salted caramel budino --- an Italian pudding alternating flavors of salt and sweet with layers of vanilla, salted caramel sauce, whipped cream and sea salt.