Lincoln Ristorante Patina Restaurant Group Lincoln Ristorante Lincoln Ristorante

Lincoln Ristorante

Lincoln Center
142 W. 65th St. (Columbus & Amsterdam Aves.)
New York, NY 10023
Map
Cuisine: Italian / Contemporary
Contemporary Italian cuisine is offered at this ristorante in the plaza of Lincoln Center.
Openings: Lunch Wed.-Fri., Dinner nightly, Brunch Sat.-Sun.

Features

Lincoln Ristorante, New York, NY


Lincoln Ristorante Restaurant Review:


Lincoln Ristorante opened with great fanfare. The Patina Restaurant Group did not skimp over small details and invested a reported $20 million to erect a Manhattan outpost in the plaza of the world’s largest performing arts complex, Lincoln Center. The architectural result indeed is impressive. The glass-and-steel pavilion with grass growing on the inclined roof and the magnificent views of the nearby reflecting pool are as dramatic as many of the productions staged nearby. The open kitchen appears to be the size of a football field, crowded by a battalion of cooks marching over a pristine floor among sparkling stainless steel equipment. Despite its all-American name, Lincoln proclaims it is an Italian restaurant. The menu, down-right written in Italian (with English translation), indeed covers the gamut of Italianate food and dishes, from the “antipasti” such as the salumis (salt meat) with the praised San Daniele ham to the “primi” and the expected pastas of spaghetti alle vongole, tagliatelle verdi Bolognese or orecchiette with duck, pork and cabbage, and to the main dishes if you are still hungry. Then, you can choose a halibut with mussels, potatoes and garlic, or a branzino (sea bass) accompanied by fennel and olives. Carnivores might consider the cotoleta (veal chop) with artichokes seasoned with gremolata, a mixture of parsley, citrus and garlic, a typical Italian seasoning for veal. In an Italian eatery, you expect good gelati (ice cream), and here they live up to their reputation, along with the successful chocolate gato and its grapefruit cream and coffee ice cream. Concocted by pastry chef Richard Capizzi, desserts are a welcome conclusion to a dinner where imagination did not prevail. There’s also a dégustation menu, in the middle of which appears a dish dubbed “strozzapreti neri.” The translation “strangles the priest” gives an idea of the lightness of this homemade pasta; in this case, black with fish eggs and olives. We are not so sure this robust dish belongs on an expensive menu where finesse is expected. The long all-Italian wine list features many small producers. Knowledgeable staff does their best to get pre-performance guests to their seats on time, and will serve the complete menu at the bar for walk-ins.