 Salute! Restaurant Review: Gennaro Sbarro likes naming his restaurants with exclamation points, from his ubiquitous shopping-mall food-court pizza parlors that share his last name to this light, airy upscale Madison Avenue eatery popular with business types and tourists. The prime corner location offers two large dining rooms sandwiched between an inviting bar with floor-to-ceiling windows in the front, and an open kitchen and takeout counter in the back. Chef Paolo Buffa makes pizzas in a wood-burning oven that are better than those served at Sbarro!, but neither is worthy of an exclamation point. The mozzarella and most pastas are made fresh on the premises, and diners can go off menu for their favorite pasta and sauce combination. Besides the traditional offerings, enjoy entrées from the seasonal menu or daily menu like a flavorful pan-seared king salmon or rich foie gras-topped filet mignon. Weekend brunch also runs the gamut from french toast to wild boar lasagna. Pastry chef Gabriel Ferrara’s specialty is the huge Salute! cannoli, a colorful creation that stuffs three types of ice cream, chocolate sauce and pistachios into a puff pastry shell that is baked, not fried, presumably to cut the calorie count. Mangia!
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Splurging at top-rated restaurants is fun for special events, but where can you go for a good quality meal that won't break the bank? Gather the change out of your piggy bank and sofa cushions and take it to one of our selections for the best cheap eats in your area.
