THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Convivio

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Convivio Restaurant Review:

Convivio’s interior includes blood-orange banquettes, white fringe along the walls and a shiny lacquered ceiling for a comfortable feel. The menu settles in southern Italy, with a wide variety of rustic flavors. (Chef Michael White has departed Convivio.) Choosing from the 40-plus dishes is difficult. Here’s our vote: Get the $64 four-course menu, one of Midtown’s best values. Sfizi such as spicy, vinegary baby eggplant cubes make a charismatic starter, but tripe sausage offers the biggest menu surprise, with a soft, meaty texture that will win over even those usually offended by offal. The pastas are the most engaging of all, however. Fusilli grips long-cooked pork shoulder for a soulful, bolognese-like taste; taralli, whole wheat circles, come with a juicy, slurp-worthy garlic and sweet sausage sauce; and panzotti, plump packages of ricotta, boast a bright touch of tomato. A tender, venison-like squab and milky veal loin are better entrée choices than the too-chewy, over-charred octopus. End the meal with affogato, espresso poured over ricotta-vanilla bean ice cream.