Leonelli Taberna

Leonelli Taberna Restaurant Review:

About the décor & atmosphere: At the center of Leonelli Taberna’s bright dining room is a glassed-in kitchen, where the action happens. The comfortable, spacious restaurant in The Evelyn hotel has a long bar, gleaming wood tables, green banquettes and tall ceilings.

Likes: Lovely, not too loud space; lasagna; frutti di mare.
Dislikes: Many of Leonelli Taberna’s dishes are ubiquitous on NYC menus.

Food & Drinks: Chef Jonathan Benno’s (Lincoln Ristorante, Per Se) trattoria and cocktail bar pays tribute to his travels through Italy, especially Rome. His roasted chicken broth soup with farro dumplings is an elegant interpretation of soul-warming comfort food. Scallops, shrimp, mussels, squid and clams arrive in gorgeously executed frutti di mare form --- a light, crispy sheath around super sweet seafood. Crespelle, Italian crêpes, are served with ricotta, tomato sauce and spinach. Benno is known for his pastas, and they don’t disappoint, especially when it comes to a silky, many-layered spinach lasagna with Bolognese. For dessert, there’s torta with lemon curd and pine nuts, and tartufo with hazelnut gelato and cherry sorbet. Italian inspiration can also be found in the cocktail menu, which features multiple variations of spritzes and the Americano, ideal enjoyed with snacks like flatbreads and salami plates and piccoli piatti. The wine list focuses on bottles from the boot, too.