The Leopard at des Artistes Menu

The Leopard at des Artistes Restaurant Review:

Set in the erstwhile (and legendary) Café des Artistes space, the Leopard at des Artistes (get the allusion in the name?) carries on the former eatery’s stately vibe. Owned by Gianfranco and Paula Sorrentino, who also run Il Gattopardo, the Leopard focuses on southern Italian fare with a very formal touch. You can smell the affluence in this brightened (still muraled) spot. What comes out of the kitchen is mostly good, but make sure you have a hefty expense account or are ready for a splurge. Start with grilled octopus with celery hearts and Castelvetrano olives, or panzanella salad with Campari tomatoes, roasted peppers and creamy stracciatella. The thick bucatini noodles with sardines, fennel and raisins hit all the right notes, especially for a dish one doesn’t find on many menus in New York. Main courses include oven-roasted dorada, simply prepared with lemon and olive oil, and a hefty dry-aged rib-eye with bone marrow. Perk yourself up at the end of the meal with an espresso granita or Nutella chocolate mousse topped with a scoop of banana gelato. Or finish off that wine, of which the selection is all Italian and, as you would expect, more expensive than affordable.