Bar Stuzzichini

Tapas, Italian style

I had to pop into work so I took advantage of the area and joined my friend L for dinner at nearby Bar Stuzzichini. Located on Broadway between 21st and 22nd, it is in the ideal eatery triangle - Flatiron District heading into Gramercy and Union Square.

We decided to go with a group of 5 stuzzichinis for $24. The crostini caponata (eggplant-based) was good, flavored with pine nuts and toasted nicely. Fried salted cod, baccalà fritti, was way too battered and doughy and the fish tasted old and fishy. Pizza rustica was a cold wedge of a light cheese and ham filled pie, yummy but the cold delivery made the crust lackluster and the flavors muted. The frittata of onion, potato, and pecorino cheese was also flavorful but lost its full potential by serving it room temperature. I really enjoyed the carciofi fritti; I never had artichoke leaves/petals so tasty. Still hungry, we ordered the ivoltini (stuffed eggplant) and zucchine alla scapece. The eggplant was not really stuffed but rolled around a white cheese (?) and it was nice but boring. The zucchine had great flavor and nice slices of garlic but the grilled marks didn't translate to grilled flavor, perhaps because this dish was also served cold. Perhaps I just don't get all the cold versions of appetizers from Italy. We finished the meal with a lovely apple torta which was served with whipped cream which should have been replaced with a nice gelato. Adding one $12 glass of wine and the meal topped out at a rather expensive sum of over $70. Ah, the price of eating out in NYC.