Lupa Osteria Romana, 16 years and still consistently delicious and charming.
Recently, Courtny and I met up with our Cuban Angel, Ebony, who guided us magnificently during our recent phenomenal sojourn through Cuba.
Ebony is a selective eater. We had witnessed her eating pasta with ketchup at various dining spots in Havana that were short on alternatives. We wanted her to try some delectable pasta minus the ketchup sauce.
It was pouring out, but that did not deter our rendezvous in Greenwich Village.
Lupa looks just like an authentic trattoria on an alleyway in Rome, with bare-brick walls and arches.
Lupa opened in 1999 when the superstar team of Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich had just embarked on their delectable road to success.
Lupa was a success when it opened 16 years ago prior to Babbo, Del Posto and Casa Mono, It continues to thrive, judging by the crowds.
A third of the tables are held for walk-ins. Lunch is the perfect time to dine at Lupa. If dinner is your thing, book in advance.
We started with a salad of Mozzarella di Bufala with Brussels Sprouts & Lemon ($15). It was fresh and tasty.
Next we indulged in the Charred Baby Octopus with grapefruit and almond ($16)…delicious.
My favorite Lupa dish is Bavette Cacio e Pepe ($15). It is mouthwatering in its simplicity. The traditional Roman pasta with pecorino and coarse black pepper is always prepared to perfection.
Ebony followed suit and ordered the Cacio e Pepe with a side of Carciofi Alla Romana (artichokes $17) which she appeared to enjoy except I think it was a bit peppery for her taste.
Courtny selected the Skirt Steak with Cauliflower Alla Romana ($29). The dish was fabulous…meat was tender and the cauliflower flavorful.
We ordered a side of Crispy Fingerlings with Rosemary & Lemon in honor of Ebony’s Irish heritage. They were definitely crispy and tempting just as all fabulous carbs should be ($8).
Lupa also offers a $25 three-course lunchtime tasting menu Monday through Friday from 11:30AM to 4PM.
We did not have room for dessert, although I highly recommend the Olive Oil Cake ($10).
Consistent. That is synonymous with Lupa…always delightful, appetizing and appealing.
Lupa Osteria Romana 170 Thompson Street New York City. Open Sunday-Thursday 11:30am-11pm, Friday and Saturday 11:30-midnight. Reservations on OpenTable.com.
