Peachy Picks Lusardi's

Luigi Lusardi!  A total peach.

Lusardi's was first featured in Terrific Takeout:
http://www.whomyouknow.com/2011/03/terrific-takeout-lusardis.html


It was excellent, so it graduated to Tasty Tidbits:
http://www.whomyouknow.com/2011/03/tasty-tidbits-lusardis.html

We must say poor Parma is missing out because Luigi left you to grace the Upper East side with his presence!  Lusardi's even has their own Sangiovese house wine...Peachy Deegan would highly encourage you to ask about the specials because they are precisely that!  You know she is absolutely in love with Italian seafood, and the lobster salad special would delight anyone that loves creatures of the sea:

Not only was the lobster succulent and fresh but the presentation was just perfect as is clear above.  The dabs of lobster sauce were just tops, and the sprig of green added zest.  We hope we are all killing you - we run these reviews at lunchtime sometimes to motivate you to make your dinner reservations!  Also in addition to being aware of the specials,  since you are reading Whom You Know you know you have an insider's edge.  You should also know the favorite dishes of the OWNER.  Peachy was privileged to know this information from Luigi himself, and his favorite appetizer is the Crespelle Fiorentina, which we featured in the Takeout.  His favorite entree is the Vitello Martini:

This veal is the real deal!

Try it, and it will be instantaneously clear why Luigi says this is his favorite.

The veal is encrusted with Parmigiano cheese, sauteed with white wine and lemon, and every tender bite will melt in your mouth!  Peachy had some spinach join the veal party and it is hiding between the two veal cutlets in the picture above.  This was an excellent balance between sweet and savory and was simply a delight.  We were pleased to meet Chef Claudio Meneghini from the Firiuli region of Italy, and he has been at Lusardi's for ten years.  No meal is complete without chocolate:

Gorgeous as it was, that chocolate cake went from plate to Peachy's stomach in 5 seconds similar to the way that a Corvette goes from zero to 60 in 5 seconds.  Yes, she loved it.  But don't just listen to Peachy alone.  She brought her panel!

As we settled into our cozy corner table at the lovely Lusardi’s on the Upper East Side, we were warmly greeted by co-owner Luigi Lusardi (his brother, Mauro is the other owner!), which set the tone for a terrific evening.  We perused the menu while munching on crusty Italian bread dipped in olive oil (yum!) and took a while to decide what to order because everything sounded so delicious!  Chef Claudio Meneghini  explained to us that Lusardi’s has a very loyal clientele, so the menu has remained largely unchanged over the years, although he does try to sneak in some new, seasonal dishes when he can! His specialty is Northern Italian cuisine, and he executes it beautifully.  To start, I ultimately decided on the Tartufella alla Piastra, which is seared truffled goat cheese on a bed of baby arugula, shaved pears, seedless grapes, and toasted almond flakes in lemon-truffle dressing.  One of the best appetizers I’ve tasted in recent memory, this dish was also beautifully presented.  The combination of flavors and textures was outstanding, and I’ll be craving that seared truffled goat cheese for weeks to come!  

For my main course, I opted for the Petto di Pollo Farcito al Montasio, which was a breast of chicken, stuffed with montasio cheese and fresh herbs, sautéed with green beans and wild mushrooms.  Expertly prepared, this dish was  100% delectable!  The savory herb/mushroom sauce was superior, the chicken was cooked to perfection, and the herb/cheese filling just knocked it out of the park!  As much as I enjoyed the entire meal, I must say that the dessert was my favorite part!  Again, the choices were plentiful, but I am extremely happy that I finally decided upon the Pere Ubriache, which, translated literally, means “drunk pear!” 

And indeed, this pear had been cooked in red wine and cinammon, which turned it a gorgeous ruby color and gave it incredible flavor.  It was served with a cinnamon custard, which was absolutely divine.  Truly, it was one of the best desserts I’ve ever had!  Overall, Lusardi’s provided us with an excellent dining experience.  Everything, from the warmth of the owner to the attentiveness of the staff to the quality of the food, was exceptional – I’m looking forward to dining there again soon!

Lusardi’s is an established and refined Italian neighborhood restaurant.  The understated decors sits gracefully behind it’s notable clientele.  Equally substantial is the quality of the dishes served and the exemplary staff service.  Our initial welcome was extraordinarily gracious and continued to be so throughout our meal.  Dinner was served in a timely and pleasant manner, always attentive to our every need.  As an appetizer, the Buffalo Mozzarella was very tasty.  A plentiful serving was given over an assortment of tomatoes and red and yellow peppers.  As for the very inventive entree, the cod was prepared with an admixture of raisins, pine nuts, and vidalia onions.  The portion was healthy, with the aromatic flavors fulfilling each mouthful. It was accompanied by a perfectly done broccoli rabe, equally delectable. For a finale, the tripartite homemade gelati /  ice cream dessert was delicious.  Chocolate, vanilla, and hazelnut were the well blended flavors that culminated the extraordinarily tasty and plentiful meal.

Peachy Picks Lusardi's!!!

http://lusardis.com/