Peachy Picks Trattoria Pesce Pasta
Trattoria Pesce Pasta is a charming Italian neighborhood spot nestled on the corner of 90th and Columbus on the Upper West side of Manhattan. It was first featured in Tasty Tidbits:
and today we are pleased to announce it has entered the ranks of Peachy's Picks.
Its warm atmosphere, fantastic cuisine and great attitude of every staff member we encountered make it a place to visit when you are in this part of town, and note that we have never gone this far north or this far west before.
Even the chandeliers are charming! Owner Nuno DeSousa has stories about them from where he got the first few, and then contacted the manufacturer to get the balance. They hang from a copper ceiling from the 1940s which adds to the whole setting:
We love it when places have that extra-special something that makes them unique and irreplaceable. In a building from 1973, Pesce Pasta opened in 1999 and has been going strong in the neighborhood ever since.
Peachy Deegan began with a piping hot stuffed artichoke!
Every leaf was generously decorated with fabulous breadcrumbs and Italian spices that enhanced the experience. It was done just right.
We are big proponents of vegetables so we tried sides of carrots and string beans. Peachy does try to be balanced all the time but you know not everything she eats is healthy! Our panelist is on the four-letter d-word (diet) and we wanted to show you how you can make smart choices and still have a great time out to eat!
Ever since her Boston College days Peachy has been obsessed with Chicken Parmigiana (but back then she had it on a grinder). When we try neighborhood Italian spots sometimes she gets nostalgic and orders Chicken Parm and can vouch for the fact that Trattoria Pesce Pasta makes a lovely one. Owner Nuno DeSousa was a total peach all night making us feel welcome and at home and it was not only us that he said hello to-he walked around to every table and interacted with all of his clients, just as an outstanding owner does and we could see they were just as happy to have a chat with him in return. Host Miguel Puebla was gracious as well and there is an extremely low turnover rate of employees at Trattoria Pesce Pasta, which is nice to know!
Our esteemed panelist adds:
Having lived in Italy for nearly five years, I can honestly say, "I know good Italian food when I taste it." Not only was the food GREAT at Pesce Pasta, the place was really cute and cozy too.
I started with the mussels in a white wine broth. The mussels were cooked to perfection, plump, tender and bathed in a garlic, buttery broth. I finished every drop and wished I had more! I decided to have fish for my entree but had a tough time deciding between the salmon, sole and monk. I finally decided to have the Dorado, a Mediterranean fish that I often ate when I played in Spain. I hadn't had it in years and the presentation was beautiful...yes, IT WAS AWESOME!
I had a side of string beans that were sauteed in garlic and olive oil and ate some of Peachy's carrots too . I had a glass of Chardonnay with dinner and decided to pass on dessert (but the Tiramisu was calling my name). I was able to fight off that call but next time I will have it!
Nuno DeSousa (the owner) was a bonus. He sat with us answering every question we threw at him and even told us how he came across the beautiful chandeliers and metal ceiling. He also explained that his staff is like family and everyone has been with him for years. This was evident because they engaged each and every one of the customers. I really had a wonderful experience and as Nuno said "Pesce Pasta is great food, a nice atmosphere, at a great price."
I vouch for that!!!
Peachy Picks Trattoria Pesce Pasta!
625 Columbus Ave
Corner of 90th
212 579 7970
