Peachy Picks Destino
Why would you ever go to Rao's when you can go to Destino's?
Destino's boasts a knockout menu highlighted by meatballs of perfection and fettuccine with crabmeat and shrimp to die for, a much safer location on first avenue and 50th street than Harlem of course, and a winning team: the owner Anthony J. Curko spent many, many years working at Rao's in addition to being the son of the Executive Chef, Mario Curko, who was at Rao's from 1996 to 2006. Clearly Anthony is genetically inclined to succeed in this professional realm.
Anthony began at Rao's at age 13 and has a commanding knowledge of the restaurant business especially for someone his age-he's 29 later this year.
Along with co-owners Rebecca and Chef Victor, this team at Destino has something to be really proud of and we think they are a well-kept secret that should be a secret no longer-walk a little further east to first avenue...and here's why:
Their wine list is superb. We began with this 2006 Barbaresco which was one of the best wines we have tasted on recent reviews. You know we are definitely wine connoisseurs and the only thing missing from this bar is perhaps The Peachy Deegan, but hopefully not for long.
Destino was recently featured in Terrific Takeout:and quickly advanced to Tasty Tidbits since Peachy Deegan was so impressed:
And they have earned their spot in Peachy's Picks! They had us at hello with the meatballs. Their meatballs are their signature and we are not sure we've ever, EVER tasted a better meatball. And of course, we recommend you get some cheese on top:
We'd also add that their meatballs are of a monstrous size so be sure to share them! But if you are selfish we won't tell...they are so good you might want to be.
Their green salad is superior to many salads we've tasted this summer and is a definite must to balance out your meal. The colorful arrangement and high quality of vegetables will please everyone even if they might think they don't like vegetables. The buratta will melt in your mouth and you'll wonder why you'd ever eat another kind of cheese in your life.
A special of the night was the fettuccine in light pink sauce with CRABMEAT and SHRIMP. Immediately upon announcement of the specials menu, Peachy Deegan could hear this dish calling her name from the kitchen. A total standout, she believes this should become a menu regular and every bite was decadently delicious. If this is on the specials menu the night you dine at Destino, absolutely order it!!! The seafood was fresh, the cheese is in the proper ratio to the other ingredients and is top quality. You will be in total heaven.
We also tried a 2009 California Pinot Noir at the suggestion of Anthony the manager and Larry the server, who were delightful all evening. The entire staff is totally together at Destino and from top to bottom including Anthony the owner, Anthony the manager, Larry, Jung Kwon, and Carlos Taza they have impeccable service, communication skills, and the proper balance of friendliness and professionalism. This recipe for success is not as easy to find as you may think.
For her dinner, Peachy had a special of the night: lightly pounded veal chop with a slice of prosciutto de parma, fried layered eggplant, chopped portobello and mozzarella on top. The creativity was really something special and since this is Peachy's 80th dinner review, she loves to find a place that can serve her something unique and thoughtful that she has not had before.
And, it was delicious. Just look at it!
Some escarole joined the party too. Also you should know the decor is gorgeous from the ceiling to floor windows, mirrored wall, fresco on the ceiling...they don't fool around! Also we like that it has a gothic twist to it and is not a run-of-the-mill "my interior decorator did this." It is original.
We don't always picture our panelists, but we wanted to show you how big your smile will be when you dine at Destino's.
Standing is Anthony J. Curko and you know Peachy is in red-you've seen that face before.
Our esteemed panel raves:
Dinner at Destino was honestly one of the best meals I have had in a very long time. From the moment I walked through the door, I knew it was going to be a very special evening. We were greeted by an extremely welcoming and attentive staff. Throughout the night, their warm and friendly service really enhanced what was to be a truly unforgettable meal.
We started off the night with mouth-watering crostini. The topping on the crostini, made with fresh tomato, was so delectable! I wanted to eat more and more, but I had to restrain myself, knowing that I had to save room for the rest of this fantastic meal. Next, we sampled the house specialty, Polpettine di Mario, or Mario's Meatballs. It was absolutely fantastic! I never knew a meatball could have so much flavor! Then we tried the Burrata. I've never had burrata before, so this was a real treat for me. The mozzarella was so soft and fresh, and the cream inside was so delicious. Probably the highlight of the meal was the homemade Fettucini with Shrimp and Crabmeat in a Light Pink Sauce. When I took my first bite, it was as if fireworks were going off in my mouth. I thought I was in heaven! The fettucini was so tender, and the sauce was so flavorful. I could eat this dish every day of the week, and I still wouldn't be satisfied!
Then came my main course. I ordered the Pollo Scarpariello, shown above. The dish consisted of chicken on the bone, sauteed hot cherry peppers, sweet red peppers, hot and sweet sausage, and onions. I really enjoyed that this dish had a bit of a kick to it. It was spicy, but not too much so, and it was not at all a distraction from the wonderful flavors of the meats, vegetables, and sauce. The chicken was tender and juicy and fell right off the bone. The sausage was the perfect balance of savory and sweet. The vegetables were cooked to perfection, and the sauce blended all of these flavors together perfectly. This entree is a true winner!
Finally, we finished off the night with a wonderful sampling of desserts. We had a light and creamy Twenty Layer Crepe Cake, a decadent Cheesecake, and a phenomenal Chocolate Lava Cake topped with walnuts. Even though I was literally bursting at the seams from eating so much, I could not stop myself from indulging on each and every one of these fabulous desserts. It was the perfect ending to a perfect meal!
I don't get to visit midtown east very often, but now that I have experienced Destino's, I will certainly need to come back more frequently! I was immediately impressed with the interior of the restaurant, which had mirrors along the walls and great natural lighting from the large windows. As soon as we walked inside, I knew we were in for a real treat. The staff was warm and friendly, and instantly made us feel at home. Another huge plus that is hard to come by in most restaurants, was the live piano music and vocalist. The subtle music they made in the background really added to the atmosphere, and made our dinner first rate.
We decided to try a few different antipasti suggested by our server, including Insalata Gardino, Polpettine di Mario, Burrata, and homemade Fettucini with Shrimp and Crabmeat in a Pink Sauce. You really couldn't go wrong with any of these choices. They were all excellent! Polpettine di Mario, or Mario's Meatballs, were by far the best meatballs I have ever had! If you are looking for real Italian meatballs, Destino is the place to go! You won't be disappointed!
For my main course, I had the Pollo Francese, shown above. It was chicken breast, egg battered, with lemon and a white wine sauce. The chicken was so soft and tender, and the egg batter coating added to its already excellent texture and flavor. The lemon and white wine sauce made my mouth water! All of this was accompanied by a succulent serving of sauteed escarole and potato. It was a truly fantastic entree!
Finally, for dessert we tried a sampler of Cheesecake, Chocolate Lava Cake, Twenty Layer Crepe Cake, and Pistachio Ice Cream covered in a chocolate shell. My favorite dessert is cheesecake, and the cheesecake at Destino is one of the best I've had. It was light and airy, yet still very creamy and full of flavor. If you enjoy cheesecake as much as I do, then I highly recommend ordering some, even if you think you are too full to eat more!
For great atmosphere, top-notch, friendly service, and unforgettable food, dine at Destino. Your taste buds will thank you!
We decided to try a few different antipasti suggested by our server, including Insalata Gardino, Polpettine di Mario, Burrata, and homemade Fettucini with Shrimp and Crabmeat in a Pink Sauce. You really couldn't go wrong with any of these choices. They were all excellent! Polpettine di Mario, or Mario's Meatballs, were by far the best meatballs I have ever had! If you are looking for real Italian meatballs, Destino is the place to go! You won't be disappointed!
For my main course, I had the Pollo Francese, shown above. It was chicken breast, egg battered, with lemon and a white wine sauce. The chicken was so soft and tender, and the egg batter coating added to its already excellent texture and flavor. The lemon and white wine sauce made my mouth water! All of this was accompanied by a succulent serving of sauteed escarole and potato. It was a truly fantastic entree!
Finally, for dessert we tried a sampler of Cheesecake, Chocolate Lava Cake, Twenty Layer Crepe Cake, and Pistachio Ice Cream covered in a chocolate shell. My favorite dessert is cheesecake, and the cheesecake at Destino is one of the best I've had. It was light and airy, yet still very creamy and full of flavor. If you enjoy cheesecake as much as I do, then I highly recommend ordering some, even if you think you are too full to eat more!
For great atmosphere, top-notch, friendly service, and unforgettable food, dine at Destino. Your taste buds will thank you!
Tucked away on 50th street and 1st avenue is quite a gem of a restaurant! Upon walking in to Destino we were immediately greeted by a cordial staff, a highly sophisticated ambiance and beautiful, elaborate Italian paintings on the ceiling. There was also a live piano player and singer at the bar of the restaurant which enhanced the overall classy atmosphere.
Quickly after being seated we decided to try taster's samples for antipasto, all of which were incredibly delicious! Between the crostini, mixed salad, Mario's meatball (a regular house specialty), and the day's house specials (Burrata Mozzarella with buffalo tomatoes and asparagus and also fetticini with shrimp and crabmeat in a pink sauce) I was in love! They were all so delectable but my absolute favorite was the fetticini which was cooked to al-dente perfection! The seafood was incredibly fresh and the pink sauce was so flavorful without being too heavy. Though this was a special, I hope that this dish makes it's debut onto the menu in the near future!
For my main dish I ordered Salmone Vino Bianco E Capperi, which was salmon with a white wine sauce and capers. It was accompanied by a side of escarole lightly sautéed in olive oil and a sliver of fried potato. The generous helping of salmon was incredibly flavorful! The white wine sauce was perfect because it did not interfere with the taste of the salmon. It subtly complimented it and I truly enjoyed every bite. The escarole and potato added a nice balance to the plate and were equally delicious as well. In fact, I enjoyed the dish so much that I took the remainder that I couldn't finish home with me!
For dessert we had another taster's sample of some of the restaurant owner's favorites. We tried pistachio ice cream in a chocolate shell, 20 layer crepe, ricotta cheesecake and chocolate lava cake. I always have high expectations with dessert items because they are my favorite. Each of these different desserts were so delicious that I had to look past the fact that i was already full from everything preceding! I happily devoured them all and did not regret it. I especially loved the chocolate lava cake which was oozing with warm, decadent chocolate sauce.
Between the warm, jovial staff, comfortable yet sophisticated atmosphere and excellent Italian dishes I cannot wait to come back to Destino in the near future to try more of their mouth-watering dishes! This restaurant is truly a hidden gem and should not be missed!
For my main dish I ordered Salmone Vino Bianco E Capperi, which was salmon with a white wine sauce and capers. It was accompanied by a side of escarole lightly sautéed in olive oil and a sliver of fried potato. The generous helping of salmon was incredibly flavorful! The white wine sauce was perfect because it did not interfere with the taste of the salmon. It subtly complimented it and I truly enjoyed every bite. The escarole and potato added a nice balance to the plate and were equally delicious as well. In fact, I enjoyed the dish so much that I took the remainder that I couldn't finish home with me!
For dessert we had another taster's sample of some of the restaurant owner's favorites. We tried pistachio ice cream in a chocolate shell, 20 layer crepe, ricotta cheesecake and chocolate lava cake. I always have high expectations with dessert items because they are my favorite. Each of these different desserts were so delicious that I had to look past the fact that i was already full from everything preceding! I happily devoured them all and did not regret it. I especially loved the chocolate lava cake which was oozing with warm, decadent chocolate sauce.
Between the warm, jovial staff, comfortable yet sophisticated atmosphere and excellent Italian dishes I cannot wait to come back to Destino in the near future to try more of their mouth-watering dishes! This restaurant is truly a hidden gem and should not be missed!
And we ended the night with an Anthony mojito.
Peachy Picks Destino!
Destino is highly recommended by Whom You Know.
