Peachy Picks Arno Our Coverage Sponsored by Fresh Origins

Peachy Deegan and Milan, owner of Arno

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We keep telling you it's not who you know, it's Whom You Know!  And we know Freddie and Omer Grgurev:

because we picked Scaletta!  And Freddie and Omer know Milan...Scaletta and Arno are part of the same group and we can see why!  They serve Italian cuisine in a Croatian fashion that is simply fantastic and days later, Peachy Deegan is still dreaming about it.  

Arno was first featured in Tasty Tidbits:

http://www.whomyouknow.com/2012/04/tasty-tidbits-arno.html and Arno has graduated to Peachy's Picks because of their outstanding cuisine, the genuine care of owner Milan, the to-die-for Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon and the tremendously authentic voice of Desi Pesa who serenaded us with Santa Lucia!  Here's Desi:

You want him to sing for you.  

We were expecting the stellar cuisine but not the song!  They're pretty bright here too-Desi speaks multiple languages and was totally on the ball all night.

Arno has been kicking it in the fashion district since 1984 and shows no signs of slowing down.  The only thing unfashionable there would be to leave your plate not clean because you will fall in love with everything put in front of you.  We began with a tantalizing pasta dish suggested to us by Milan that is a specialty of Arno: Capellini Seafood.  Angel Hair starts the party that shrimps, scallops, and calamari is invited to and the afterparty is your stomach.  The presentation is beautiful, the food is served piping hot, and you will feel like you are going to your favorite Croatian uncle's house for dinner straightaway because everyone is so warm and friendly at Arno.  The flavor of the seafood is amazing and you'll embrace every bite.

We haven't began the column Monogrammed Peachy yet but you can be assured that if it existed today, these glasses would be in it.  We like personalized touches like this.  The wine list by the bottle is a bible and the wine list by the glass is one of the best we've ever seen.  Peachy Deegan began with the Brunello di Montaicino, L'Oca Cluca 2006: Dense, spicy and tannic with hints of cherry and plums, this was full-bodied and a bit smoky with deep notes of dark fruits.  We totally loved it but felt we'd try another just to see what we thought.  Her second glass was the Cabernet Sauvignon Artemis 2008 and it was the best singular glass of wine she has had in quite some time.  You can see a lot of wine and a lot of restaurants have been reviewed recently so that is really saying something.  It was fruity in a sophisticated fashion with highlights of blackberries and cassis that will impress and leave even the most discriminating breathless with joy!

Peachy does not always gravitate to the specials menu however at Arno it was so inviting she simply could not resist.  She ordered the red roasted peppers, fresh mozzarella and a nice thick tomato on a beautiful bed of lettuce.  It goes to show you that less is more and the amazingly fresh flavors combined to form a winning salad to start with.  Every item screamed freshness and quality and totally wowed us.

You know Peachy loves crab and mozzarella and chicken and asparagus, but has never had them all together.  She's never even thought of it.  It was total music to her ears when Desi recited this special and it is every bit as tremendous as you would think it would be.  It's proper name is Chicken Oscar.  A pounded chicken breast is topped with crabmeat, asparagus, mozzarella and white sauce and the lovely potato wedge on top is a lovely aesthetic touch.  There was very little conversation going on once this fine prize was placed in front of Peachy and took over her full attention.  You absolutely need to order this if it is a special when you frequent Arno.

The night was complete with chocolate mango cake and a sip of cappuccino, each of which puts most other restaurants to shame!  What creativity-chocolate and mango-and it allows you to get your chocolate fix with a bit of vitamin C!   The dessert cart is a pleasure to see and a throwback to days past when more restaurants were into a higher level of service.  A sip of port with Milan at the conclusion and you have yourself an absolutely stellar fine dining experience!

Our esteemed panelist says:

Dinner at Arno restaurant brought flashbacks of my trip to Italy, beginning with the sweet smell of fresh baked bread at the table. One dip in the fresh olive oil brought me back to tasting olio at the Antonori vineyard. I often judge a restaurant by the quality of the olive oil and the formula held for Arno. The fresh, yet not overpowering, taste was consistently present in all of the courses that followed. Peachy and I began with a pasta dish: Angel hair pasta, scallops, and mussels in a light tomato sauce. Perfectly balanced, no one taste overpowered. As an antipasto, I chose buffalo mozzarella with roasted tomato and artichoke. Truly a unique gustatory combination with country (think the hills of Italy) fresh mozzarella. 

Arno’s menu offers a wide variety of rational Italian dishes including antipasti, soups, salads, and pasta, chicken, meat and fish dishes. Choosing one is not an easy task. Several pastas are homemade, including a taglioloni freschi con 4 funghi which is on my list to order at my next visit. There is a wine list by the glass available as well. I chose a delightfully fruity white wine: 

I sipped on a soft but intensely fruity Grecante Arnaldo Caprai 2010 that also boasted floral notes. 

My main course was filet of sole sautéed with lemon and white wine. 

The dish is served with capers, yet our waiter kindly asked if I would prefer to omit the capers. A simple question, yet typifying the consideration that was shown to us throughout the meal. The fish was moist and flavorful, served with a side of polenta. 

Always leave room for dessert. This motto did not disappoint. The desserts were presented on a lovely carved wood pastry cart. Temptation was present in multiple flavorful combinations. I am a fan of rice pudding so I was eager to taste a permutation of its flavor. I was not disappointed. Imagine the taste of rice pudding in a light fluffy cake texture. Yum! Topped with a crème brulee topping. Bring your sneakers and walk home, this dessert is worth the calories! 

Now for the personal touches. The specials were memorized and recited by our most charming waiter, Desi. Desi is from Croatia. Halfway through our meal, a melodic operatic voice resounded through the restaurant. An impromptu rendition of Santa Lucia was being performed by none other than our waiter-turned-tenor, Desi. The chorus was dutifully sung in response by the table he was serenading. Well, there I was back in Italy again! We learned that the song, like the food in this wonderful restaurant, comes from the heart. 

A study of the décor brings one back to the Fashion District of New York City. The walls are adorned with fashion photographs, as befitting the location on 37 Street off Broadway. The tables are spaced amply apart, allowing you to enjoy conversing at a normal decibel level. The portion sizes are generous, the prices are reasonable, the staff is friendly and personable. The evening finale was lemoncello, port and conversation with the owner, who is charming, personable, and caring. This diner, whose favorite cuisine is Italian, is happy to know there is a buono restaurante in the west 30’s she can dine at. 

What else can we say but Hvala!  That is thank you in Croatian...you'll see you'll learn from your doggie bag...

Peachy Picks Arno!

Arno is Highly Recommended by Whom You Know.

http://www.arnoristorante.com/restaurant.php