Peachy Picks Nanni Our Coverage Sponsored by Fresh Origins
Executive Chef and Owner Silvo Sclano and Owner Vittorio Miriel
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In 1968 Nanni made its debut on the restaurant scene in Manhattan, and that is many years before us! We were absolutely delighted to meet the winning team of owners behind this Italian gem that has endured the test of time, and it is clear that Mr. Nanni, who passed around 2002 left his baby in good hands. The team of owners, Vittorio Miriel, who hails from the lovely Island of Capri like our friend Mover and Shaker Marco Pipolo, and Executive Chef Silvo Sclano have been veterans of Nanni since the 1980's. Part of Nanni was left to each of them by Mr. Nanni and they ambitiously bought out the part they did not own yet and are full owners today. We were greeted with some fantastic bruschetta, above, and a Negroni:
It's clear the owners take great pride in every aspect of Nanni, and now that we are friends we hope to bring them up into 2013 and get them to love Whom You Know and the internet!
Nanni was first featured in Tasty Tidbits:
It has graduated to Peachy's Picks because of its outstanding authentic Italian cuisine, classy old-school atmosphere, and sparkling personalities of the owners, who could not have been more hospitable.
The opening cheese and meat plate announced the level of quality we were going to enjoy all evening. We loved how organized and elite the restaurant is, with fewer than twenty tables you know you are at a destination. It is tucked away on East 46th Street close to Grand Central, and is truly an undiscovered treasure of New York if you have not been there. If we were name droppers we'd repeat the long list of celebrity names that Vittorio shared with us once we had gained his confidence...we will tell you one is one of the people that Peachy has met a New York Landmarks Conservancy gala-a landmark person. You can ask Vittorio yourself!
Since Peachy is pretty traditional and loves ricotta and eggplant, she opted for that antipasti. It was as superb and delicious as the photo above reveals, and the flavor was tops. The sauce at Nanni is thick and rich and we can tell Silvo makes it with a lot of love. Nanni has had the same menu since opening in 1968 and we love that kind of classic attitude. We also loved how beautifully the bathroom was decorated and how clean that was too.
After our appetizer, we had a lovely green salad which was lightly dressed. Nutritionally, it is much more sensible than a pasta course of course! Mayor Bloomberg we do hope you are reading.
We also were served a side of zucchini which was all decked out in garlic, which Peachy Deegan adores.
Vittorio is holding the succulent Parmigiana di Vitello-Veal Parmigiana- that Peachy selected for an entree. It was pure perfection from the first bite! The cheese and sauce were proportionally perfect to the veal, which was properly pounded. Also note that if you want a table you need reservations for sure, and they were fully crowded by 7pm. It is not so crowded that you are on top of other tables, however, which is important to note as that can happen at lesser venues. During dinner Peachy Deegan sipped a glass of Montepulciano.
The orange sorbet was not only decadently delicious, but also it was the most gorgeous and creative sorbet presentation we've seen in the skin of the citrus itself. We were delighted that Vittorio had a limoncello with us at the conclusion.
A splendid cup of cappuccino, and the night was complete!
Our only regret is that we did not go sooner years before to meet Mr. Nanni.
Our esteemed panelist adds:
From the moment you set foot in Nanni, you'll feel as if you've been transported to another time. This find of an Italian restaurant, tucked away on 46th Street between Lexington & 3rd Avenues, has been operating continuously since 1968, and there have been few changes since then. Co-owners Vittorio Miriel and Silvo Sclano both worked for the original owner, Mr. Nanni, and together, they strive to bring the same kind of top-notch dining experience to new generations of customers. While we perused the menus, we each sipped on a Negroni and nibbled on the delicious bruschetta that was brought to our table. This was followed by a delicious meat and cheese plate.
For my appetizer, I selected the Prosciutto di Parma & Melone, which was prosciutto with honeydew melon. Fresh and delicious, the beauty of this dish was in the simplicity. No fancy sauces, no trendy presentation - simply perfectly ripe melon topped with the highest quality prosciutto straight from Parma.
For my main course, I selected the Pollo alla Romana con Peperoni (chicken with garlic, tomato, and peppers). This, too, was prepared simply but beautifully. The chicken was perfectly tender, and the garlicky sauce was absolutely delectable. The accompanying vegetables were also outstanding - cooked well with garlic aplenty! My dinner was accompanied by a glass of Pinot Grigio, which was crisp and refreshing, and a nice contrast to the savory meal.
I sipped on a nice, strong espresso after my entree, and then finished of my wonderful meal with a light and refreshing orange sorbet, which was served in an orange rind!
The evening was capped off by a delightful limoncello - the perfect ending to a fantastic dining experience! If you're looking for classic Italian fare in a classic setting, Nanni is definitely a must!
Peachy Picks Nanni!
Nanni is Highly Recommended by Whom You Know.
