Peachy Picks Quartino Bottega Organica Restaurant Our Coverage Sponsored by Fresh Origins
The talented team behind Quartino Bottega Organica
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When finding a new restaurant, there are many qualities that it must demonstrate in person to Peachy Deegan. Among the most prevalent qualities are of course high quality cuisine that we enjoy all aspects of, a person behind the business as in owner that demonstrates superior business acumen and it's nice if they also have a great personality-because a lot of places have great cuisine, a location that we review in (stay tuned we are establishing waiting lists in areas not yet published on-you only know if you are a restaurant owner on the waiting list!) and many other criteria. It goes without saying that it must be pristine and spotless and the service must be brilliant (in case you are wondering, best recent service we have seen is at Del Frisco's Steakhouse by the killer sommelier team...almost no one hits on suggestions we admire so intelligently and they did). The list is so long we have not been able to prioritize healthy, until now. So, you need to know if you want to be healthy and go out to eat, Quartino Bottega Organica is lording over the rest of Manhattan in health as far as we can see. Mayor Bloomberg, are you reading?
In our few hundred restaurant reviews we do not ever remember encountering an owner that was a doctor. There are five partners behind Quartino Bottega Organica: Paolo Manfredi, who is a neurologist that has worked with cancer patients; Marco Gentilucci, a cardiologist; Giovanni Manfredi, a neurologist; Giovanni Giordano, an eye doctor and to round out the team, Francesco Malatesta, a television producer in Italy.
They can have quite a personality as well!
The decor is intimate and quaint, and we liked it. Quartino Bottega Organica is a compact venue, and the fireplace was amazing. It was fairly dark in our experience and that really lit up the room.
They are extremely committed to organic ingredients and health. When it came to wine, Peachy Deegan did not find a huge difference between this organic wine she tried at Quartino Bottega Organica and all of the other wines, Italian or non-Italian but not organic, she has tried.
They make their own EVOO. In Italy!
Quartino Bottega Organica opened in 2004 and they serve no meat. The bread you're served is not like bread we've experienced at any other Italian restaurant ever: it is whole wheat. That, their pasta and their breadsticks are all made on premises. "We feed everyone as if they were our own children," Paolo told us.
Peachy began with Capesante and avocado: Grilled Montauk diver scallops, greens and avocado were superbly fresh and original. We enjoyed the food but you need to go with an open mind and understand this is not your typical Italian-American Italian or Italy Italian- restaurant at all. We do not count calories at all ever (Peachy is just fanatical about the elliptical instead and practices moderation-she does not do a dinner review every night though it would be such fun), but if you count calories, Quartino Bottega Organica is a godsend. If we were counting calories, this could be a record low for a dinner review.
We are huge advocates of mozzarella cheese, and are pleased to say that when it is organic it does not taste different to Peachy! This was delicious along with the organic tomatoes.
The Farfalle pisellli and salmone was quite enticing; Farfalle with green peas and wild salmon is a delightful dinner to try. And for dessert we sampled flourless chocolate cake, hazelnut cake, tarte tartin and crostate, all recommended.
They even quote Oscar Wilde:
If you ever have received an email from Peachy, you know who also quotes Oscar Wilde.
Our esteemed panelist adds:
When I think of a great Italian food the word healthy is never associated, but what a surprise I experienced! Dining at Bottega Organica gives you the best of both worlds. Bottega is a cute intimate place located in downtown Manhattan. The service was great but conversing with two of the five owners made the evening special. The owners are Italian and most are physicians so if you are like me you’re probably thinking…why is a doctor working in a restaurant???? “To create great food that prevents illness” is the answer. As a professional athlete, I had the opportunity to live and play in Italy, so I do know real Italian food well. Italians believe that food is more than something you put in your mouth – food is an experience and Quartino Bottega Organica recreated those fond memories. They have a great selection of organic wine to compliment the best organic seasonal fruits and vegetables; bread baked daily in house, fresh mozzarella made on location, wild fish and quality signature olive oil.
My first plate I decided to have the Polpo & Patate; wild poached octopus w/steamed potatoes and parsley. It was so tender and full of flavor ( and yes I topped it off with their amazing olive oil- I recommend you do the same).
My second plate was Pasta & Pesce del Giono; fresh homemade whole wheat pasta with the fish of the day - Hake. We’ve all tried whole wheat pasta and for me it’s just not the same. I was somewhat reluctant to order it but was glad I did - scrumptious. The texture is nothing like whole wheat pasta in a box on a shelf, and it didn’t have that overbearing wheat taste that outshines everything else it’s paired with. For dessert I shared the Assaggi di Torte for 2; four slices of various cakes with homemade organic chocolate gelato…uuummmm!
Bottega Organica has truly mastered the way to have great authentic Italian food made with the best ingredients available. They take the guilt and guess work out of eating to live.
Peachy Picks Quartino Bottega Organica!
Quartino Bottega Organica is Recommended by Whom You Know.
Also, be sure to check out their bathroom! See Product Alert for our posts in this discipline on their beauty brand
