Terrific Takeout: Nello Our Coverage Sponsored by Fresh Origins
From the divine decadence of the Carpaccio with Black Summer Truffles (above) to the ultimate in luxury comfort food Il Bosco (below), you will experience a higher level of extraordinary at Nello
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Hello, Nello!
That's what you should be saying as well, and though we've strolled by Nello on Madison Avenue beaucoup de times, we finally stopped and visited owner Thomas Makkos and his beacon of brilliance presented to you on a plate, or ideally, several plates. Thomas and Nello came highly recommended to us by someone we know, and it's a bastion of fine dining excellence that you need to know about. This is Nello's inaugural feature on Whom You Know.
Multi-talented Thomas Makkos, the brains behind the business, came to New York in 1974 from Greece, and opened Nello in 1993 with Nello Balan. There are 68 coveted seats inside and a dozen perhaps more desirable seats in this weather on the sidewalk. If you look to the right, you see we are pro-CBS because that was Peachy Deegan's first experience ever in journalism when she was 17 and an intern for Missie Rennie and Charles Kuralt on CBS Sunday Morning; we were delighted to see Charlie Rose dining at Nello and were told he was there twice in fewer than 24 hours. Nello caters to the creme de la creme of the world including royalty, ambassadors, presidents and other names you would not mind rubbing elbows with. That's nice to know, but if you know us, you know we are most interested in our own experience somewhere...and we were treated like royalty as well! Our Nello experience began with some bubbly that put us in the pink.
A component of our reviews always includes a green salad, and the tomatoes in particular wowed us in a big way. The tomatoes at Nello are simply the best tomatoes we've had all summer and they will greet you in the Insalata Mista. Farmer's Mesclun Greens, completely fresh, are the main component of this dish that is dressed in a Champagne Vinaigrette. They were happy to put the dressing on the side as we asked, and we approve of the dressing too.
Carpaccio with Black Summer Truffles, where have you been all our life? The truffles arrive at Nello in style from Piedmont, Italy, and the carpaccio is via Pat LaFrieda and Master Purveyors, and it is organic air-cured. This is one of the best tastes you can experience in New York, and the delicate thin slices of each component is pure ecstasy. You will truly lament its passing in your stomach, but know that you can go back the next day for lunch. And dinner.
Narrowing down the pasta course is one of life's best dilemma's to have; after consideration, Peachy Deegan decided the Il Bosco was calling her name the most convincingly. We delighted in the simplicity of the wild mushrooms and fettuccini, and the medley of decadent mushrooms includes shiitake, cremini, oyster and yellow foot mushrooms.
It insisted on a close-up as it waltzed down the runway of the white tablecloth.
An ultimate summer wonder you'll meet at Nello are their stellar scallops! We loved the Capesante: Grilled sea scallops (five of them-wouldn't Chanel be pleased as it's her favorite number), herb marinade, endive and scallion. The gorgeousness of flavor trumped the visual talents, and this is something you'll want to feast on more than once. Thomas tells us some of his favorite menu items include the Dover Sole, Langoustines and Ossobucco.
Dessert, anyone?
We picked Apple Strudel, because of course it's the closest to apple pie which we order quite often. You can have your ice cream and whipped cream too, and although we were happy with everything we tried, we might have been the most tantalized by this dessert!
Absolutely everything is made on the premises we were told, and you can taste that in particular with every creamy bite of the ice cream.
If you stay and dine you will notice safari pictures by Peter Beard on the wall, and we look forward to returning to see what amazing edibles Nello can say "Ta da!" about for Peachy's Picks, especially because the wine list looks like it's tops.
"If I am in New York, I'm at Nellos!" Gianni V. Russo told us with sincere enthusiasm while we chatted with Thomas. "I have come here five times a week for the last 22 years! Everything is delicious and the food is amazing." And as far as saying it's not who you know, it's Whom You Know, you know that Gianni starred as Carlo Rizzi in The Godfather.
Spin the dessert plate around to meet the ice cream:
Nello is located at 696 Madison Avenue in New York, NY
212 980 9099
We look forward to Nello joining us online.
