Tegamino
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At Galli, we suggest the brick walled back room, cozy and ready for some Italian comfort food, namely the Tegamino: baked eggplant, parm style. Delicious and fragrant, this starter hits the spot especially in colder months. Galli is an unpretentious kind of place downtown; it's known for being a local watering and feeding hole for New Yorkers who live in Soho. There's going to be a crowd at the bar, but be not deterred. The warm atmosphere of the restaurant lies beyond, where the fun becomes all about the food. The cellar is great, by the way, so do look into some of the fine wines they stock. Galli is the first New York City venture from a long line of family owned restaurants, mostly in the Long Island area we understand.
You do not want to miss the pasta section, which was most populated when we visited; we count over 15 choices. Peachy Deegan chose the Gaberi: rigatoni, shrimp, broccoli, mozzarella and pink sauce. It proved to be a fantastic combination from the seafood to the sauce.
As an entree, Peachy opted for the Veal Saltimbocca:
Gracefully executed, this veal scallopini reveled in sage, prosciutto and spinach gave it both nutritional value as well as color on the plate. Adding more green is always attractive!
A lovely ending are Mario's berries: fresh mixed berries.
Our esteemed panelist adds:
For an appetizer, the mussels were a great idea. The white wine sauce, with a hint of peppery edge, provides a great base to a full dish of mussels, tender in their open shells. The pasta is a must, and go for the pomodoro. Anything with the pomodoro. The owner tells us they're about to launch their own line of sauces, it's that good. You'll want to take a quart home.
I had their version of a Primavera, and it was so much more imaginative than most. The sauce adds that touch of perfection, with the penne al dente, and the vegetables cooked perfectly. The pasta might be enough for some, but if you're in the mood to continue, go for a main course. Galli offers everything from a burger to veal, with lots of fish dishes in between for the seafood lover.
The sole was a nice sized portion, baked and then broiled with an oreganato sauce on the top. This gives it a crispy finish, balanced with a hefty portion of spinach Italian style. The upside of this way station is the convenience, and the down to earth menu. With choices from the basic to the specialties, it's a restaurant where you can take the family, friends or fly it solo. The night we were there it seemed to be date night, with hip young couples crowding the tables. Try one of their rose wines, and a chilled white.
Top it off with cafe americano and maybe the cheesecake, which comes in a friendly portion made in house. As a matter of fact, all the desserts are made in house, so you'll just have to go back for more.
Peachy Picks Galli