Terrific Takeout: Il Cortile Spring 2016 Our Coverage Sponsored by Fresh Origins
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Spring is here! Or is it?
It is supposed to be freezing this weekend in Manhattan, but do you know where it will not be freezing and spring is always in season?
Il Cortile!
We love sitting in their courtyard and watching the sun set.
A special that Il Cortile can absolutely brag about are their stuffed meatballs: stuffed with a hat trick of three cheeses: ricotta, parmiginao-reggiano and mozzarella. They are a special every day until they sell out and the meat component is 100% pure pork and decadently delicious. The flavor is just as spectacular as the smashing personality of owner Sal Esposito.
That's Sal the first time we visited Il Cortile.
He definitely has one of the best personalities in the Manhattan restaurant business!
When someone is that excited about their venture, it is contagious.
Il Cortile was most recently featured on Whom You Know in the fall of 2015:
We first visited in 2013 and were impressed:
We returned in 2014 and it proved its terrific consistency:
And we were delighted to return a year ago also:
The salad we opted for was the Panzanella: a wonderfully refreshing orchestra of tomato, cucumber and red onion. It was fresh, colorful and nutritious. Also, Il Cortile listens and puts the dressing on the side. Actually we think we don't even have to remind them anymore!
It really does look this fantastic; we never photo shop anything.
One of life's best problems to have is deciding which pasta to go for at Il Cortile. After much internal deliberation, Peachy Deegan threw caution to the wind and ordered the spectacularly creamy Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken. It is just the last word in comfort food in Manhattan! Fragrant and delicious, it is even better when you pretend there are no calories (so just go ten miles on your elliptical before dinner, silly!).
If you are a pescatarian or just simply like fish, the Branzino filet with spinach risotto will make you deliriously happy at Il Cortile. It's fresh, gorgeous and arrives in style from the Mediterranean. Further highlighted by shredded spinach on top, the Branzino is absolute perfection. You need to try this entree!
If you are more in the mood for a warm, comforting chicken dish, the Filetti di Pollo con Funghi e Piselli is a lovely option. Free-range chicken comes to you piping hot and hearty dotted decadently with green peas. It's sauteed in white wine and mushrooms and these flavors all marry well and will delight your palate.
That's the original menu from 1975, pre-Peachy.
Sal the Maitre d' showed it to us. Here's the second Sal of Il Cortile:
He said guess what the Piano Man visited us at Christmastime!
We love Billy Joel! And check out that A.
Don't forget Il Cortile preserves this table for the good spirit of James Gandolfini.
We're told that Bruce Willis and Jon Bon Jovi are also regulars.
It would be a mistake to leave Il Cortile without having dessert.
Their dessert menu is better than ever now with beaucoup de options, but you know the right answer is always chocolate (and Sal never makes Peachy eat cheesecake. She hates cheesecake.)
Sal knows that the magic words are chocolate souffle, strawberries, whipped cream and ice cream because at Il Cortile, you can have it all!
We love Il Cortile.
You know it is Terrific Takeout!
Do not miss the amazing Irish Coffee!
Also their walls are PEACHY:
