Terrific Takeout: Trattoria Casa Di Isacco Our Coverage Sponsored by Fresh Origins
Owner Isaac Elvis defines exuberant in the Manhattan restaurant industry!
From the buffalo mozzarella to the baby lamb chops from Australia, Trattoria Casa Di Isacco will wow you
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Time to put on your blue suede shoes!
It is not easy to find a great restaurant near Port Authority or anywhere in the realm of the Javits Center, however, if you like Elvis and you like to dine, there's only one place for you: Trattoria Casa Di Isacco. Trattoria Casa Di Isacco came highly recommended to us, and we are so pleased to present Isaac Elvis's first feature! It is his personal goal for his guests to have a phenomenal time at his venue, and if you like to be entertained as much as we do, know that you absolutely will be here. We found it hilarious that Isaac thought Peachy sounded like she's from Texas and was Jewish; this reaction puts him in a class by himself. You all know she's from Connecticut and practices Boston College hockey and football as a religion (Roman Catholic, Jesuit.) For the record, she's never even been to Texas so we're not sure how she sounds like it.
We'll talk about the food first.
As avid readers know, Peachy Deegan's favorite restaurant for a long time until it closed was Solera, run by our friend and black Irish cousin, Culinary King Rufino Lopez. We can't wait to see what Rufino does next. Since Solera has closed, Peachy has been crying her eyes out since she cannot find Rufino's garlic shrimp anywhere (Barbie too). Isaac's garlic shrimp is the best we've seen in Manhattan since Solera closed, so he gets points for that. We love Rufino and we called him during this review.
Open in 1991, Trattoria Casa Di Isacco specializes in Italian and Spanish food and has an extensive menu. If you like NYCFC you can think of this cuisine as a combination of Villa and Pirlo. We loved the Buffalo Mozzarella with Vine Tomato and Roasted Orange Peppers. The sangria is the best we've had in Manhattan and Isaac also opened a bottle of champagne. You'll notice that there is quite the starting lineup of homemade grappa as well at Trattoria Casa Di Isacco.
As you know, on the inaugural review we choose a couple of appetizers, a green salad and a fish and a meat entree and pasta if it's Italian. Isaac insisted we try beaucoup de options and we took all his strong suggestions. As he grew up on an island, you can be assured that he knows his seafood. From the grilled baby squid to the baby octopus and shrimp imported from Spain, you are going to feel like you are on your own vacation to Tenarife with him.
The crab meat cocktail was the appetizer that Peachy chose. The crab hails from Alaska, and it's beautifully presented. Isaac will inevitably sing to you during your visit: you should know that he is the youngest of 14 kids and he is a bit like the Georgina Bloomberg of Tenarife. Isaac Elvis's dad was the Mayor of Tenarife for three terms. "In the Ghetto" is Isaac's favorite Elvis song and if you are lucky he will sing it for you while you drink champagne with him. When Isaac is not singing, you can be assured you will hear great music choices at Trattoria Casa Di Isacco like Tony Bennett and the Righteous Brothers. We are super super picky about music which is why you mostly read what the Grammys are doing and we almost never like the music at most restaurants.
The green salad we chose was the spinach salad, and they thoughtfully put the dressing on the side, however, Isaac gave us a salad to take a picture of one that was already dressed.
From the baked clams above to the amazing veal meatballs below, the Hot Tapas of Trattoria Casa Di Isacco, you are going to have trouble later on finding room for your entree when you meet all of the lovely options under appetizers!
From the red snapper to the tilapia, the fish entrees are solid at Trattoria Casa Di Isacco, and for a venue with about ten tables, the menu here has more depth per table than we can remember anywhere else.
Personally, Peachy is not a lamb advocate however she did like the Australian lamb at Trattoria Casa Di Isacco. It was rich, succulent and when it sings Elvis songs in your stomach it almost sounds like Russell Crowe.
There is nothing Isaac has not thought of: he also has sobrasada from Mallorca (spanish), held by Isaac above, not to be confused with sopresatta (italian). Iberico salami, chorzio and lovely charcuterie are also amazing choices at Trattoria Casa Di Isacco.
Manchego cheese and olives from Spain add more life to the party. Isaac Elvis is one of the most enthusiastic restaurant owners we've ever met, and he is running for mayor of your stomach.
Isaac tells us that his Pears de la Nonna (Grandma Pears) dessert recipe has endured for 500 years, and when you try it, you'll see why! Trattoria Casa Di Isacco has fourteen homemade desserts and you need to find room for at least one.
Isaac prepared it right in front of us.
Champagne, honey, fresh cinnamon, lemon peel and bosc pears are boiled for two hours and later dance in a beautiful vanilla ice cream.
We loved it.
Trattoria Casa Di Isacco is Terrific Takeout!
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