#TerrificTakeout #PeachysPicks #PeachyDeegan #GrifoneNY #WhomYouKnow #Manhattan @ManhattanPeachy A Peachy's Pick Since 2012, #Grifone Since 1986 by Mario Belich Fall 2018
Mario Belich, owner of Grifone!
SUPERLATIVE Linguini alle Vongole eat it eat it eat it!
It's not who you know, it's WHOM YOU KNOW and we know Mario Belich, owner of Grifone, a fine Italian establishment serving those with discriminating taste on the East Side of Midtown Manhattan.
Even the way they fold their napkins put their competition to shame!
Grifone was most recently featured this summer:
Grifone was first featured as a Peachy's Pick in 2012:
It defines excellence in dinner with every bite, and Mario is as old-school and dedicated as they get. His uber-loyal clientele are the upper crust of Manhattan society and some of them go there every day. It is obvious why once you are also a regular!
You can count on being graciously welcomed with lovely meats, cheeses and more, another nice plus that justifies your seasonal visit, and we say seasonal at least.
Mario is well-aware of Peachy's rabid obsession for all things mozzarella; to that end, he presented her with Mozzarella in Carrozza, a classic of breaded fried mozzarella. He personally accentuated it with their bespoke tomato sauce which enhances it perfectly. A warm comfort, this is enticing especially as the temperature drops.
You can see the trendy ridiculous Italian restaurants that will inevitably come and go cowering in a corner looking at this standard of excellence that sets the standard.
It is exactly that delicious as the above picture and you can see the oozing glory inside!
Of course better yet is going there yourself and eating it.
Next on our edible agenda was something on the lighter side: Salmone affumicato! Smoked Salmon is fabulously fresh and is an ideal appetite igniter. Capers and perfectly chopped red onion gloriously elaborate this simplicity of the sea, which rests upon perfectly toasted bread with the crusts cut off for Ms. Uber Picky. If you have known Peachy since 2012 you know she actually is really picky, not just pretty picky. Grifone is also uberpicky which is why they have been killing it for 32 years and counting!
That is what dinner perfection looks like.
One of the most smashing dishes we had on this visit, and they were all super competitive, was the Linguine with white clam sauce which is pure perfection especially with their Pinot Grigio. This extraordinary dish is really something special at Grifone and the quality of seafood and the lovely al dente pasta reign supreme gorgeously. Pictures speak louder than words:
If you are more into red sauce the night you visit, we'd steer you towards the Grifone rendition of Spaghetti alla Bolognese, as you will revel in its simplicity. If you think spaghetti in meat sauce can't knock your socks off, you haven't had this one. Every savory bite will enchant you with its ambrosial qualities.
It goes without saying that the decor is upscale fabulous and another classic aspect of Grifone.
It is one of the few places that can boast the highest level of civility in a city that grasps for it in dining, especially in this political climate and with the rise of fast casual.
Everyone should be able to agree on a great dinner.
As we harp on again and again with gusto, Grifone is old-school excellent.
If you want your dinner done right, you go here.
This is what a Caesar salad is SUPPOSED TO BE!!!
Mario makes it to order just for you, and to enlighten the world, we got him to tell us the right way how to make it:
1. Smashed dry croutons
2. Anchovy paste
3. House vinaigrette, yolk of an egg, dijon mustard from France, lemon and parmesean cheese.
FRESH, right in front of you.
Making caesar salads this way, which is the RIGHT WAY, is becoming a lost art in fine dining.
Everyone knows Peachy is seriously in love with Chicken Parm. Equally amazing and perhaps even better, Vitello Parmigiana is divine to discover at Grifone. Carnivores will bask in the glory of the perfectly pounded veal cutlet baked with mozzarella and tomato sauce, and every bite is simply sensational in all its cheesy meaty tomato excellence.
In our quest to find the best in fine dining, we like to be healthy and balanced. Some places think they are too snobby and sophisticated to do simple green vegetables. Mario is nice and down to earth and he has SIX vegetable sides to help you stay healthy in a most delicious way. From the Scarola Affogata which is escarole to the Fagliolini, Peachy's personal favorite-string beans sauteed in garlic and evoo, you can count on fresh, clean, crisp wonderful, nutritious sides to wow you and your doctors. If you haven't met elevated vegetables, you haven't been here.
If you actually personally know Peachy or have met her, you are obviously intimidated by her towering height which is quite shrimpy. We feel a tremendous affinity towards Gamberi Saltati, meaning sauteed shrimp! It is delicious and delectable, and we made it a shrimp scampi with risotto saffron which cannot be beat. Exquisite beautifully butterflied shrimp await you!
And of course, the perfect ending is chocolate, as in chocolate mousse.
Grifone continues to be Highly Recommended by Whom You Know.
