Wikipages Blog

I went out with Ben and a few single friends to Luca for dinner. After we had out fill of risotto and fried olives, I suggested we head to Cavatappo (owned by the same people) for some after dinner drinks.

I love this tiny wine bar. Located in the Upper East Side, Cavatappo has an Old World feel and a very warm vibe. The interior is brick with just a couple long tables and stools. Ingenious hooks are right under the table so that you can hang up your purse (why, oh, why don’t more bars have these?) The menu includes a wide selection of white, red, and rose and sparkling wines, as well as some snacks.

It was a nice, quiet place to catch up and drink tasty wine. Ben and I were having a blast, when I noticed that my friends were getting antsy. One said to me, “We’re going dancing at this club now. Do you guys want to come?”

I suppose if you’re in the mood for a wild night, Cavatoppo is not the place. I declined the invite for dancing. Taking Ben’s hand for the journey home, I pondered the differences between single and settled sociality, and how lovely a glass of wine can be.

In my former life as a preschool teacher, I worked on the Upper East Side. While I occasionally miss the kids, probably the thing I miss most is the area. I used to walk to Carl Schurz Park on my lunch hour and watch the water. And on nice days, I’d walk down through Central Park all the way to where it begins. And some days I would eat at one of the yummiest spots in the city: Lili’s Noodle Shop and Grill.

The place is a chain and there’s one in Tribeca, but somehow it doesn’t seem as nice to me. Lili’s has a full front window and a modern, Asian atmosphere. The service is speedy and the menu is delicious. It has this lovely bean curd in black bean sauce, which I attempted to make once for myself and utterly failed. And they have Jasmine bubble milk tea, which I am slightly obsessed with. The prices are decent, with a nice lunch special, including soup, rice and entree for under $7. A good place to eat with friends or alone after a stressful day of chasing after 3-year-olds.

Yes, I do miss the kids. But even more, I miss the Upper East Side’s peaceful charm and yummy noodle shop.

I’m always on the look out for more great Little Italian Restaurants. Here’s one that makes my mouth water just thinking about it.

Located on the Upper East Side, The Luca Restaurant is a small place with delicious food. Decorated with rather suprising, large paper vegetable sculptures, this restaurant never bores you. It’s Italian, but with a little kick. One of the best things about this restaurant is the tasty fried olives that they bring out as soon as you sit down. I don’t even like olives usually, but these are insanely good. The menu has a good range of options, including many vegetarian selections like Pumpkin Ravioli and Mushroom Risotto.

When you’ve finished your yummy meal, walk just a couple of blocks over to Cavatappo for an after dinner drink. This wine bar, owned by the same people as the Luca Restaurant, has a cosy brick interior with a wide selection of wines and some munchies. A visit to both places makes for a perfect evening.