I Trulli

Greek food god Michael Psilakis highly recommended this place, especially the pasta and rabbit ragu dish, so I had to visit (plus, it’s a 5-minute walk from my office).

I lunched at I Trulli during New York Restaurant Week and was somewhat underwhelmed. Upon arriving, we were greeted with soft bread pieces and ricotta (instead of butter).  Great touch and quite tasty.

I had the braised octopus, calamari and black chickpea appetizer.  The dish sounded incredible but was just odd and sort of flat and flavorless.  As an entrée, I ordered the rabbit ragu pasta which was featured on Food Network as a “The Best Thing I Ever Ate”.  It was so mild that it came across as just bland…at best. The fact that I found two tiny bones in the dish was both a turn-off and dangerous.

My guest had the braised lamb shoulder with rapini and potatoes and he really enjoyed it.  The dish looked rich and decadent and its aroma was contagious.

For dessert, we opted for the ricotta cheese dish with chopped pistachios, chocolate, citrus rind and honey.  It was simple, refreshing and fabulous – the perfect end to a rich meal.

The space is beautiful, cozy and the outdoor patio looks inviting.  Just a very comfortable atmosphere with its huge fireplaces.  I’ll give it another try someday as I want to be fair, but this visit was a bit disappointing.

122 East 27th Street
New York, NY 10016

www.itrulli.com