If you are in New York City and looking for a bite to eat, check out a charming restaurant called Risotteria. It is located between 6th and 7th Avenues at 270 Bleecker Street. I dined there with a friend this past week and enjoyed the atmosphere, service, and most important, the food!
When planning my trip to the city I wondered where I would find a safe and delicious gluten free meal. I wasn’t sure where to begin my search. A few strokes of the keyboard yielded multiple search entries, it seemed as if lists boasting “The Best Gluten Free Restaurants in NYC” were posted everywhere. I settled upon one that featured Risotteria.
I was excited to find that the restaurant offered not only an extensive gluten free menu, but also a multitude of vegetarian dishes. It seemed almost too good to be true, a menu featuring dishes that were safe for both me and my friend, who is not gluten free but as you may have guessed, vegetarian. I couldn’t wait to check it out!
The restaurant is cozy. I arrived just in time to get a seat because lunch crowds appeared shortly afterwards. The atmosphere was fantastic, casual and relaxed. Funky music was playing loud enough to enjoy but did not disrupt my conversation.
Furthermore, the wait staff was attentive and friendly, eager to offer recommendations and to answer questions. I was overjoyed when gluten free breadsticks were brought to the table almost immediately. As a gluten free diner, I rarely get to eat the bread that is brought to the table during outings, so I was pleasantly surprised to learn that every table is provided gluten free breadsticks without question. For those who may balk at gluten free breadsticks, I would like to mention that my friend and fellow diners loved the breadsticks just as much as I did. Thus, the breadsticks received the “regular diner” seal of approval as well.
I enjoyed a meatball and bolognese sauce appetizer and later a mozzarella pizzette while my companion had a zucchini and sun dried tomato topped pizzette. Though we were both rather full, we decided to take a look at the dessert menu. The sheer number of choices impressed me, as everything from cookies to tiramisu was offered in gluten free form. We ended up picking out “gluten free peanut butter fudge cuppycakes.”
The cupcakes were to die for, absolutely scrumptious. They were filled with peanut butter and topped with both icing and peanut butter. When all was said and done, my meal was satisfying, yummy and well priced.
It’s not easy for individuals with special dietary needs to find a place to eat that not only accommodates but also provides tasty options. I applaud Risotteria for catering to both the gluten free and vegetarian communities. I had an amazing experience and can’t wait to dine there again. I highly recommend Risotteria not only to my gluten free peers but also to “ordinary” diners. Follow this link to learn more about Risotteria: http://risotteria.com
