Contorno’s Restaurant
30 West 31st Street
New York, New York 10001
 Tel: (212) 760-0301

Inspired by the concept of Sunday family dinners, Andrew C. Impagliazzo introduces Contorno’s Restaurant to “embody family and friends sitting around the dinner table.”

Executive Chef David Buico has developed a menu of “rustic Italian” offerings that, coupled with a selection of international wines, will surely rival those served by neighborhood counterparts, which, according to General Manager Marta Cisneros, are few and far between.

Among other delectables, Buico offers Grilled Zucchini finished with English mint and toasted pine nut pesto, and melt-in-your-mouth (highly recommended) Gorgonzola and Honey Crostini (whipped gorgonzola doce and fresh honey comb atop a raisin walnut baguette). And, while we’re on the subject of melt-in-your-mouth fare, Buico’s Hand-rolled Gnocchi with wild boar bolognese and shaved dry ricotta will not disappoint, but it will be filling. Furthermore, slightly-too-al-dente (depending on your preference) fresh Spaghetti with GrandMa Buici tomato sauce defines rustic Italian all too well (as does the chef’s adorable tribute to his grandmother).

Contorno’s guests are additionally advised to save room for dessert, especially if the dessert one fancies is a Milk Chocolate and Pistachio Tart or a classic (but by no means generic, despite what the name implies) New York Cheesecake.

For those of us who appreciate weekly family dinners but lack the rustic Italian chef (no offense, mom!), Contorno’s is worth a shot as a neighborhood restaurant that serves up just that. If you like it enough, you just might want to stay over, and you can because it’s unexpectedly located through the entry of a Holiday Inn!