Jaunted

Restaurants

Destination: Per Lei

March 12, 2007 at 11:00 AM | 0 Comments

If you're getting sick of the standard Tuscan-farmhouse "family-style" (translation: you're trapped next to strangers) Italian restaurant options in New York, head uptown and check out the white, bright, airy Per Lei. Right on the corner of 71st Street, Per Lei (meaning "for her") is totally whitewashed, but bright orange chairs and a kitschy, gleaming chandelier keep the dining room cool.

Menu options include tasty salads like artichoke hearts with avocado, fresh parmesan, and lemon juice, and main courses such as penne with tuna, Gaeta black olives, capers, fresh oregano and tomato sauce. Basic, but it gets the job done. Per Lei's real gem is the staff. Always welcoming and friendly, the servers rib guests playfully and are never overbearing.

One of the best times to head there? Weekend brunch, when the crowds thin out and the brunch menu is all-American, including eggs benedict, french toast, and steak and eggs. You'll have better lighting (and strong Italian coffee) to admire artist Fabrizio Musa's Pop-Art paintings hangings on the walls. A downtown feel keeps this uptown spot fun and novel.

Related Stories:
· Per Lei [Official Site]