Primo Atto...where Cocette used to be...what do you

Mamacita wrote: Voodoo take your damn BFF here already!!!

You got it, sugar.

Oh yes, so just got back from dinner with a Brooklynian friend (out yourself if you wish, or not) and this place is amazing. Started off with an aperitif suggested by the owner/manager(?). Can't remember what exactly was in it but very very good. We split the pancetta, onions and red sauce app. The pasta rocks. Entrees were a sea food combo (clams, shrimp, mussels, etc.) for her, rack of lamb for me. The lamb was on par with the best I've ever had. Good wine list as well. Only two other couples in the joint all night. Just do yourself a favor and go! Very attentive service, great food, reasonable cost. Win/win/win.

The pancetta dish, I think is the same that has been talked about here. I thought it was flavorful and rich, but one thing, that's just me. I would have liked some linguini or more of a bow tie or flat noodle with it. It came with a spaghetti noodle that didn't do the sauce justice as far as picking up the sauce.

The waiter was very attentive, and ready to please. They were all extremely sweet and charming. Please go and enjoy a place where you are trully catered to. Cool place. (free biscotti with check awesome!)

Mamacita wrote: The pancetta dish, I think is the same that has been talked about here. I thought it was flavorful and rich, but one thing, that's just me. I would have liked some linguini or more of a bow tie or flat noodle with it. It came with a spaghetti noodle that didn't do the sauce justice as far as picking up the sauce.

The waiter was very attentive, and ready to please. They were all extremely sweet and charming. Please go and enjoy a place where you are trully catered to. Cool place. (free biscotti with check awesome!)

Great conversation and a good time too! But you may have to go with Mama to guarantee that.

I love that pancetta and onion pasta, yum!

Gee, did you like the food mama? It is sounding like you didn't!

Have had fish a number of times there and always found it very good (sea bass specifically).

Were the lamb chops a special that night? hubby loves lamb and I don't remember seeing it on the menu, though, it's not something I would look for.

The rack of lamb was amazing. It had been marinated in some kind of mustard/horseradish thing. I should have shared with Mama but was too distracted devouring it. I want to go back and try the sea bass.

I'm going to have to check this place out, its right down the st from my apartment- how much are entrees (14-18 if i remember correctly?) Hows the wine list priced?

veets wrote: I had a great taste experience with the swordfish last weekend and Sat. night one of our companions had a whole fish (might have been sea bass) and it was terrific. Mussels can dry out pretty easily if only tiny bit over-cooked. Mama.. I bet if you go again and ask that the dish be served with more sauce the chef will prepare it to your requirements. How many restaurants would be that accomodating? I bet special requests would be honored pretty easily here.

And yes, SUPER accomodating. The pancetta pasta wasn't even a special last night, but we requested it based on this thread and he was happy to oblige. He basically said he would make us anything we wanted.

Hmm, i wouldn't say the entrees are in the teens, the pastas are. But, I bet your lamb dish was in the $25 range.

Did they do the pancetta pasta as an appy for you instead of a full blown pasta entree, was that the difference? Because i know they always have the pasta with pancetta.

Here's the menu:

Antipasti

Girandola Di Mozzarella homemade mozzarella filled with asparagus, roasted peppers, sun dried tomatoes and broccoli rabe 9.00

Saute Di Cozze E Vongole mussels, clams, broccoli rabe and hot cherry peppers sauteed in a white wine sauce served with crostini 13.00

Trio Di Crostini three different toppings served on tuscan toasted bread: (1) diced eggplant sauteed with fresh tomatoes, (2) zucchini with garlic oil and fresh mint and (3) sauteed mushrooms 9.00

Rotini Di Manzo thin rolled filet mignon filled with imported prosciutto and homemade mozzarella. served over sauteed mushrooms 14.00

Gamberi Al Tegamino shrimp, shallots & cherry tomatoes sauteed in an olive oil sauce, topped with breadcrumbs, then baked in a terracotta pot 12.00

Carciofi Alla Giudea artichoke alla guidea is a very old recipe named "alla giudea" because it was typically made in the jewish section of rome 12.00

Fritto Misto fried calamari, shrimp, zucchini and artichoke 13.00

Polenta Alla Griglia grilled hard polenta with melted gorgonzola cheese, served over a puree of broccoli 9.00

Insalate
Insalata Mista mixed green salad with tomatoes roasted peppers onions black and green, olives. tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette dressing 7.00

Insalata Di Rucola baby arugula salad, with cherry tomatoes. gorgonzola, heart of palm, red beats and pignoli nuts in a lemon vinaigrette dressing 9.00

Insalata Di Spinaci baby spinach salad with apples walnuts and shaved pecorino cheese tossed in a lemon dressing 8.00

Insalata Tre Colori radicchio endive and arugula tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette dressing 7.00

Minestre $6

Pasta Fagioli & Cozze dialini pasta with cannellini beans and mussels
Stracciatella egg drop spinach soup

Paste

Gnocchetti Allo Scoglio homemade dumplings served with shrimp. calamari clams, mussels and cherry tomatoes in a light white wine sauce 18.00

Spaghetti Pulcinella spaghetti made in a cream of parmigiano cheese. topped with fresh tomato sauce 11.00

Fettuccine Alla Bolognese homemade long ribbon pasta enriched with meat sauce 13.00

Penne All Etruscan penne pasta tossed in a light mascarpone tomato sauce with shrimp and a touch of cognac 15.00

Pappardelle Ai Funghi homemade flat long ribbon pasta enriched with wild mushrooms and truffle oil 16.00

Bucatini Alla Matriciana long pierced pasta with pancetta and onions in a rich tomato sauce 12.00

Fusilli Integrali whole-wheat fusilli pasta tossed with zucchini, asparagus, eggplant and artichoke in fresh tomato sauce 14.00

Cavatelli Alla Genovese homemade curly shaped pasta with pesto and artichokes 12.00

Tagliolini Allo Vongole homemade thin ribbon pasta topped with clams and broccoli rabe in a white wine sauce 17.00

Risotto Del Giorno risotto of the day

Pesce

Branzino Al Forno baked mediterranean seabass served with mashed potatoes. (serves two) 29.00

Zuppa Di Pesce fish and shellfish stew 21.00

Salmone Al Sipario broiled salmon in a blood orange sauce served over a bed of pan seared zucchini 18.00

Tilapia San Carlo tilapia, roasted peppers, onions, and gaeta olives, sauteed in a white wine sauce 19.00

Carne

Piatto Primo Atto pan seared filet of ostrich in port wine and blueberries sauce 21.00

Nodini Di Pollo pan seared chicken served with sauteed peppers, capers and gaeta olives 16.00

Straccetti Di Manzo thinly sliced filet mignon served with sauteed broccoli rabe 24.00

Pollo Intermezzo half roasted chicken served with diced eggplant, fresh tomato and basil over a bed of mashed potatoes 16.00

Tagliata Di Manzo grilled thin flat steak served with mashed potatoes and sauteed mushroom in a reduction of barolo wine sauce 22.00

Scaloppine A Piacere veal marsala, piccata, limoncello, etc. 22.00

Contorni

Zucchine sauteed zucchini in a mint, garlic and oil with a touch of balsamic vinegar 7.00

Broccoli Di Rape sauteed broccoli rabe with garlic and extra virgin olive nil 8.00

Melanzane diced eggplant sauteed with fresh plum tomato and basil 6.00

Funghi Trifolati sauteed mushrooms with garlic and extra virgin olive oil 7.00

Dessert Menu

Panna Cotta "cooked cream" is an italian dessert made by simmering together cream 7.00

Creme Brulee is a rich custard base topped with layer of hard caramel 6.00

Profiteroles cream puffs covered in chocolate and fresh whipped cream. to die for 7.00

Tiramisu the name tiramisu is from italy and means "make me less sad / happier" 6.00

Torta Caprese chocolate almond torte is a traditional flourless chocolate and almond cake, served hot with a scoop of vanilla ice cream 6.00

Crostata Di Frutta is a seasoned fruit tart 6.00

Torta Di Ricotta is an italian cheesecake 6.00

Torta Di Mele each area in italy has some sort of apple cake, primo alto has one too 6.00

Flambe' Primo Atto serves two 14.00

Cappuccino 4.00
Espresso 3.00
Coffee 2.50
Tea 2.50

LTS: Thanks for the menu! They did do the pancetta pasta as an app for us and served it in two separate bowls. I had no idea it was an entree.

Carmen: If the pancetta we split was entree-sized, it probably would be a little small to share with boytoy. Not really sure though cause he served it to us as an app.

And damnit, we should have gotten the Flambe. Next time.

Thanks for the info everyone- I know this is sort of off topic, but does Aunt Suzes have those notorious homestyle italian giant portions? Sometimes we just want to eat out something sorta cheap and pasta was my standby back home (out of the city) but here the portion sizes are usually much too small to share...

I'm italian as well...no one can beat MY home made marinara and meatballs But sometimes I'm too lazy to cook...