New York - June 11, 2002

Britti Caffe Bar Opens

Britti Caffe Bar Opens

First ‘ino. Then Paradou.

Oh, the wine bar. The “I’ll just be nibbling” (and drinking heavily) approach to dining.

Next up? Britti Caffe Bar, owned by brother-and-sister team Marco and Simona. The 900-square-foot cozy cafe and bar serves Italian panini classics (buffalo mozzarella, mortadella, chicken, gorgonzola, arugula-and-basil) as well as other snacks (a prosciutto, Parmesan, and olive salad or tomato-basil bruschetta). Cocktails? Killer. Try the Ducati (watermelon vodka, peach schnapps, and lemon).

What Britti lacks in size it makes up for in decor. Vintage Italian-cinema posters cover the face of the copper-topped bar; cute graphics line the white-brick walls, and there’s a romantic, copper-walled back lounge with velvet cubes for seats and small coffee tables.

You just may want to take a date here … before it catches on.

Britti Caffe Bar, 110 Thompson Street, between Prince and Spring Streets (212-334-6604).