New York - May 20, 2009

Tavern on the Green

Locanda Verde Restaurant Opens

Bad news for the no-carbs-till-Labor Day plan: Locanda Verde opens tonight.

That means Andrew “Urban Italian” Carmellini is back at it, having traded A Voce for the train wreck formerly known as Ago.

He’s warmed up the space with antique cake stands, vintage Italian cookbooks, and wine bottles everywhere — and brought the prices down.

Stop in as early as 7 a.m. for pastries and espresso in the cafe, which spills out onto the sidewalk. Come back for dinner — lots of antipasti (hooray: his legendary Sardinian sheep’s milk ricotta is back) and pan-Italian favorites.

The best order may be the family-style chef’s choice menu alla famiglia or la grande abbuffata (“the big pig-out”). And a wine-size bottle of Italian artisanal beer. The microbrew trend has taken hold in the land of vino, and the resto’s importing several. (Carmellini’s favorite is Sella del Diavolo.)

Let’s hear it for something old and something new.

Locanda Verde, 377 Greenwich Street, at North Moore Street (212-925-3797).

Photo: Courtesy of Locanda Verde

  Alfresco, Antipasti, Celebrity Chef