One of my all-time favorite New York City restaurants is Becco on Restaurant Row. My latest visit to this famed eatery on West 46th Street owned by celebrity chef and restauranteur, Lidia Bastianich was during my Girls' NYC Excursion to celebrate mine and my sister's October birthdays.
Being of Italian descent, there's only one thing we like more than eating...and that's eating good Italian food. Lidia has always been one of my favorite celebrity chefs with her simple and flavorful Italian cooking and since it's opening in 1993, Becco has been on my list of eatery favorites.
I especially love it at lunchtime, which is much easier to secure a reservation than in the evening with the theatre crowd.
Being of Italian descent, there's only one thing we like more than eating...and that's eating good Italian food. Lidia has always been one of my favorite celebrity chefs with her simple and flavorful Italian cooking and since it's opening in 1993, Becco has been on my list of eatery favorites.
I especially love it at lunchtime, which is much easier to secure a reservation than in the evening with the theatre crowd.
Lidia Matticchio Bastianich, American celebrity chef, television host, author, and restaurateur. (CLICK PHOTO for more information about Lidia's Italy)
Most of our time in the city during our mini "vacay" was spent trying new restaurants and eating, so I told Danielle, we had to go to Becco for lunch on the last day of our three-day sister's excursion to end with a "old classic." She had never been there, so I was doubly excited, looking forward to the food and experiencing this New York treasure my "baby" sis.
The access to Becco is down a few steps and into a rather large space, which features an upstairs (which I've eaten in during the pandemonium of the holiday season) and a lovely sun lounge in the back. It's bright and cheery and feels like you are eating outside, when, in fact, you are safe and warm inside from the elements.
The access to Becco is down a few steps and into a rather large space, which features an upstairs (which I've eaten in during the pandemonium of the holiday season) and a lovely sun lounge in the back. It's bright and cheery and feels like you are eating outside, when, in fact, you are safe and warm inside from the elements.
 Bread basket with crunchy breadsticks, focaccia and peasant bread |  White bean and olive oil spread with assorted olives |
Salad of kale, pine nuts, currants and shaved Grana Padano
We were lucky enough to sit in the brightly lit, cheery space. Sitting among other mid-day diners, we were greeted by our server with a lovely bread basket of delights which included bread sticks, focaccia and peasant bread. Diets and portion control went out the window this week and our lunch at Becco was no exception, especially with this bread selection!
The white bean spread doused with olive oil and the assorted olives combined with the bread could have been a meal in itself. (But there was no way we were stopping here!). Ashamed to say, we indulged on a second helping of bread - goodbye waistline!
We decided to "split" a salad to satisfy our obligation to be healthy, yet still leave room for more. It was delectable and the dressing was so light, complementing the bitterness of the kale but not overpowering the crunchy green.
Neither of us could decide on a main course, so we decided to each get a different chicken dish and share. Great decision!! Danielle ordered the Pollo al Limone - sautéed boneless, chicken breast with lemon, Cerignola olives, Selina caper berries and sautéed baby spinach. It had the perfect blend of citrus and tartness. I chose to get the Parmigiana de Pollo con Grana Padano - pan fried, breaded chicken breast topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella and Grana Padano.
My apologies for having no photo of this lovely dish - I attacked it way too soon (Yikes!).
The white bean spread doused with olive oil and the assorted olives combined with the bread could have been a meal in itself. (But there was no way we were stopping here!). Ashamed to say, we indulged on a second helping of bread - goodbye waistline!
We decided to "split" a salad to satisfy our obligation to be healthy, yet still leave room for more. It was delectable and the dressing was so light, complementing the bitterness of the kale but not overpowering the crunchy green.
Neither of us could decide on a main course, so we decided to each get a different chicken dish and share. Great decision!! Danielle ordered the Pollo al Limone - sautéed boneless, chicken breast with lemon, Cerignola olives, Selina caper berries and sautéed baby spinach. It had the perfect blend of citrus and tartness. I chose to get the Parmigiana de Pollo con Grana Padano - pan fried, breaded chicken breast topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella and Grana Padano.
My apologies for having no photo of this lovely dish - I attacked it way too soon (Yikes!).
 Pasta Trio of Rigatoni with Tomato & Basil, Mushroom Ravioli, Fresh Fettucini with Broccoli |  Pollo al Limone with Olives, Capers and Spinach |
One of the most memorable experiences of Becco's menu is their mid course featuring three pastas of the day. Both my sister and I could have Pasta as our middle name considering the life-long love affair we have both enjoyed with it.
In all my visits to Ms. Bastianich's Becco, I've had some pretty amazing pasta dishes!! On this day, we each had Rigatoni with tomato and basil, Fresh Fettucini with Broccoli in an oil and garlic sauce and Mushroom Ravioli in a creamy, savory mushroom sauce.
In all my visits to Ms. Bastianich's Becco, I've had some pretty amazing pasta dishes!! On this day, we each had Rigatoni with tomato and basil, Fresh Fettucini with Broccoli in an oil and garlic sauce and Mushroom Ravioli in a creamy, savory mushroom sauce.
 Sorbet Trio |  Panna Cotta |
It's a bit of an understatement to say that Executive Chef William Gallagher does a marvelous job of creating these mouthwatering trios.So, there we were, stuffed to the gills, lamenting about just how full we were, when I decided to ask Danielle if she had any room yet. Without hesitation, she responded with a resounding, YES! Good thing too, because I was in the mood for something sweet!
I was actually "good" for dessert and ordered the Sorbet Trio, but Danielle opted for the Panna Cotta, which she said was delicious!I tell you with all sincerity, we had to roll out of the restaurant! What a great meal! Can't wait for the next dining experience at Becco!!
I was actually "good" for dessert and ordered the Sorbet Trio, but Danielle opted for the Panna Cotta, which she said was delicious!I tell you with all sincerity, we had to roll out of the restaurant! What a great meal! Can't wait for the next dining experience at Becco!!
Me and Danielle outside of Becco
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