Grotto Restaurant

Located down metal stairs near the Grand Street hub, at 100 Forsyth Street, Grotto has been attracting the hip LES set to it's lovely subterranean hideaway restaurant and bar. I have eaten there several times in the last few months and last night it was warm enough to eat in their backyard patio which is lined with wooden benches and green and white striped cushions and pillows continuing the nautical theme from inside. We were early and the staff was barely ready though being the lone diners has it's quiet advantage. Three kinds of bread including a fluffy focaccia, a nice bagette, and a sesame seeded bread arrive with a ramaden of good Italian extra virgin and salt. Next our salad of arugula, imported parmigiano, roasted artichokes and a Meyer lemon dressing arrived and was looked lovely and tasted tart, refreshing and very flavorful. The artichokes could have been warmed slightly as they were cold. My dish of spaghetti carbonara was good with pancetta pieces on top of a creamy carbonara. My friend's clams vongole pasta dish looked very prettily presented and she claimed it to be one of the best ever as she ate it with vigor. There are also secondi meat dishes here which sound quite good. The prices here are generally reasonable with pastas under $20 and using lot's of good imported ingredients. The space inside with it's dark wood walls , ship like windows and narrow bar with a giant vase of beautiful flowers and exposed brick walls make for a romantic dating or drinking option. The bathroom is lined in grey slate marble and smells good with a burning candle and flowers it is one of the prettiest and cleanest I have seen in weeks.

Baccaro

We finally dined at the much hyped Baccaro on a lonely though ever trendy stretch of Division Street. This little spot is so pretty and romantic inside. There is a small upstairs with lovely wainscotting, a shiny wood bar and tables with dripping candles over old fashioned candle holders. Downstairs using the space very cleverly are tables set inside the exposed brick grottos of the building. There is even a separate speakeasy style entrance to the downstairs outside. Now the food- crusty good peasant bread arrives first with the actual bottle of extra virgin olive oil, nice touch. My friend and I shared two items. The menu is mad up of about 20 items. We ordered the gnocchi alla funghi(mushroom gnocchi) and the fritto misto(fried mix) of seafood and vegetables. The gnocchi although flavorful with a touch of greens was not cooked to order. The tasty sauce tasted reheated. The fritto misto was nicely cooked had a nice selection of fish and veggies though lacked an accompanying sauce. I requested an aoili or marinara from the kitchen and the waiter said they had none? No tomato sauce in an Italian style restaurant?
Well the bathroom here was beautiful with a large pedestal sink and a huge antique style mirror and sconces. A standout toilet in a super cool space with unremarkable grub.