Sambuca
Family Style Italian Restaurant
20 West 72nd Street
(off Central Park West)
NYC
(212) 787-5656
When you first get your butt over to Sambuca for some real good gf Italian, make sure you thank the owner, Liza for doing us a BIG favor and asking her very Italian chef if he wouldn't mind cooking two types of pasta in two separate pots. By the way, I'm not kidding you when I say real good gf Italian. Would I kid you? Fuhgetaboutit!
Maxwell's Kitchen, created by Doug Meadow who's son is celiac supplies Sambuca with the bread, and it's good...soft, with a hint of rosemary and served warm. This Doug guy is also working on a gf breading for chicken and veal parmigiana dishes. We could just kiss him for that!
The first course. Sambuca Salad. I'm talkin' dream salad here, fresh with everything salad should have. Remember, this place does it 'family style'. All portions are generous and meant to be shared. And then out comes the Grilled Portobello Mushrooms. Whoa. Delicious. Buttery intense flavor explodes in your mouth. Just the portobellos and a glass of wine would make the perfect quick meal for your chick on the go. Listen up ... order the mushrooms.
Now get ready for the pasta course. Sambuca uses our favorite rice pasta, Tinkyada. They have a big selection and will make adjustments for your diet or taste. Speakin of taste...unbelievable! Oh boy, did we eat.
 Clams in White Wine Sauce |
 Traditional Marinara Sauce |
 Broccoli Rabe with Sausage |
3rd course. Not an easy decision, there's plenty of protein to choose from...chicken, veal, steak, seafood. We decided on the Chicken Paillard, so moist you can cut it with a fork! Tomatoes tasted like tomatoes. We were dizzy with stuffed bellies. Couldn't even imagine eating another freakin bite until we saw the Homemade Chocolate Brownie...
Chicken Paillard...mama mia!
Homemade Chocolate Brownie...you gotta have it!
The atmosphere at Sambuca is perfect. Tables are set up with breathing room (gotta love that) and you can come casual or dressy. And the waitstaff really takes care of you...as if you were family. Like I said before, we are all very lucky that Liza has gone through the effort for us. A meal at Sambuca is an experience. A real Italian feast. Just like Ma used to make. But don't tell her I said so...
