Macy’s new restaurant is a surprisingly stylish place to grab a drink or a bite.
Tamara Beckwith
2 of 11
With marinated octopus carpaccio, citrus, fennel and watercress, the insalata di polipo ($17) is a perfect light lunch for fashionistas.
Tamara Beckwith
3 of 11
A Luxardo cherry Italian soda spiked with vodka ($12) washes away a stressful shopping day.
Tamara Beckwith
4 of 11
The tortino di melanzane ($17) features paper-thin slices of eggplant, mozzarella, tomato and Parmigiano-Reggiano.
Tamara Beckwith
5 of 11
Not in the mood for pasta? Opt for a flavorful seafood entree like the capesante ($27), with scallops, blood oranges and fennel puree.
Tamara Beckwith
6 of 11
The authentic Southern Italian pasta dishes include paccheri Napolitana ($19) with a hearty braised beef ragu.
Tamara Beckwith
7 of 11
With light streaming in from the large windows and a white, turquoise and yellow color scheme, the dining room is appealingly bright and airy and has seating for 180 in the main area.
Tamara Beckwith
8 of 11
Bubble up! The Prosecco bar features white peach and dark berry Bellinis, Italian sodas spiked with vodka and classic Italian aperitifs like the Negroni and Aperol Spritz (all cocktails $12). For winos, there’s a carefully curated wine list of exclusively Italian wines from various regions.
Tamara Beckwith
9 of 11
Pizza offerings include traditional pies like a margherita ($16 individual or $35 for a half-meter-long pie that serves four) and more creative ones likes the cavolfiori ($17 or $36) with vibrant, multicolored cauliflower florets and Meyer lemon slices resting atop a rich cauliflower puree (above).
Tamara Beckwith
10 of 11
A casual take-away counter called the “Cibi-Ronda” serves up Lavazza espresso drinks, panini sandwiches ($8), pizza ($16-$18) and salads ($7-$9).
Tamara Beckwith
11 of 11
Silvana Vivoli, a third-generation gelato maker, has brought her family’s famous scoops over from Italy. Her gelateria at Stella 34 is the first Vivoli location outside of Florence. Try the riso, made from Arborio rice, or the silky crema all’arancia with bitter orange zest ($4.75 piccolo, $5.75 medio, $6.75 grande).
Tamara Beckwith
