Il Mulino

I always have a special place in my heart for classic New York City restaurants.  Today you can wear jeans or a t-shirt to pretty much any nice restaurant in town, but at a few spots jackets are still required and cocktail dresses are encouraged.  These dining experiences are not for any old night, but for an anniversary, birthday, or celebration of any kind they add an extra bit of special to the evening.  Il Mulino is just that kind of place.  If you are lucky enough to get a reservation (we called three weeks in advance and one time slot was left) then you can step into old world New York within minutes of arriving.  The ambiance is lovely and the restaurant is intimate.  My favorite part of the experience was the amuse-bouche that came out prior to the meal.  Mussels, Bruschetta, and blocks of fresh Parmesan were served before menus were even opened.  The actual menu itself is classic Italian - multiple pages of fish, meats, and pastas.  I ended up having the Caprese appetizer with Burrata, the spaghetti Bolognese, and fresh berries for dessert.  As you can see the food is simple but delicious.  However, the tabs are scary here – for example, the shrimp appetizer is $28 and you only get two shrimp (no, more are not on the way).  For these prices you may want more innovative fare like you might see at a Babbo, or if you are in the mood for red sauce Italian swing by the local Italian restaurant in your neighborhood so you can still pay rent and treat yourself to a meal.