Day 857 : Rosemary's

Brought to you by the team behind Bobo, Rosemary's Enoteca on Greenwich has been impossible to get into  since it opened earlier this summer. It is by far one of the best restaurants to sip summertime rose at and definitely one of the most exciting restaurant openings of 2012 thus far, if you ask me. Why you may ask? Complete with a rooftop garden teeming with their homegrown vegetables, herbs, and more, Rosemary's downstairs dining area is open and airy -- the entire place just feels like summertime encapsulated in a restaurant.

 The rooftop garden was full of herbs, tomatoes, zucchini blossoms, lettuce, and more...what a nice break from the concrete jungle on the streets below.

Apart from the decor, the local farm to table cuisine is ingredient driven with an Italian bent and totally spot on and won't break the bank - fresh, delish, and unique. The service is efficient and the wine list is affordable, with all glasses priced at $10 and the majority of the bottles priced at $40, safe for a small reserve list.

So what did we have last night?

We started off with a few of their small plates to split:

Zucchini crudo with parmesan, fresh tomatoes, and EVOO - light, fresh, and the essence of summer.

Cabbages, Pecorino and Chilis was refreshing and crisp, just the perfect salad combination on a warm summer day.

Summertime roasted beets -- Flavorful and rustic 

Octopus carpaccio with basil and homemade gardiniere -- one of the most unique octopus appetizers I have had in a while, it was was wonderful and totally visually stunning.

Tuna with olives, capers, parsley and fried chickpeas -- their take on a Nicoise salad deconstructed but boy did the tuna just melt in your mouth. 

Each of the small appetizers was bold and flavorful yet light and fanciful -- great share-able amounts and such a wide range. Following our appetizers, I had their Chopped Salad "Siciliana" which was composed of butter lettuce, caper berries, olives, ricotta salata, fennel, artichoke, and fried chickpeas for crunch. The perfect mixture of brine-y savory flavors that was excellent with a glass of crisp Vernaccia.

Overall a truly wonderful meal, no wonder the crowds are flocking to Rosemary's. I look forward to returning soon. 

Note: They do not take bookings. To avoid a wait, try and arrive before 6:30 on a weeknight. By 8:30 there was a two hour wait last night.

Rosemary's 

18 Greenwich Avenue @ 10th street