My New York Secret

I’m almost loathe to write about the great Italian place where I met my friends for dinner in the East Village. As with most “undiscovered” great restaurants in New York, right now you can walk right into Col Legno and get a table with no reservations and no waiting and get great personal service, in addition to the fabulous food. Col Legno means “with the wood” and, indeed, it’s the wood-fired oven here that gives these rustic Italian dishes their distinct flavor.

Must-haves include the starter called “Carciofi all Giudia”, fried baby artichokes dressed with mint, lemon, and olive oil, and the to-hell-with-my-cholesterol-and-diet “Patate alla Cesare”, thinly sliced roasted potatoes layered with thyme and parmigiano cheese.

I chose the grilled pork chops with fennel oil and the two huge chops were fork-tender and enough to feed two, accompanied by fresh steamed broccoli. My friends had the chicken grilled over fresh rosemary and one of the specialty house pizzas with wild mushrooms, and of course, I had taste of everything. We ordered the house Chianti which was lovely with all three of our entrees.

Prices range from $4.95 for antipasti to $21 for the most expensive entrée, not a budget-buster by New York standards. You definitely want to check this place out, but please keep it to yourself so I can get a table next time I’m in town! (219 East 9th St or 212-777-4650)