LA MELA - New York City (LIttle Italy)

La Mela has been serving amazing Italian cuisine on "Little Italy's" Mulberry Street for the past 25 years. The open kitchen is in one of the several dining rooms that can accommodate up to 400 guests. The dining rooms display photographs of their famous and not-so-famous dinner guests. As soon as I arrived I felt like I had returned "home." Benny could not have been more charming or friendly. His suggestions were spot-on!

I started my meal with the shredded iceberg lettuce salad with chopped tomatoes and an abundance of sliced fresh garlic - all tossed in their signature oil, vinegar & herb dressing. A basket of warm, crusty Italian bread arrived with the salad; the perfect solution for gathering the remaining salad dressing on my plate.

For dinner I took Benny's suggestion and had the homemade tri-color tortellini. The tortellini was stuffed with roasted garlic and ricotta cheese. Tossed in a light marinara sauce exploding with fresh tomato and basil, it was the best tortellini I've eaten. Period!

Benny told me my meal would be incomplete without a slice of their famous tiramisu. The combination of espresso, mascarpone (an Italian triple-cream cheese made from creme fraiche) and cocoa was heavenly. I was so happy that I did not say no.

Run, don't walk and get in line (reservations recommended) for a scrumptious plate of Italy!

Mmm... Mmm... Mmm...

La Mela

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++++

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Entrée

$ 10

$$ 20

$$$ 30

$$$$ 40+

Staff

+ Stop bothering me!

++ Anyone here?

+++ Stopped when in the area.

++++ As needed and friendly.

+++++ Invisibly perfect!

Overall

& “One visit too many!”

&& “Convince me!”

&&& “I’ll be back!”

&&&& “Same table next week!”