Bocca di Bacco

Bocca di Bacco Restaurant Review:

Spacious and tastefully designed with plenty of exposed brick, this Chelsea restaurant --- like its sister eatery near Columbus Circle --- serves up reliable Italian fare at wallet-friendly prices. Start with the saffron-laced rice balls, which ooze cheese and peas and are as comforting as potpie. Or try the tortino di granchio, better known as “crab cake,” something you don’t see on Italian menus very often, packed with crab flavor. There are a handful of pasta dishes, of which the penne with Gorgonzola and walnuts is the best. Secondi, or mains, range from surf to turf. In the former category, it’s hard to beat the signature caramelized onion-topped salmon; in the latter, we recommend the tender lamb shank. Be sure to end the meal with the saffron crème brûlée. Alternatively, just order another glass of wine from the long list of Italian selections on offer.