Quartino

I'm on the road this week, posting from sunny Carmel, CA. One of my best friends is getting married on Saturday and with the bachelorette party tonight and my birthday tomorrow (the big 2-7 on the 27th!), I figured I'd turn a birthday and wedding week into vacation week. If anyone on the left coast is in or around Stinson Beach this evening, look out! Some wild and crazy girls will be painting the town red. Hope everyone's having a fabulous week and I will catch up with you when I return to New York, if I do...

It was a Friday night and I had plans to go out with Winette and her husband Mr. HefeWeisen to one of their friend's birthday parties. More than somebody else's birthday party, I felt like it was my coming out party. I've never had one, but they were on a mission to introduce me to all these guys.

It was everyone else's weekend, and almost the end of my week, so I raced out of work to meet them at a restaurant downtown. I had never heard of Quartino but it sounded fabulous. It wasn't crowded, they had seats at the bar, it opened up right onto Bleecker Street, and with lots of wine, what could be better?

There was no sign to tell me I was at the right place, but with the open front I spotted my favorite couple eating, drinking, and having a grand ol' time at the bar. I grabbed a stool next to them, and when Winette saw me notice the pizza on the counter, she immediately slid it over in front of me. The cheese was oozing off the warm slice and I had to save it with my fork. The best thing about the pizza is its whole wheat crust. It was thin, crispy and didn't taste like cardboard. Quartino has a great selection of whole wheat pastas and pizzas.

I sat drinkless for a while, and it irritated me. The bartender knew I sat down because she handed me a plate, but then didn't come near me to follow up and take my drink order. I'm not one to sit down and immediately hail the bartender and yell my drink order in his or her face. I usually sit it out, and hope I get noticed after I lean in over the bar and make repeated eye contact. But this chick was not having it no matter what I did. When she awoke out of her doldrums to serve me, I ordered a generous quartino, or a mini carafe of wine, probably good for two and a half glasses. Most of Quartino's wines are from Italy, France, California and Washington, and some are even organic. The waitress wasn't really offering her recommendations, which added another negative point to her scorecard, but Winette gave me all the recommendation I needed. She steered me in the right direction with the wine and more importantly, with the food.

After I ate half of the pizza she ordered (having no intention of splitting it with me in the first place), I wasn't starving but wanted to try one more small plate. Winette pointed at the baked spinach with shaved parmesan reggiano and said it was excellent. I'm not going to lie, thoughts of spinach and cream goo started racing through my head, but I trusted her and tried it anyway. And I am so happy I did. The spinach looked and tasted like it was just picked off the farm. It was cooked to the perfect temperature, and the thinly shaved parmesan started melting in between its leaves. You could still make out that it was indeed spinach, which is a good sign when you cook these overly sensitive greens.

Despite my wait for the bartender's attention, I would definitely return to Quartino with friends or a date. Its dimly lit space with dark wood panelling and mirrors makes it a romantic spot, and I hear the garden in the back is cozy too.

*cash only*
11 Bleecker St, between Lafayette and Bowery
(212) 529-5133