The surprise party started at The Met with a scavenger hunt, then to dinner at the rustic and relaxed popular Italian wine bar Uva on the Upper East Side. The thirty of us celebrated my friend’s big birthday in their private wine cellar.

We started with a variety their bruschette that included goat cheese and black pepper; sun-dried tomato puree with pesto and pine nuts; minced wild mushrooms with arugula and Parmigiana cheese; and, my favorite, the sheep’s ricotta and black truffle honey.

I’d return for the creamy flavorful involtini di melanzane that I had as my appetizer. The thin delicate eggplant slices came stuffed with ricotta and spinach in a light tomato sauce topped with mozzarella.

To be fair, it’s always difficult to serve 30 people at the same time, and so I ‘ll give Uva a pass for their entrees, each in need of something. The fettuccini with zucchini, yellow pattipan squash, shallots  and grape tomatoes in an EVOO and white wine sauce was too bland, crying for seasoning. The, grilled jumbo shrimp with braised sweet peppers needed more of the pesto sauce. The best was the papparelle al ragu di vitello, the home made pasta ribbons sauteed with ragout of veal topped with Montasio cheese. That one could have more of the ragout.

If I’m in the neighborhood, I’d try this popular wine bar again, being sure to start with the stuffed eggplant.

 

– bonnie

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Uva Restaurant
Upper East Side
1486 2nd Avenue
New York, NY 10075
(212) 472-4552
Uva on Urbanspoon