Malaparte

Italian.  Malaparte is low key.  And very chill.  But don’t be fooled, cause they take their food extremely seriously.

I began with one of the outrageous pizzas – rucola & prosciutto di parma.  The arugula, inches high.  In concert with ham and mozzarella, this is freshness personified.

It will probably come as no surprise that they’re as facile with pasta as pizza.  The pecorino and black pepper gnocchi with tomato and basil is, in a word, light.  A term rarely used to describe gnocchi, it virtually melts in your mouth.

I next ventured to one of their specials: grilled halibut.  So expert the preparation, it warrants steak status.  Presented in a cherry tomato sauce, flanked generously by fennel salad and grilled asparagus.  This dish superior in every way.

Malaparte is not about bells and whistles.  But who needs the distraction when each and every creation is pure chef perfection.