I never know what to expect when I go to a restaurant located in a hotel: sometimes it is delicious like Fire & Oak in Jersey City, and sometimes, it is disappointing. So, going to Ramerino Italian Prime was a bit of a bet, their menu looking delicious. As we entered, the spacious dining room was empty that was not a good sign and I admit that the stale bread they served us was also not a good sign. At least, the espresso martini I started with was good, well balanced, upping a bit my hope that we would have a nice dinner. We started off with the melanzane that is baked layers of sliced eggplant, smothered in a delicious tomato sauce , some Parmigiano- Reggiano, and lots of fresh basil. After the first bite, I was thinking that this might not be that bad, this dish being delicious and quite comforting, the eggplant being well cooked, drenched in a sauce with a robust flavor.

Next, as I did not see my linguine alle Vongole that is my go to dish when eating in an Italian restaurant (it was on the menu displayed outside that was not updated), we decided to try their cacio e pepe and pappardelle. The cacio e pepe was made with tonnarelli pasta, Pecorino Romano, black pepper, grated 24- month age Parmigiano-Reggiano. It was delicious, the pasta having a nice bite and I truly appreciated that it had the right amount of pepper. I just wished it was a bit more creamy. Then, the pappardelle with wild mushrooms, truffle oil, and goat cheese, on which we added parmesan cheese, was sublime: the pasta was also perfectly cooked, drenched in a delicious demi-glace sauce, and a perfect amount of truffle oil that did not overpower the dish at all. There were lots of wild mushrooms and I thought that the goat cheese complemented well the dish.

Of course we could not leave without dessert and out tiramisu came with some limoncello, on the house. I was surprised to see some chocolate sauce on the side and admit that I was not sure how to eat it (I got some spoonful of it…). The tiramisu, homemade, was quite good: the mascarpone layer was creamy and light, topping some perfectly soaked in coffee lady finger cookies.

Overall, the dinner was pretty good, with an excellent service. Ramerino Italian Prime is the perfect example of what a restaurant in a hotel should be: a delicious experience that can cater to more than just hotel guests who do not know where to eat or have no other choice than going there because of time constraints. I will definitely go back there!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Ramerino Italian Prime - 16 E 39th St, New York, NY 10016

Ramerino Italian Prime in NYC, NY

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