My favorite kind of cuisine, if I had to choose, would be Italian as it was one I was raised on and enjoyed in many different formats. Allora, a brand new location in Midtown East, takes this form of cuisine and elevates it to such heights that you are left with a huge smile on your face upon your exit. With personalities from their staff that are larger than life, great dishes, beautiful ambiance and more, Allora is definitely one of the spots you must try in 2017 and beyond.
Allora is part of The Bernic Hotel, which launched in late 2016 to much fanfare and love, especially from Manhattan Digest who had the opportunity to stay there back in December. While there, we were treated to lunch at Allora and got a sneak peak of just how wonderful this location was overall. They invited us back to dinner on Friday night, where our love for this fun and innovative location was renewed.
Upon arrival, you will notice that the location itself is very intimate in its approach. You will find a dimly lit sprawling bar for the cocktail aficionados to enjoy a drink or two before heading out for the night on the town, and further back is where you can dine with friends and family. Elio, Allora’s manager, has got to have one of the best and biggest personalities I have ever seen in someone, restaurant or not. He has the kind of personality that can make you feel like fast food is Michelin star worthy, it is just that good and was fabulous add on to the meal itself.
The menu, of course, had many staples that Italian restaurants generally do, but Allora in my opinion does them so much better that we were left feeling full without needing a taxi to get us home. Here is what we recommend you try the next time you are either staying at The Bernic or are just looking for a fantastic place to eat.
Their Prosciutto with melon, burrata cheese and a fresh lemon squeeze is a perfect starter dish. Melon and Prosciutto is such a killer combination of sweet and savory, but when you add the depth and creaminess of the Burrata, everything gets elevated. Definitely utilize the lemon for a fresh take to your bite.
Given the cold weather that has hit Manhattan like a brick recently, it is always good to have a delicious soup to warm you up. Their Lobster Bisque is one that I would highly recommend, as the bisque is perfectly thick without overdoing it, and the lobster in it taste great.
Allora also gave us a sample of their seafood dishes, which were some of the highlights overall in this meal. The Scallop was a great two bite delicacy, and the tomato sauce that was covered all over it added to its already pungent flavor. Same goes with their Shrimp, which had a lighter taste to it as the broth wasn’t as heavy, but still carried a ton of great taste.
They also treated us to a variety of their pasta options, all of which had distinctive tastes and flavor profiles, yet all drove it home palette wise. Our favorite was the Ravioli and Pappardelle, the former of which came with a great cream sauce and peas to compliment the fresh pasta option, and the Pappardelle had a spicy tomato sauce that gave it a great kick.
To finish your meal, let them showcase their talents with a Flambe’d Dessert on top of fresh vanilla ice cream. The strawberries and blueberries are warm and devilishly sweet, and a perfect ending to a great meal.
I definitely recommend checking Allora out for all of these reasons! For more information, check out their official site.