Scampi, which is located in the heart of the Flatiron district on W. 18th street between 5th and 6th avenue, may just be one of the best foodie spots in that area as its Southern Italian menu of sorts is top notch for your taste buds to enjoy.
Something that I love about Scampi, for one, happens to be just how beautiful their location is. Flatiron is known for hosting aesthetically pleasing restaurants that really catch the eye upon first glimpse, and Scampi does not disappoint.
It is so airy and has a “light as a feather” type of quality to it that you instantly feel relaxed upon entering their location. A sprawling bar greets you when you first walk in and you will find more intimate seating as you head towards the back of Scampi. Front or back, though, the space is absolutely beautiful.
The lunch menu itself, which me and a friend got to experience first hand, really brings Southern Italy to The Big Apple in a truly scrumptious sort of way. Scampi has joined in on the trend that many other restaurants are doing in that they encourage you to do some shareable options from one or more of their four menu options: Crudo, Grilled, Vegetable and Pasta.
Let’s break down which from each you should try the next time you find yourself there. For the Crudo section, I highly recommend their Tuna Acqua Pazza which comes with tuna tartare, tomato, cucumber and Calabrian chilies. What’s great about this dish is that you have a great element of spicy with the chilies but the tomato and cucumber cools it down and mixes really well with the tartare itself.
I am a sucker for a good piece of Asparagus, and this did not disappoint in the Vegetable section. It came with grilled, cured egg yolk, toasted almonds and tarragon which blended together to make a great meal that complimented the pasta dish that I had wonderfully.
Finally, in the pasta category, I had to go with the Mafaldini “Scampi” as this place is called Scampi. Shrimp, parsley, butter and lemon. Those are the only four ingredients and they sang incredibly well together. Honestly one of the best pasta dishes I have ever had in NYC and I would go back time and time again just to experience it some more.
For more information on Scampi, please check out their official website.