Pizza, Pasta and Pizzazz at Acqua Restaurant NYC

By: Finance Foodie

During the President's Day long weekend, the Mister and I journeyed to the south end of Manhattan to visit the Seaport District (aka/fka South Street Seaport). As both of us hadn't visited the area since pre-Hurricane Sandy, we were excited to see the new restaurants, stores and buildings that have redeveloped the area from yesteryear.

Exterior on a snowy night

However, we should have checked the weather report before we headed out because it started snowing heavily as soon as we got out of the Fulton Street stop (luckily, as seasoned city dwellers, we always carry umbrellas). We quickly ducked for cover at Acqua Restaurant NYC, a lovely little Southern Italian restaurant on Peck Street, for some shelter (and carbs!).  The restaurant itself is rustic and cozy, with its exposed brick walls, vintage wood tables and warm candlelight. It was surprisingly busy for a blustery night, but we were seated right away and brought a basket of warm homemade bread and olive oil that really hit the spot.

Bianca al Prosciutto

To start, the Mister and I shared the Bianca al Prosciutto pizza ($19), a delectably baked pizza covered with a generous helping of prosciutto and arugula that looked as beautiful as a rose garden. It was a splendid sight for both the eyes and the stomach.

Linguine alle Vongole

We were informed by our server that Acqua is known for their fresh, never frozen, seafood, so we had to order the classic Linguine alle Vongole ($23) for one of our pasta mains. The clams did not disappoint - they were were large, fresh and generous in portion. However, the real standout was the olive oil and parsley sauce. While a simple concoction, it was for sure one of the best sauces I've ever had on this dish (and I've had many a Linguine alle Vongole over the years!).

Pappardelle Tartufo

Our second pasta dish we shared was another Italian classic, the Pappardelle Tartufo ($21). The whole wheat handmade pasta in this dish was fantasic and perfectly cooked (by the way, handmade pastas make all the difference in the world - I simply cannot go back to box pasta anymore).  I also loved the rich demi-glaze sauce, the light hint of truffle oil and the plump mushrooms that completed the entree.

Gelato

We were both in a carb coma, but after we saw the dessert menu on an interactive iPad, we knew that a serving of the hazelnut and vanilla gelato ($10) was the right way to close out the night. The gelato was decadent and it was fun to "scoop" up the gelato using the biscotti sticks that adorned the dessert. Acqua is a charming and wonderful resto that serves delicious food by a very friendly staff. I only wish I lived closer to the Seaport area - I would probably be here every night!

Acqua Restaurant NYC
21 Peck Slip
New York, NY 10038
(212) 349-4433
acquarestaurantnyc.com