NYC Restaurants

One rainy evening my wife and I were wondering through the theater district and came across 44 Southwest. The pessimist in me thought this would be yet another tourist trap. But I'm happy to say I was proven wrong. The restaurant itself is small and very charming with candle lit tables that give the space a warm glow. And while we weren't really dressed for the occasion, we were still treated like a million bucks by our hostess. The homemade focaccia bread is outstanding, topped with fresh basil, garlic and parmesan cheese with a drizzle of virgin olive oil. The calamari is also among the best I've tasted. Crisp on the outside, soft on the inside and seasoned just right. For the main course, my wife had the chicken parmesan, a healthy portion of breaded chicken cutlet served with penne in a marinara sauce. She was very happy. I tried the Linguine Puttanesca, linguine tossed with black olives and capers in a marinara sauce, which was less memorable. Prices are very reasonable with most entrées under $20, and most pasta dishes under $12. All in all, 44 Southwest is a winner. We'll be back for seconds.