NYC Restaurants

Italian restaurant Il Divo has taken up residence on Second Avenue and 71st Street. The elegant space, which formerly housed Per Lei, boasts floor-to-ceiling windows, full bar, plush seating and art-filled walls, including images of Rudolph Valentino, the inspiration behind the restaurant. On the menu you will find things like deep fried meatballs with salsa verde, pan-seared octopus on sautéed salad, and black truffle mozzarella. Pasta dishes include linguine with cockles, and ravioli with lemon zest and branzino in a seafood sauce. Larger plates bring lamb chops marinaded in citrus and rosemary with potato chips; veal chop Milanese with crunchy salad; pan-seared scallops with chickpea soup and crispy bacon; and stewed veal cheeks with red wine, sautéed broccoli and anchovies.  Massimo Sola, who operates several pasta restaurants in the city, is reportedly serving as a consulting chef.

- Thomas Rafael