Little Italy serves up fabulous meals at Il Palazzo

This year marks my fourth time ever traveling to New York City. Among these random trips, I have eaten at at least 40 different restaurants.

Today I had the great pleasure of partaking in the most impressive meal I have eaten in the Big Apple. Il Palazzo, in Little Italy, has made a statement in the community, as one of the most authentic and traditional restaurants around.

When first entering Il Palazzo, it appears to have a similar aura to most of other the other nearby restaurants until you reach the main dining room. With a glass rooftop revealing the nearby high-rises, and brick walls with fountains and topiaries, this place was giving off a great vibe.

Feather adviser, Greg Stobbe, has made this restaurant a annual tradition for his staff members. Stobbe asked for his favorite waiter, Marchello, by name to service our table for the afternoon.

Right away, I was impressed with not only the expediency of the service, but also the personal and welcoming touch that Marchello offered. While waiting for our food to cook, Stobbe and the other staff members engaged in conversation with Marchello, learning the about how he began his career with Il Palazzo many years ago.

Within five minutes of being seated, we were given a huge basket of various types of Italian breads and toasts along with an absolutely delicious house dipping sauce consisting of olive oil, parsley, garlic, red chili flakes and Parmesan cheese.

Two thinly cut pieces of deep fried eggplant, topped with rich marinara and a large portion of mozzarella cheese and a small serving of spaghetti on the side. I believe it was pure freshness along with the fact that it was cooked to perfection that truly made this dish. — Senior Ryan King

Five minutes after the bread was brought out, our table was given yet another complimentary appetizer. Fried zucchini with marinara dipping sauce, a dish I have never before realized to be a part of authentic Italian cuisine, satisfied the stomachs of everyone at the table.

The main course soon followed the appetizers, proving these meal no easy task to finish. I ordered the Eggplant Parmesan with the Calamari Fritti. This was fabulous Italian food.

The Eggplant Parmesan was almost breathe taking. I have tried this same dish in many other restaurants back home and I can say without a doubt that none even compare.

Two thinly cut pieces of deep fried eggplant, topped with rich marinara and a large portion of mozzarella cheese and a small serving of spaghetti on the side. I believe it was pure freshness along with the fact that it was cooked to perfection that truly made this dish.

Though it was hard to turn my fork from the eggplant, I forced myself to stop and try the Calamari Fritti. The day before we flew out of San Francisco, I dined at the famous West Coast hot spot, Scoma’s, on the San Francisco wharf. It was here that I tried there signature Calamari Fritti.

I can honestly say that it was hard for me to decide which calamari I liked more. While Scoma’s was tender and cooked perfectly, the true and fresh calamari flavor was somewhat drowned out of the meat. The calamari at Il Palazzo was a little tougher, but the flavor was exquisite. I, personally, enjoy the tough texture of calamari and therefore hold Il Palazzo’s slightly higher.

While it is normally a custom to order dessert after such a meal at a place like this, we made an exception, because it was not dinner. Our meal was concluded with a plate of fresh fruit to cleanse the palate and sooth the stomach.

If there were one thing I could have changed, I would have perhaps left out the chili flakes in all of the dipping sauces. Although I love chili flakes and personally enjoyed them, not everyone has a taste for it. I would leave the flakes on the side to let the consumer decide whether or not they want the spice added.

All in all, these meal was almost perfect. The quiet, laid back nature of the building really calmed the group, allowing for a much needed hour of relaxation. The food was top notch, the service was top notch and the atmosphere was top notch.

If you ever find yourself in desperate need of a good meal in the middle of New York City, please hear my words and try out Il Palazzo. You will not be disappointed.

Follow The Feather via Twitter @thefeather, Instagram @thefeatheronline and Facebook @thefeatheronline. This writer can be reached via Twitter: @namoodnhoj.

For more reviews, read the March 10 article, Featured app: GameChanger.