Locanda Verde (TriBeCa)

I met Katy for dinner at Locanda Verde in TriBeCa last Monday night. I’ve been to Locanda Verde at least a handful of times. Though the food has always been good, I have never been awed by any particular dish. Couple that with the waits for a table and Locanda Verde was never at the top of my go-to restaurant list. But when Katy suggested we meet there at 7 p.m., I was open to giving it another try. Surprisingly, there was no wait and we were seated immediately.

With both of us wanting to steer clear of carbs, we opted for the Fire Roasted Garlic Chicken for Two, which our server described as a “house favorite”. As a starter, I was debating between the Warm Asparagus and the Crispy Fried Artichokes, but our server recommended the crostinis. Katy and I decided to share the Blue Crab crostini with jalapeno and tomato.

To get us started, we were served a slice of delicious pizza-style bread, which I thought was the highlight of our meal, maybe because it was the most carb-rich of our dishes. Topped with cheese, fresh tomato slice and garlic, it was full of flavor.

The Blue Crab crostini was a light contrast to the rich pizza bread. The jalapeno provided a nice kick to each bite. It was a good appetizer, but not a must-have. The chicken, on the other hand, was outstanding – very moist and juicy with a flavorful rub on the skin. I don’t typically order chicken at a restaurant, but this was the best I think I’ve ever had. Was it worth $50? That’s debatable, but I would be inclined to order it again next time I’m at Locanda Verde.

Locanda Verde - pizza bread starter

Locanda Verde - Fire Roasted Garlic Chicken