The other night I went to L’Apicio for dinner. This modern Italian restaurant, located in the East Village, was a total gem.

Dimly lit, high ceilings and wrapped in wood and warm colors, the space is generous in size, but still gives a cozy vibe. The service was great and the staff was really nice and attentive. Not to mention, the music was awesome, they were playing Indie Electro Rock and Pop.

I started out with a cocktail, the Mac Daddy. I mean, the name alone could have been enough. The drink is chamomile infused bourbon, elderflower liqueur, and apple. It was sweet and a little citrusy with some warm honey notes. Super tasty and potentially dangerous.

Then, I went for the Brussels Sprouts, because, well, I’m obsessed with Brussels. They were prepared with black pepper and parmesan, and I got the taste of a bit of a citrus butter or vinaigrette that worked really well. They were also shredded, which, I liked since it saved me time on cutting and more time for eating.

I also got Charred Octopus with fregola, olives, and lemon. The octopus had a great and subtle char on the outside, a crispy skin, and tender on the inside with lots of flavor. The fregola, pasta similar to couscous, was also a great accompaniment, very delicate in texture and had a great garlic flavor.

The Shorts:
Name: L’Apicio
Location: 13 East First Street, NYC
The Long and Short: Would I go back? Definitely. The menu looks great and I’d love to try more of the items.
Would I recommend it? For sure. It’s a great spot for a date, catching up with a friend, or even grabbing a cocktail at the bar.