I love Italian food from the Tuscany region. And if you’re looking for a non-pretentious environment that really makes you feel like family (sorry, Olive Garden), head to Trattoria Belvedere in Murray Hill. 

Everything here is made and served with lots of love and attention to detail. To start, we were served a complimentary Bruschetta E Pomodoro (Italian bread with tomatoes). The bread is crisp on the outside and just toasted enough to hold up the generous amounts of fresh tomatoes, lightly dressed in olive oil and pepper. 

For appetizers, we ordered a couple of things. First, I had Mozzarella E Pomodoro (fresh mozzarella with tomatoes and basil). This was really great. The tomatoes are fresh, plump and flavorful, and the mozzarella is rich and creamy. The olive oil and basil all bring the dish together very nicely. 

Next, I had their Grilled Calamari. The portion was generous, and the squid had a really nice char to it. I usually really prefer a nice grilled calamari as opposed to fried and breaded, so this was perfect. 

For my entree, I had one of the specials that night, Yellowfin Tuna with sautéed spinach. This was really nice. The fish was seasoned very simply, letting the tuna shine and not get overpowered. I especially liked the sautéed spinach with had a really unique balance between crisp and charred and soft and creamy. 

The Shorts:
Name: Trattoria Belvedere
Location: 165 Lexington Avenue
The Long and Short: Would I go back? Yes, the room is set in exposed brick, warm and cozy, and the service is great. 
Would I recommend it? Yes, tasty food and very reasonably priced too.