Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
New Restaurants On The Radar: Trattoria Cinque, Forty Eight, Berry Park
By
John Del Signore
Published Aug 20, 2009
Modified Aug 20, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
John Del Signore
Published Aug 20, 2009
Modified Aug 20, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Trattoria Cinque: It's all about the number five at this new 250-seat Italian restaurant, which, depending on your numerological stance, could signify the alchemist's five pointed star of quintessence or the Satanist's pentagram. We'll have to wait and see if owner Russell Bellanca's deal with the devil pays off, but it's certainly a good-looking establishment, with two fireplaces, spacious booths, and wooden tables that complement a grand Italian marble bar spanning the lounge area. Chef Mirco Grassini's rustic Italian menu includes just five dishes in each category (five small plates, five pasts, five desserts, etc.) and will change five times a year in tune with the, uh, four seasons. It's all priced under $25, and includes such options as Lasagna Bolognese ($18); Halibut al Guazzetto with roasted filet, potatoes, cherry tomatoes, olives ($24); and Pizza con Gorgonzola e Pere with pears, gorgonzola, white truffle oil ($12). 363 Greenwich Street; (212) 965-0555
Forty Eight: The numerology theme continues! This new midtown cocktail lounge in the McGraw Hill building at Rockefeller Center is putting all its chips on lucky number Forty-Eight. It's serving a rotating menu of bar munchies ranging from an open-face BLT to smoked yellowtail in yuzu. Innovative drinks will join the menu, such as the "French Forty Eight" (Gin, Ginger Liqueur, lemon juice, champagne and rosewater) and a strawberry-muddled "Lojito." All of these are to be enjoyed from the plush U-shaped chairs in this retro-futuristic lounge, and their Swarovski crystal ceiling will probably look cool after a few vanilla vodka concoctions*. 1221 Avenue of the Americas; (212) 554-4848 (Jaya Saxena)*
Berry Park: Somewhere in Brooklyn there's a new rooftop bar that just opened Monday night. Unfortunately, we can't tell you much about it, because when we dropped by this week the sullen co-owner refused to cough up any details about the establishment, suggesting we try back in a week or two. Most barkeeps and restaurateurs, when told someone wants to give their fledgling new business some media exposure, are helpful and even enthusiastic. At BP, the remarkably unfriendly proprietor acted as if she was doing us a favor even offering to speak with us in a week. So the hell with this place; sure the roof is okay, but come winter the interior's bound to be as drafty as it is dark and dreary. Instead, go play ring toss in the backyard at The Diamond, which is located a stone's throw away at 43 Franklin Street, Greenpoint; (783) 383-5030. Dave, the owner, is super nice.
Tagged
bar
brooklyn
diamond bar
forty eight
greenpoint
italian
new
nyc
restaurant
trattoria cinque
tribeca
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
Where are the cheapest drinks in NYC? A new report details the city's average prices.
The median price of a cocktail in the city is now $16, and $9 for a draft beer.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Published Oct 19, 2026
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.
By
Robert Sietsema
Food
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.
By
Robert Sietsema
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
By
Robert Sietsema
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
By
Sonia Rao
5 NYC banana puddings as good as Magnolia's
By
Hannah Frishberg
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .