Amali offers a taste of the Mediterranean in an upscale setting, tucked amongst classic Upper Eastside brownstones just steps away from some of the best shopping in the city.

As NYC Restaurant Week commenced in earnest, we dropped in to sample excerpts off the menu. Enjoying a comfortable inside/outside ambiance from our table, conveniently located near the full bar we waited to dig in. Foremost, the Spaghetti alla Chitarra (above) was a favorite. This unassuming pasta, perfectly al dente hit the buds with a subtle blend of smokey and savory where one expected a typical strong tomato sauce. This was a dish we kept coming back to, proving one of the loveliest and most original flavor profiles I’ve sampled.

Next, we sampled the Spanish Octopus a la Plancha and the Grilled Whole Branzino, Roasted Cascun Farms Chicken, and another pasta, the Tagliatelle Bolognese. Each dish was notable for its refreshing lightness and perfectly crafted simplicity.

We ended with dessert… as one should, sharing the Red Currant Semifreddo. Tart frozen currents with creamy, fluffy Italian meringue and a sweet light crumble had us clearing the plate agreeing this was THE all-time favorite dessert from our NYC Restaurant Week exploits.