When we arrived we were promptly seated for our reservations and the house was packed! The restaurant itself is very small, but welcoming with candles and a few mirrors. It’s cozy, romantic and has enough noise that you can’t really tell what your fellow diners around you are talking about even though you're so close. Our server was great, attentive, knew all the dishes and didn’t rush us during the meal, which I appreciated for a busy Saturday night.
The wine list is huge and offers a true variety of wines. To be honest, I love wine but my knowledge of it really comes down to red or white and what can satisfy my taste buds and my budget! That being said, our waiter was helpful and helped us choose a nice red in our range.
He immediately brought over some crispy, warm bread with olive oil and a tasting of the white bean bruschetta which was actually delicious! I’m normally a tomato, basil based chetta kinda girl, but this white bean one was light, you could taste the freshness of the basil, beans, and zesty garlic served over toasted crostini, which made a nice combo.
To start we decided to get two apps. The polpetta di carne (meatballs with tomato sauce & caciocavallo) and the roasted autumn squash with fontina fonduta & toasted pine nuts.
The meatballs were great. Juicy, soft, flavorful and were swimming in a pool of rich and hearty tomato sauce. A perfect way to start the meal!
Next came the roasted squash with fontina cheese, the squash was moist and the fontina melted in a way it layered the squash ever so gently. It was gooey, creamy and the pine nuts added that extra crunchy texture that really hit it out of the park for me. It was a little on the rich side, but it was perfect for sharing.
Onto our main dishes, I ordered the pappardelle with braised duck ragu and my girlfriend got the gnocchi della casa, homemade gnocchi with lamb ragu & mint ricotta ball. To our surprise, the portions were huge! For a “primi” course the plate is definitely worth the price. Both dishes were filled with beautifully homemade pasta amidst rich and hearty sauces.
The duck ragu was moist and savory and tasted great against the tender noodles. A splendid dish.
The gnocchi was also a hit. The zest of the fresh mint mixed with ricotta cheese, chunks of tender lamb and fluffy gnocchi melded beautifully together. The only issue with both of these is that it was too big to finish!
For desert we opted for the special of warm apple tart with vanilla gelato which was yummy. It didnt blow my socks off but, a nice flaky crust, warm cinnamon apples and a dollop of vanilla gelato on a cold winter night, surely pleased my sweet tooth.
All in all Little Star gives Po 3 ½ stars. For being such a little place on such a little street in such a big city, Po delivers the service and fare any great New York restaurant should.
Happy Eating!
Little Star
oxox
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