Disclaimer: I was invited as a guest to this establishment for a complimentary meal. All opinions expressed in this post are my own.
When was the last time you walked through the doors of a restaurant and were totally surprised?
I was recently invited to review Il Punto Ristorante located in that nondescript area between Hells Kitchen and Chelsea.
I have to honestly say that I walked in expecting a standard Italian spot, catering to a mass palate and all the regular frills (or trappings) that go with it.
What I walked out with however, was something completely different…
Meet Antonio Mermolia hailing from Calabria in Southern Italy, who has been Executive Chef at Il Punto for little over two years now. In his time here he has revitalized this place with his very own distinct touch of je ne sais quoi.
Yes – Antonio is every bit as charming as he looks but what enchanted me the most about him is a beguiling honesty and passion that he brings to the plate.
What Antonio has on his menu goes beyond just pastas and ceaser salads (though you can get that too). He offers you modernized interpretations of seasonally curated Italian plates of art.
Chef Antonio is an artist in real life and here at Il Punto, his plates are the canvas upon which he paints with fresh ingredients, vibrant flavors and textures. Plainly put – his food is just beautiful!
In an area where food like this is hard to find, Il Punto offers an experience where one feels like they have been transported to a totally different place and space,
We were treated to a several course “Tasting Menu” which was almost like watching a Broadway show where Chef Antonio invites you to sit back, relax and enjoy the show.
Il Punto is a beautiful beginning for the truly talented Chef Antonio Mermolia – I can’t wait to see where his journey leads him next.
Here is some of what we ate:
|
|
* Restaurant Name |
|---|---|
| Il Punto Ristorante | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★☆☆☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| Hell’s Kitchen / Italian | |
| * Street Address | |
| 507 9th Ave. (At 38th St.), New York, NY 10018 | |
| * Phone | |
| (212) 244-0088 |
