New Restaurant & Bar Radar: Felice, NoBar, Bearded Lady

Felice Ristorante & Wine Bar: Italian wine is the focus at this new Upper East Side bar and restaurant. Owner Jacopo Giustiniani moonlights as the wine buyer for Casa Lever and Sant Ambroeus, as well as for the original location of sister-restaurant Felice on East 64th. Among the 100-plus bottles of Italian wine on the list you'll find two that are produced on Giustiniani's family estate in the Tuscan town of Lucca. The Italian wine should be a nice complement to the "rustic and authentic" Tuscan menu, which features such selections as Fritto Misto di Calamari e Verdure, an assortment of lightly battered and fried calamari, zucchini, carrot, eggplant and asparagus; Tagliolini AllâAragosta, homemade spinach tagliolini tossed with lobster, fresh tomatoes, chickpeas, scallions, basil and thyme served on a bed of purÃ©ed chickpeas. Those with bigger appetites might find them whetted by the 35 oz. Creekstone Farms dry-aged, bone-in New York strip and herb-roasted potatoes. And favorites carried over from Felice's first location include the Pappardelle Con Salsiccia, pappardelle pasta with sweet sausage, fresh porcini mushrooms, endives and truffle oil.The 65-seat restaurant is a blend of rustic and contemporary, with a half-height wall separating the 12-seat bar area from the dining room, which is furnished with booths, custom-made tables, and wood and leather bench seats that can be adjusted to accommodate groups of varying sizes. Felice also features a 34-seat outdoor patio that serves dinner nightly, as well as brunch on the weekends. 1593 1st Avenue at 83rd Street; (212) 249-4080 — Gothamist

John Del Signore

Published Aug 12, 2011

Modified Aug 12, 2011

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Click through on the photos for details on a few new restaurant and bars open around town, including Felice Ristorante & Wine Bar on the Upper East Side, NoBar in Bed-Stuy, and The Bearded Lady in Prospect Heights.

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