Sora Lella

{All of us with Simone at Sora Lella NYC}

New Yorkers, Romans and all who love to travel to either place reading this blog - I'm going to tell you about the best new restaurant in New York that you've probably never heard of, but speak to your Italian friends and I guarantee they'll know exactly who, what and where you're talking about.

Over Christmas break, Giancarlo and I had the opportunity to meet the two wonderful Italian brothers who are renting an apartment from Giancarlo's mom. They moved to New York from Rome last year to open up their second restaurant, Sora Lella New York City.

Being back in New York, we missed having an aperitivo hour, and the food all around just tasted different. One of the brothers invited us to join him at his restaurant for their aperitivo (which I'm hoping takes off in NYC before we move back).

We were delighted with the thought of aperitivo, and arrived one cold night at the Soho restaurant. Candle lit walls, the restaurant bar was filled with ciao's and come stai's - a language now very familiar to me. The aperitivo spread was just as fresh and delicious as if they had magically transported it directly from Bologna (and I wouldn't have put it past them). Long story short, it became my little Italian oasis in the middle of Soho.

When we arrived back to Italy, like good Italians, all discussions led back to food. And our trip to Sora Lella came up. "Sora Lella?!" everyone said to us with excitement and awe. It's one of THE most famous restaurants in all of Italy. Mention it to any Italian and they will immediate know Elena Trabalza, nicknamed “Sora Lella,” an actress and the sister of famed Italian actor Aldo Fabrizi, both of whose photos you will find throughout the restaurants in both Rome and New York. What I love most about this place is that it's the true core of everything authentic and genuine you love about Italian food. The simplicity and freshness of ingredients to create the most mouth-watering dishes.

If you're in New York or heading to Rome, make reservations for Sora Lella. I couldn't recommend a better place!

New York City
300 Spring Street
New York, NY 10013-1399
(212) 366-4749

Rome
Via di Ponte Quattro Capi, 16
00186 Roma Rom
066 861601