Luna Piena
243 E 53rd St | 212-308-8882
Luna Piena thankfully lacks the rushed pace of so many restaurants, both downtown and in this East Fifties section of Manhattan. Paintings and wine bottles line the walls of the narrow space, and a large garden area in back combines with a strong wine list to beckon a youngish, after-work Midtown crowd. Appetizers and salads are market-fresh; a pile of baby spinach with strawberries, caramelized almond chunks, and sliced Pecorino cheese is inventive, too. The kitchen makes most of its own pasta, from pappardelle and cavatelli to gnocchi, fettuccine, and bucatini—all are light and airy