Pasta just spaghets me. Since indoor dining is restricted to 25% capacity, many NYC restaurants created beautiful outdoor dining areas that can thrive in cooler temperatures. Last month, we dined at Novita. This charming 29-year old Italian restaurant recently installed private greenhouses on their sidewalk cafe. We are excited to share our experience at the best NYC restaurant with private greenhouse.
Best NYC Restaurant with Private Greenhouse
Novita is located in the Flatiron neighborhood. The restaurant transformed its alfresco dining from table dividers into private greenhouses. These mini greenhouses accommodate a maximum of four guests. They are comfortable and you could enjoy a December meal in here without feeling the chilly weather.
The greenhouses are adorned with lush greenery and twinkling lights. Welcome to your own magical Italian wonderland.
What to Order to Drink?
Champagne in the membrane. We started with a bottle of a Moet & Chandon Rosé Imperial champagne. This crisp, pink champagne has floral notes of rose and berries.
The Rosé champagne paired nicely with our Antipasti. We shared the Insalata di Caprino (warm goat cheese salad), Melanzane Alla Parmigiana (elevated eggplant parm) and the Insalata di Calamari (calamari salad). Our favorite Antipasti were actually from our prior dinner – we are still dreaming of the squash blossoms and Rollatino di Tonno (tuna roll). However, today’s appetizers were healthier, so our waistline likes them better. The staff pre-portioned our appetizers into 3 plates.
Novita has an excellent assortment of wines from Italy and all over the world.
Wine about it. We alo sipped on the Ca’Marcanda Vistamare 2018. This Italian wine is from Tuscany and made with Vermentino, Viognier and Fiano. It has notes of mango, rosemary and saffron as well as a mineral and spicy character.
What to Order to Eat?
So many pasta-bilites. For the pasta course, we shared the Spaghetti Freschicon Vongole with clams and zucchini flowers. We also devoured a creamy Risotto. We highly recommend the Risotto.
The Ca’Marcanda Vistamare paired nicely with the Spaghetti and the Risotto.
The meat course was the Costolette d’agnello in Crosta di Mostarda (rack of lamb) and the Spigola Con Carciofi (pan-roasted sea bass). Our favorite was the lamb. It had a mustard crust and was perfectly cooked.
It’s a Pisa cake. For dessert, we shared the Crema Tostata (creme brûlée), Semifreddo (frozen mousse), Tiramisù, Torta di Mascarpone (cheesecake). The mascarpone cheesecake with raspberry coulis was our favorite. It’s the best cheesecake and you must order it. We had it at our last dinner too.
Come check out Novita’s newly installed greenhouses. They are perfect for a date night or small girls dinner. You can also check out our Outdoor Dining section for more recommendations.
I have to admit that I have a massive weakness for Italian food, which is not very light but so good!
Camille Rowe
Yet another lovely place, you are giving me total FOMO!
It seems so great to eat on one of those green houses.
Wow!
I love your pictures. Make one really want to be here.
Ladies on fleek. You all look amazing. The food looks yummy.
The food and the aesthetics are just wow! I love your outfits too.