Il Violino

Contact Info:

Address: 180 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10023

Neighborhood: Upper West Side

Cuisine: Italian

Website: http://www.ilviolinony.com/Home.html

Price: $$$

Gluten Free Menu: No but gluten free options

I often run past this restaurant on my way to an from Central Park West and have always been curious to try it out. Last night my mother and sister came into the city and we decided to try the casual neighborhood staple out. We were pretty impressed with the cute, yet casual, Italian interior of violins and famous opera singers and window seating that lined the perimeter of the restaurant. Naturally, we wanted a window seat (perfect for people watching), but the place was packed for a Tuesday night so we settled for a quiet spot in the corner.

By the time we sat down to order I had realized that I was famished from a full day of hustle. My 10 mile run, 5 PE classes, and first day of track practice had me craving carbs, lots and lots of carbs. So I was extremely happy when I saw they served gluten free pasta. I ordered the Linguine Ai Frutti Di Mare, which is just gluten free linguini with mixed seafood. I always try to incorporate a healthy dose of protein inside of my pasta otherwise I am not satisfied. This portion and homemade recipe did the trick. It was delicious and perfectly cooked, spiced to perfection.