Branzino

• Cuisine(s): Italian, Seafood
  Hours: Tue-Thu 5pm-12am, Fri-Sat 5pm-1am
  Price: $$
• Payment Types: MasterCard, Visa, American Express, cash
  Features: Patio/Sidewalk Dining, Takeout, Private Party, Catering, Wheelchair Accessible
  Serving: Dinner, Late Night
• Alcohol: Full bar
  Reservations: Accepted
  Parking: Street

Description

Branzino comes off like a handsome older man, charming without trying too hard. The upscale Italian restaurant is always crowded in the evenings, drawing as many loudmouthed businessmen to the bar as it does cozy couples on dinner dates. Its menu is divided into five sections: antipasti, fish, meat, pasta, and contorni. Under fish, of course, is the branzino, a European sea bass with a crisp silver skin and tender white meat that nearly melts in your mouth. Other dishes-duck confit, risotto with braised oxtail-are rich in flavor but small in size. You may want to order a side of meatballs, too. (A cheaper option still would be to ask for more house bread.) But be sure to save room for dessert; Branzino makes theirs fresh daily, and the cannoli is to die for.