Openings

The Caffe Dante Reboot Looks Like a Charming Aperitivo Bar

Linden Pride worked with the former owners to preserve the history of the space.
Linden Pride worked with the former owners to preserve the history of the space. Photo: Jed Egan

Revamping a historic restaurant is quite a tricky business, but it appears that owner Linden Pride has succeeded in his effort to “retain and reinvigorate the concept and the brand” of 100-year-old Caffe Dante. With the help of Figure of 8 Hospitality, Pride (an AvroKO alum) has maintained the vintage appeal — and actually restored some of the original elements of the space, like a pressed-tin ceiling, green-leather banquettes, and historic photos from the café’s past. (In 2014, Caffe Dante reopened with a new look, and many regulars felt like it lost some of its charm.)

As for the food at Dante (Pride has dropped the “Caffe”): The menu includes many small plates, but they’re not unbearably trendy. It’s pretty standard Italian-American food, with offerings like beef tartare, burrata, meatball sliders, and a selection of flatbreads. And, in a real tribute to the original, there’s cannoli.

The cocktail list, conceived by Naren Young (Saxon + Parole, PUBLIC, the Daily), is extensive. His drinks are meant to be enjoyed all throughout the day — a burgeoning trend — though, for now, Dante is open at 5 p.m., with breakfast and lunch service to follow. Take a look:

Fluke, kumquat, seaweed, fresno pepper, cilantro.
Fluke, kumquat, seaweed, fresno pepper, cilantro. Photo: Jed Egan
Octopus, hummus, black olive, radish, chive, chili flake.
Octopus, hummus, black olive, radish, chive, chili flake. Photo: Jed Egan
A selection of crudo.
A selection of crudo. Photo: Jed Egan
Cold angel-hair-pasta salad, snap pea, cherries, artichoke, prosciutto, pine nuts, green-tea pesto.
Cold angel-hair-pasta salad, snap pea, cherries, artichoke, prosciutto, pine nuts, green-tea pesto. Photo: Jed Egan
Cannoli, ricotta, orange, poppy seed, pistachio.
Cannoli, ricotta, orange, poppy seed, pistachio. Photo: Jed Egan
Aperitivo No. 1: Altos Blanco, aperol, Lillet, passion fruit, clementine, mango, prosecco.
Aperitivo No. 1: Altos Blanco, aperol, Lillet, passion fruit, clementine, mango, prosecco. Photo: Jed Egan
The Pimm’s Cup: Pimm’s No. 1, Hendrick's gin, housemade ginger beer, "salad."
The Pimm’s Cup: Pimm’s No. 1, Hendrick’s gin, housemade ginger beer, “salad.” Photo: Jed Egan
Nicely done.
Nicely done. Photo: Jed Egan
It looks the same from the outside.
It looks the same from the outside. Photo: Jed Egan

Menu [PDF]

Dante, 79-81 MacDougal Street, 212-982-5275

The Caffe Dante Reboot Looks Like a Charming Aperitivo Bar