The Epicurean Group — the team behind Italian neighborhood favorites dell’anima, L’Artusi, L’Apicio, and Anfora — has opened a seasonal outdoor restaurant inside the High Line Hotel’s courtyard. The idea behind Alta Linea is that it’s a modern take on a rustic Italian restaurant, and the menu includes comforting dishes like crispy artichokes with salsa verde, a bacon cheeseburger, pork-meatball polenta, and ice-cream sandwiches served out of a vintage gelato cart.
Beverage director Joe Campanale is focusing on summer aperitivi cocktails, which means lots of sparkling-wine-based drinks, punch, and even a frozen Negroni (a collaboration with Kelvin Natural Slush Co.). But what makes this restaurant stand out among all the other fine outdoor-dining options is that each menu item, and design detail, has been optimized for the summer weather. The tree-lined space includes a fountain, umbrellas, banquette seating, a marble bar — and it seats 90, so there will (hopefully) be no clamoring for seats. Take a look:
Menu [PDF]
Alta Linea, 180 10th Ave. (between 20th and 21st Streets), 212-933-9735