Weekly Lunch Pick: the fluffy ricotta gnocchi at Carisma
Steps away from the King Eddy, this Italian restaurant—owned by the Pagliaro family, of Il Mulino fame—is full of businesspeople willing to venture a little beyond the Financial District for lunch.
Soon after we take a seat in the dark dining room, we’re greeted with a piping hot ciabatta that’s been scored then topped with fruity olive oil, coarse salt and chopped rosemary. The creamy ricotta gnocchi comes crowned with a crisp parmesan tuile, mâche and an edible rose petal. The tiny grooves on the surface of the fluffy, thumbprint-sized nuggets trap the sweet sauce of pachino cherry tomatoes. Power lunchers dip into the deep selection of Italian bottles (which reaches into the four-digit territory), but we go for $6 bottle of San Pellegrino instead.
The cost: $21, after tax and tip.
The time: 42 minutes.
Carisma, 73 King St. E., 416- 864-7373, carismarestaurant.com.
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