Teodora Italian Restaurant

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Citysearch

The Scene
The bruising thoroughfare that is East 57th Street is the last place you'd expect to find an intimate, adorably decorated Northern Italian spot where it's actually possible to have a quiet, pleasant dinner. But plenty of stylish locals have discovered its polite charms.

The Food
The straightforward menu is filled with hearty preparations such as a rustic appetizer of lasagnette di melanzane, filled with layers of diced eggplant, zucchini and tomato. Main courses include a list of housemade pastas, a daily risotto special (if you're lucky, you'll arrive on wild mushroom day), plus a handful of fish and meat dishes. Be sure not to miss the fritto misto, a huge entree composed of shrimp, squid and various vegetables served in a "basket" of homemade potato chips and garnished with fresh lemon.