The Altamarea Group is one of my favorite restaurant groups in New York City. They are the group behind several NYC favorites including Marea, Osteria Morini, and Nicoletta, and it’s hard to find anything to critique on these popular hotspots. Not only are the restaurants quintessential establishments for special occasions, but the group also stands out for the way they to cater to diners with dietary restrictions as well– each restaurant offers no-gluten, low-gluten, and vegetarian options! Marea has long been my favorite restaurant in the group, but one meal at Ristorante Morini has me rethinking my rankings 🙂 …
Given that the restaurant serves gluten-free pasta and there is a large seafood component on the menu, it is pretty easy to be gluten-free at Ristorante Morini! To start, I highly recommend the local calamari served on burrata and kale, as well as the seared scallops served in a calamari broth. Both dishes are incredibly light and delicious. For mains, you have to order one of the gluten-free pastas! Besides the stuffed pastas, all the other pasta dishes can be made with the restaurant’s gluten-free rigatoni, not to mention the risotto on the menu is gluten-free too! We ordered the blue crab risotto which was both gluten AND dairy free, and the gluten-free fusilli with pork shoulder and no cheese. I highly recommend both! To complete our meal, we ordered the salmon served on top of sauteed broccoli rabe and a side of roasted carrots– both were must orders! On the menu, I was delighted to see a cauliflower steak listed under a header reading ‘VEGETARIAN.’ Not only was the cauliflower roasted perfectly, but the effort the restaurant took to cater to people with all dietary preferences and restrictions was outstanding.
Ristorante Morini is an absolute experience, and I highly recommend going for your next special occasion. From their gluten-free pasta to their many, delicious seafood and Italian dishes, you will absolutely leave full and VERY satisfied. Not to mention, the service at Ristorante Morini is 5-star, and I can’t be more content with how kind and accommodating the staff is!