Gemma, located in the Bowery Hotel, has been a fixture on my list of favorite New York City restaurants since I moved to the city three years ago. The food is incredible, the scene is unbeatable, and the drinks are top notch, too. While some come here for the Crostini, Formaggi, and Pizze, I come here for the incredible Antipasti, Insalate, Salumi, Secondi, and Contorni. Like a true Italian restaurant, the meats and vegetables are prepared in fresh oils and natural spices and flavorings, and ordering gluten free is very easy…
My favorite entrees: the branzino al forno which is served on a cedar and accompanied by one of Gemma’s incredible side offerings (typically green beans or brussels sprouts), the pollo al mattone (chicken and roast potatoes), the steak, and the salmon alla griglia (grilled wild salmon typically served with white and green asparagus or grilled artichoke). The proscuitto, shrimp & calamari salad and the kale and tuscan bean salad are also perfect additions to any order and a nice supplement when your group is ordering pizza and crostini appetizers. I recently learned that Gemma serves gluten free pastas, and I absolutely plan to try on my next visit.
Whatever you do, you MUST order the truffle polenta fries. I’ve had fries at just about every restaurant I’ve been to in New York City, and these are absolutely in my top 5. Why are they so good? Well for starters, they are the perfect amount of Polenta (not too heavy) and they are drizzled with the perfect amount of truffle oil (not too strong). They are NOT greasy either. Secondly, these fries are categorized in the Antipasti; they are the perfect appetizer. For everyone like me who has neither portion control nor restraint when it comes to fries, this order is perfect because you CAN’T over-indulge. There are about ~15 long fries in a serving, and these fries are the perfect nobread sub to a bread basket. Split this with a friend and it is just the right size to hold you over until your main.Warning- these fries are subject to cross contamination.
Come here for brunch, too! The Antipasti, Insalate, Pizze, and Secondi are essentially the same as the dinner menu, but a few more salads and egg dishes are added. Gemma only uses organic eggs, too, which is always a plus. I recommend the protein breakfast (grilled chicken, scrambled egg whites with spinach, and sliced tomato), as well as the baked eggs, avocado, prosciutto (nocheese). Portions are large and delicious, and I have yet to walk away from Gemma unsatisfied. One of my top 3 restaurants in NYC…