Morandi, a Keith McNally hotspot known for its Italian charm and cuisine, is one of my favorite restaurants in the West Village. Not only is it one of my top picks for outdoor dining, but Morandi is amazing for people watching, dates, client dinners, girls nights, and just about every other occasion. And excellent food to top it off!
I have been to Morandi for both brunch and dinner, and although they have plenty of gluten free options, their most popular dishes are NOT #nobread friendly. For brunch, I would love to have tried the waffle, bruschetta, crepes, or focacce, but unfortunately these popular dishes are a no-go. I recommend the uova dishes, particularly the poached eggs over artichokes, peas, and fava beans, the frittata (unless you’re #nodairy, too), and the grilled sirloin steak with eggs done any style. At both brunch and dinner, Morandi offers antipasti and insalate which are #nobread friendly, as well as a list of secondi pesce or carne options including grilled mixed seafood, grilled chicken, and grilled sea bream. Morandi does NOT serve gluten free pasta, but their risotto IS gluten free. For dinner, the pesce and carne menu options are expanded and inherently #nobread friendly, and for starters I recommend the grilled calamari, antipasto misto, and grilled octopus. The starter dishes are small and I definitely recommend supplementing any meal with a contorni dish; the sauté spinach with garlic and olive oil is my favorite. The fried artichokes here are another favorite; however, they are fried in a fryer that subjects them to cross contamination.
Yes much of the menu at Morandi is off limits, but don’t be alarmed by the many pasta dishes and menu written in perfect Italian- there is something for everyone!