A restaurant that serves cuisine produced on its rooftop farm?? Sign me up! I made it to Rosemary’s for brunch for the first time this summer, and have been back several times since, and Rosemary’s is now without a doubt one of my favorite restaurants in NYC. Right in the heart of the West Village, Rosemary’s has become the area’s hotspot with hour plus waiting times for a table and numerous celebrity sightings…
Like most Italian restaurants, ordering a nobread meal here may seem kind of tough; however, this is FAR from the case. Not only does Rosemary’s serve a variety of vegetable and raw seafood appetizers, but they also serve salads filled with seasonal vegetables harvested from their roof and meat dishes garnished with delicious Contorni (also from the roof). Most importantly, all pasta entrees on the menu can be made gluten free! After thoroughly reading the menu, I was overwhelmed with how much I COULD order. To start, I suggest a few Verdure and Frutti Di Mare appetizers. The octopus salame was INSANE. For anyone who loves raw food but struggles with the texture, this octopus is cut in a deli-style slice and is phenomenally tender and topped with a cauliflower/tomato salsa. Also, the chopped salad “Siciliana” with golden raisins and crispy chickpeas is delicious and might be my favorite salad in New York City. For a main course, the calamari, which is roasted and served chilled, and the roasted brussels sprouts, which are charred and drizzled in vinaigrette, are a perfect brunch combination. The most popular dish at Rosemary’s is the Stringhe di Funghi. If you like mushrooms, this is for you. Two poached eggs are served on top of greens and oyster mushrooms, and accompanied by roasted potatoes. I also recommend the poached eggs nobread , steak and eggs, and the frittata for those who are not sensitive to dairy. Everything tastes SO natural and fresh. Not once did I have to question whether or not something was nobread approved. Our waiter was knowledgable and didn’t hesitate in responding to any of my gluten questions (and I ask a lot of questions). Portions are large, the food tastes like it is coming straight from the roof (which for once is a good thing!) and the menu is incredibly nobread friendly.
Quick side note: Rosemary’s only serves beer and wine! So for nobread-ers like myself who stick to hard alcohol, bring your own!