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“Mia Dona”


  Occasion: Cuisine: Area: Cost: Rating:
  Night Out Italian Midtown Moderate Great

I’m not usually one to take food home from a restaurant. Sometimes I feel a little embarrassed to ask for a Doggie Bag when it’s clear that I am the dog. Other times I know that while I may want to eat the rest for leftovers, it’s often best for me to eat salad at home, not restaurant food. But there are times when I can’t finish what’s in front of me (rare, but true), and when I also can’t bear to part with it either. It is in these situations that I relent and take the leftovers home for the “dog,” er, me. (And yes, Craig gets some, too.) I did this the other night at Mia Dona, and I’m so glad I did because I’ve just finished a most wonderful lunch of baked paccheri. This is a dry artisanal tubular pasta shaped like wide cuffs that’s cooked al dente and then smothered in sweet soft plum tomato sauce, and melting layers of smoky bufala mozzarella that stretch like taffy from fork to mouth. I ate part of it standing over my kitchen sink, cold (I love cold pasta), and then stopped myself and heated the rest up and ate like a civilized person.

The previous night at Mia Dona with Julie, Kathy and Katherine, it was served to us in a earthen clay pot, not unlike a rice pot you might find at a Korean restaurant filled with bibimpop. When the pot’s lid was removed, it revealed bubbly gobs of cheese and sauce, the molten topping for more layers of pasta, sauce and cheese. As the steam rose from the pot, a server began to add the finishing touch: dollops of fresh cool ricotta cheese ($10/15).

That delicious Paccheri, photographed by Kathy

It was then that I announced my intention to take any remaining paccheri home with me. As I made this announcement I realized I was being rude to my friends. Perhaps they wanted to take some home, too? And so I asked, “Unless you guys want to take some home, too?” But it was the sort of question where the people answering it know better than to say yes. Well, it had to be done. Indeed, I challenge you to go to Mia Dona and not muscle your way into taking home the paccheri. Even if you finish it you’ll secretly want to order another to go. You might feel this way several other dishes on the menu because the food is quite good and it’s also really fun to eat. Or maybe it’s just that I have too much fun with food? That’s possible, too.

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Other restaurants in Midtown :
+ Lever House   + Aquavit   + RM   + Joseph's (formerly Citarella The Restaurant)   + Town   + Artisanal   + The Oyster Bar   + Geisha   + David Burke and Donatella Restaurant   + Riingo   + Amma   + Cafe Sabarsky   + The Stone Rose Lounge   + BLT Steak   + V, The Steakhouse-- Closed   + Bar Masa   + Cafe Gray   + The Bar Room at The Modern   + The Cafe at Aquavit   + The Cafe at Aquavit   + Bistro du Vent-- Closed   + Shaburi   + Xing   + The Modern   + Bar Americain   + Alto   + Park Blue   + Mainland-- Closed   + Nobu 57   + Quality Meats   + Dona-- CLOSED   + Daisy May's   + 7Square-- CLOSED   + Amalia   + Fireside   + Anthos   + Patroon   + BLT Market   + Toloache   + Mia Dona   + Park Avenue Summer   + Convivio   + The Oak Room by guest reviewer Julie Besonen   + At Vermilion by guest reviewer Elaine Weiner   + Lunching at Inakaya, by guest reviewer Kathleen Squires   + Marea, by Guest Reviewer Susan Kane Walkush   + Le Bernardin   + New York Central -- A Reason To Eat at the Grand Hyatt Again   + Pampano Botaneria by Dara Pollak   

1.)thewiseking
“Never Disappointed”

I always enjoy my meals here, especially the appetizers and pastas. The price points for the food and wine are v. fair and the service always pleasant and accomodating.

2.)
“mia dona”

sounds yummy - when can we go?

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