"I" is for Il Vagabondo

"I" is also for "I barely remember all the details so we'll just stick to some key memories of the night in this entry". We surprisingly found Il Vagabondo tucked in-between two brownstones on the UES. When I heard that the restaurant had bocce courts, I just assumed Covitz was a zupperite rookie (this being his first pick) and it would be some sprawling dining hall with mediocre red sauced pastas. But, I was wrong. LIttle did I know the place has been around for 40 years and has a dedicated crew of regulars. We walked in and shared cold Peronis at a classic, long wooden bar. We were then brought to one of the back rooms (we were in the smaller one), squeezed around a red checked tablecloth, and shared some precious moments:

- Alison contemplates the seafood pasta and decides to interrogate the waiter on what kind of seafood is actually in the pasta. To which his lengthy reply was "Errr... Uhhh.... Ehhh....Oooh...I'm not really sure". (Quick! Name something that swims in the sea! A seafood dish typically eaten by human beings! Just make it up for goodness sake!) She makes a bold move and orders it anyway, and ends up quite enjoying the mystery-seafood-meat selection.
- Alison shares the sad news that Dave is moving to Austin, but not to fret because she already has dates lined up on sugardaddie.com and gothicmatch.com
- We learned about Phil's special relationship with his cat, and what a sweet little thing she is. Andrea shares how Phil's cat is nasty and mean, and something about liking to sit on people's faces. Hmmm.
- Mike ordered the veal parmesan special and by the looks of his clean, shiny white plate, he enjoyed it throroughly. The meat was pounded super thin, but still very tender (and as Mike would say "I'd eat toe smothered in that sauce")
- Jane watched Mike eat and silently wondered to herself if she was about to marry someone who was "letting himself go"

And alas, we were wussies and didn't end up playing bocce. But, if you're looking for a low-key Italian place, a good game of bocce or just a classic New York experience, take a trip to Il Vagabondo. NB: Maybe even check out the room to the right where it has a larger, more livelier room and a view of the kitchen.