Ama Restaurant   

48 Macdougal St
New York, NY 10012
212-358-1707
www.amanyc.com

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The use of her first name in much-lauded davidburke&donatella made Donatella Arpaia a mini-celebrity, and now she's using that same business acumen to open an eatery a little closer to her heart. Ama, a derivation of the word 'to love' in Italian, is a public love letter to Donatella's mother. Celebrating the cuisine of Puglia, the Italian region where Mama Arpaia hails from, the menu leans heavily on pasta, seafood, cheese and olive oil (the region's main export). Along with street-food fare like the addictive panzerotti (an Italian version of the empanada), chef Turibio Girardi cooks up some hearty regional favorites like capuntini, homemade pasta with fresh tomato sauce and eggplant with shavings of ricotta cheese, and cod in a cream of fava and wild chicory. Located on the edge of Soho, this intimate space lends warmth to the area and is perfect for a post-shopping wrap-up or a date with mom.