Barbetta Restaurant   

I have not been to Barbetta so I can't review it, But if it is possible, I'd like to get in touch with the author of the other review I saw on the Barbetta page, quoted below. August Prete, who died 1972, was my grandfather and I'm intensely curious to talk to someone who knew him so long ago. mattprete@aim.com ----------------------------------------------------- "RETURN TRIP 06/19/2004 My first visit was with Mr. August Prete, renowned Maitre d' of the Maisonette at the St. Regis, among others, over 40 years ago..."

Somehow heads of state and celebrities know about Barbetta, but you or I would likely walk right by it without notice, thinking it was a private residence. If you weren't looking for the BARBETTA sign mostly obstructed by overgrown tree branches, you would miss it completely. Along the area of W46th street known as restarant row, there's a lot of hawking customers . Barbetta seems to do the opposite...they quietly hide from the public walking by...which is it's true charm and what makes it such a FIND. Once inside, you feel like you've been transported to Italy. The service is excellent, the decor and ambiance are so comfortably elegant, you'd be happy just to sit there and relax with a nice bottle of wine from the Piemonte region of Italy, which is Barbetta's primary cuisine. But the real reason to visit Barbetta is for the food. I've had several meals over the years and I have to say, the meals I've had a t Barbetta are among the most satisfying and memorable, and I have had the opportunity to sample many menus for many countries in my travels. Well, maybe...Barbetta is now OUR little secret.