We visited Da Andrea at their Chelsea location for an event a month ago, and we had a pleasant experience there. We got to try some samples of their small bites, and some cocktails, and we enjoyed everything we had. This time, we went back to try their regular dinner menu. The exterior has bright and vibrant colored decorations, very inviting.

The inside is quite large, long rectangular shape with beautiful, fully stocked bar on one side. There is a slightly sectioned dining area in the back, through the arch. I love the bit of old-time, antique feel of the interior with the exposed brick wall, tile floor, and the chandeliers. They have loads of seating, but the table (for two) is on a small side, or I would say, normal NYC size. LOL.

Once we were settled in, a staff brought over some bread with olive oil & olives. It had two kinds of breads, Focaccia and loaf with herbs kneaded into it. They were very good, we especially liked the fluffy focaccia. Having actual olives in the olive oil was a nice touch.

We started off with some cocktails. We ordered Capri ($18), made with Absolut, Giffard Lychee, Cranberry and Prosecco. It had lovely pink color, with amazing aroma and flavor of lychee. It was strong too. Great cocktail! Then, Cocomero ($18), made with Copalli, Domaine Canton, Aperol, and Watermelon Puree. I had to have a summery drink before the summer ends! It had a great watermelon flavor, and the wedge of watermelon was a big plus. I enjoyed this a lot!

For Appetizer, we ordered Fritto Misto ($24), made with Fried Calamari, Shrimps & Zucchini with Avocado Mayo Sauce, and Tigelle Modenesi con Prosciutto ($24), made with Fresh Baked “Tigelle” Buns with Parma Prosciutto. As you can see, they were both pretty large portions, much more than I thought they would be for appetizers. Especially the Prosciutto, it could’ve been a main dish!

Calamari and shrimps were super crispy, lightly fried with nice seasoning. Avocado cream was refreshing and creamy, an innovative accompaniment from the typical red sauce you see at other restaurants. And at a quick glance, I thought they had some fries in here as well, but they were actually zucchini, both green and yellow parts, which were great. I wish if it had more zucchini, but it did had loads and loads of calamari. with the portion, I can see the reason behind the price tag on this one.

The prosciutto appetizer was great. We were so surprised to receive this dish for appetizer, really big portion. The hot tigelle, kind of like English muffins or flat bread made the perfect edible serving plate for the glorious prosciutto. It was perfectly salty and fresh, and the side of cheese was great too. Totally excellent and filling too.

For main, I ordered Zuppa Di Pesce ($38), made with Mixed Seafood, Garlic, Fine Herbs, and Spicy Tomato Broth. It came with super crispy breads to dip with. The broth had a nice kick to it, a nice amount of spiciness with bold flavor with such depth. It had ample amount of seafood. It reminded me of Chioppino.

My hubby went with Stinco Di Agnello ($43), made with Braised Lamb Shank & Saffron Risotto. Lamb was so tender that it melt in your mouth. The meat just falls off the bone! The sauce I think was made with red wine, giving such deep flavor with full body. Saffron rice was very good, had that vibrant yellow color. It had a great saffron flavor that went perfectly with the lamb.

Now, time for desserts! And to our surprise, we got a complimentary homemade Limoncello, and also some biscotti! What an amazing service! The limoncello was strong with great flavor of lemon. Sharp and not too sweet. The biscotti was firm without being too firm, and had a nice sweetness to it. It came with a sauce that is not sweet, kind of like thickened milk? Very interesting!

My choice of dessert was Tiramisu ($11), made with Espresso, Lady Fingers, and Mascarpone. It was soft and creamy, nice coffee flavor, just a simple, classic, delicious dessert. I say it was the perfect ending for the amazing dinner!

My hubby went with Tortino di Mele ($11), made with Homemade Apple Tart, and Vanilla Ice Cream. The tart was nice and warm with great cinnamon flavor on soft and sweet apple. Vanilla ice cream went great with it. Tart was sturdy to hold them all in, but soft enough to crumble in your mouth. I really enjoyed this dessert!

Their bathroom can be slightly tricky to find. Between the main dining area, and the back dining area, there is a wooden counter along the wall. Look for the large map of Italy in the corner, and go to it. Behind the wooden counter, there is a narrow staircase going down. Men’s bathroom is around the corner, down the narrow hallway.

Women’s bathroom is a the bottom of the staircase. When you open the door, it is like a mirror image in there, with two sinks and two doors. They have black toilets, which is interesting… The bathroom was clean, well lit, and well stocked.

We had an amazing time at the Da Andrea. Everything we tried, from the cocktails, the food, and the desserts, were all delicious! We got some food to take home with to enjoy them the next day, as the portion was quite large. The price is on the high end, but the quality and portion make up for the price in my opinion. The staffs here were efficient, our water glasses were always filled, and the plates were picked up as soon as we were done with them. They even packed up the food and brough it back to us. We will definitely go back for more delicious dishes in the near future!

Da Andrea @ Chelsea – 160 8th Ave, New York, NY 10011