The papered-up osteria Quinto Quarto opening in the old A.O.C. space on Bedford is the work of an Italy-based chainlet. (The name, according to Wikipedia, references an offal-centric cuisine of modern Rome.) But there's a whole lot more to learn about the project from Quarto's website. What appears to be a translation of an Italian message from the owner references everything from Greek doughnuts to Robert De Niro. What we sort of understand is "that a room for 40 people, decorated like an old branch of Trastevere 'in a little romantic street in Manhattan' becomes, today, a tasty destination and a meeting place for artists, reporters and poets; with an abundant menu with Sassicaia and Chianti bottles, and fake tables built in 1600, and a fixed priced (20-30 dollars), to convince customers that will be obliged to bed down among those tables for the eternity. It will happen of course." If it's as steamy and as reasonably priced as it sounds, we're ready. But if the food doesn't translate well, cozy 'ino will be ready with relatively tame Italian offerings across the street.
Quinto Quarto, 14 Bedford St., nr. Downing St.; 212-675-9080
Quinto Quarto [Official site]
Read more posts by Alexandra Vallis
Filed Under: openings, quinto quarto, west village
