Rock Center’s Winter Escape

By Hillary Latos

Escape the cold and enjoy the winter merriment of Rockefeller Center at the Rock Center Café. With an unparalleled vantage on the infamous skating rink, spend the day watching skaters whisk by to top 40 tunes while enjoying classic American fare in a casual and airy setting or warm up with a hot toddy or winter sangria.

Open from breakfast to dinner, the Rock Center Café is one of those iconic and quintessential only in NY dining destinations that appeals to both tourists and locals alike. While the menu changes seasonally, start with either a shareable plate of Italian charcuterie or crispy calamari. Other delectable appetizers are the rich and creamy lobster bisque, buratta with speck, and grilled baby octopus, and kale or roasted beet salad for lighter bites. Our favorite was the baked ricotta with crispy culatello, herbed garlic oil, honeycomb and peasant bread. It melted in out mouths and we had to stop ourselves from ordering another helping.

Executive chef Antonio Prontelli brings his native Italian flare to the menu with homemade pasta dishes spanning the cuisines of the Northern and Eastern regions of Italy. Specialties such as gemelli with pulled duck and wild mushroom ragu or the seafood centric black fettuccine with shrimp and a spicy seafood broth highlight his talent in the kitchen. Other satiating dishes on a cold winter's day are the skirt steak with caramelized bacon and Brussels sprouts and the house specialty burger which is a succulent mixture of DeBragga Black Angus short rib and chuck topped with maple smoked bacon, cheddar, and house made pickles.

To end on a sweet note delve into a sinful Valrhona chocolate ganache cake with praline whipped cream or classic NY cheesecake. Each dessert was a sinfully pleasurable way to end this fantastic meal and remember skating your calories off is always an option!

Rock Center Café
20 West 50 Street
NY, NY 10020
212 332 7620
rockcentercafeny.com