La Traviata

One of the BF's favorite places (and now mine!) is a spot in Brooklyn Heights, just one subway stop from the Financial District in Manhattan: La Traviata. We started going there by default, when a we showed up for dinner at a spot 2 doors down (Armando's, RIP), only to find they'd closed! BF was quite disappointed, but we were still hungry, so we walked into La Traviata. We were pleasantly surprised--their entrées come with salad or pasta, and we always choose the salad. Their house dressing is a spot-on vinaigrette over mixed greens, red onions, and cucumbers. Simple and scrumptious.


Another must-have is their fried zucchini. Until we visited this place, I always thought fried zucchini had to be heavy and clunky, but the folks at La Traviata slice the veggies lengthwise into thin, delicious pieces. The breading isn't overpowering, and you just get a clean taste of zucchini (made even better with a spritz of lemon and some red sauce. I LOVE RED SAUCE!)

Red sauuuuuuce!

I've tried a few dishes over the year and a half we've visited, but I always go back to the Shrimp Fra Diavolo. Last night, however, it was WICKED spicy. The only thing I'd suggest they do is get consistent with the spicing! While I enjoy spicy food, I don't like it so hot that I'm almost choking! It took me a lot longer to eat this dish last night, as I had to pause for pieces of bread or cold water to cool my burning throat. It's not usually this spicy, but maybe someone complained about it not being spicy enough and the chef took retributive action?? Still good, though.

The BF tried a new dish: Chicken Lucille. I apologize for the fuzzy photo--I'm still learning the settings on the fantastic new camera the BF got me for my bday! The dish came in a cream sauce that had a strong but pleasant portobello mushroom flavor. The chicken was tender, and the sauce was very good. I'm still a little skeeved out by portobellos, so I preferred a taste of the infused sauce to the actual slices of shrooms. Baby steps. :)

La Traviata
139 Montague Street
New York, NY 11201
(718) 858-5592