Parm Opens In The Upper West Side
About four and a half years ago I was lucky enough to get a seat at Torrisi Italian Specialities on Mulberry Street, the first in what would soon be an empire of acclaimed, impossible-to-get-into, outrageously expensive restaurants from Rich Torrisi, Mario Carbone, and Jeff Zalaznick. This was before the Torrisi tasting menu doubled in price, before the boys opened smoking-hot Carbone and ZZ's Clam Bar and Dirty French, and before they gave us their superb (and much cheaper) lunch counter spot Parm. I mention that long ago meal at Torrisi because my favorite dish that evening–and probably my favorite dish that year–was the Warm Mozz, made-to-order, drizzled in oil, and served with drenched-in-butter garlic bread. It was truly heavenly, memorable to this day, and I never dreamed I'd get to eat it again. And then came the Torrisi boys' spanking-new Upper West Side Parm, just opened on Columbus and 71st, and serving, among many other delights, that very same Warm Mozz. A miracle! Without question, THIS is the best gift I'll receive this holiday season.
Affordable, Delicious & Well Worth The Wait
I went to the UWS Parm on its second night and, no surprise, the crew has hit the ground running. The first thing you should know about the UWS Parm is that it's much, much bigger than the Mulberry Street original. There are more than 80 seats here, and three separate areas in which to satisfy red-sauce seekers: up front by the windows and at the bar, in kind of a middle ground near the kitchen, and in a spacious back dining room, under the skylights, and where large parties can settle into plush red banquettes. And though walk-ins are encouraged and amply accommodated (though brace for waits), the tables in the back are all reservable! The second key fact about the UWS Parm is that the menu, too, has been greatly expanded for the uptown swells, with a handful of pastas (instead of just one), a half-dozen meaty entrees, plus all of their signature sandwiches (including their legendary House Turkey), salads, and veggie-based sides.
Don't Forget The Sweet Treats!
In addition to that Warm Mozz which, just to reiterate, is the best $12 you'll ever spend on food (really: I plan on popping in on the regular just for that, as a snack at the bar), I tucked into plenty of other delicious dishes at the UWS Parm. In the sandwich section I opted for the Chicken Parm, which was exactly as good as you'd expect it be, breaded chicken cutlet, chewy cheese, chunky tomato sauce all stuffed into a roll that could handle the onslaught. The roasted Brussels Sprouts with pickled onions and a flurry of cheese were fine; better was the Spicy Rabe, appropriately bitter and fiery. Finally, the feasting ended with a towering warm-brownie, coffee-gelato, whipped-cream, caramel-sauce sundae creation which got my heart happily racing. First-rate, family-friendly food combined with friendly service and prices that won't kill you: Parm UWS is your (and everyone else's) new neighborhood go-to.
For Menu and More Information on Parm in the Upper West Side
Parm UWS is located on Columbus Avenue between 70th and 71st Streets, and for now is only open for dinner, from 5:00 p.m. and until 11:00 p.m. on Sunday through Wednesday, and until 12:00 midnight on Thursday through Saturday. More info and the complete Parm UWS menu can be found here.
Posted in manhattan living, NYC Dining, Top Picks, Westside | Tagged February • Parm • Parm UWS • Upper West Side • UWS
