My colleague and I were looking for a dinner recommendation with the concierge at our hotel. We overheard him describe a new restaurant in lower Manhattan in a decidedly questionable neighborhood, in a "garage" in fact, but that had received an amazingly good review from Zagat's and was dirt cheap. We decided this was our place. We found it after our cab wound its way around the labarynth of one-way streets near Little Italy.
Inside the "garage" was a bright, clean, and modern restaurant. Very small but with a bar and open kitchen in the back. We went for meat entrees instead of pasta and they were wonderful. My chicken breast with fontina cheese and proscuito was excellent--a sizable portion lightly accompanied (and not overwhelmed) by tender veggies and potatoes. My companion's steak was equally enjoyed. The dinner was served very quickly. We were out in less than an hour, though we could have lingered over capuccino and dessert if the spirit had moved us.