The Secret Midtown Basement Where NYC’s Elite New Italian Joints Are Hiding

I am always on the hunt for the absolute best food in New York City. The city is packed with options, but only a few truly stand out. That is why I knew I had to get to Midtown immediately. One of NYC’s best Italian restaurants just opened up a brand new location on 44th Street inside the Iroquois Hotel. The spot is called da Toscano. Trust me, you need to put this on your list right now.

Epic Starts and Serious Slicing

The energy inside da Toscano is electric. They have a gorgeous red slicer right in the dining room. They are constantly slicing up imported Italian meats table side. Freshness at its finest. I started my feast with their warm rosemary focaccia. It comes packed with proscuitto di Parma, whipped ricotta, and honey. Then, they top it off with a massive spoonful of caviar.

The first bite was unbelievable. The savory meat combined with the sweet honey and rich caviar was pure magic. The perfect way to start this feast.

A Four-Course Pasta Paradise

You cannot go to an elite Italian restaurant without getting pasta. First up was their signature Venetian duck ragu pappardelle. It features a slow cooked duck ragu over housemade pappardelle. They finish the dish with shaved foie gras right at the table. Do not skip this pasta when you are here. So good.

Next, I tried the garganelli verde ragu bolognese. This vibrant green garganelli pasta comes loaded with their rich bolognese ragu. A heavy blanket of shaved Parmigiano Reggiano covers the top. Look at that forkful. Magnificent.

Then came the star of the show. Their wildly popular black tagliatelle al limon. This dish features a creamy sauce with jumbo lump crab and lemon. They toss in their striking black squid ink tagliatelle. They finish it with scallions and garlic breadcrumbs. This is easily one of my favorite pastas in all of New York City. The bright lemon cuts through the rich crab beautifully. The result? Incredible.

To round out the pasta tour, I ordered the sweet Italian sausage orecchiette. They toss the ear-shaped pasta with a vibrant broccoli rabe pesto and pickled cherry peppers. They plate it up and add another snowstorm of shaved parm. It is a flavor bomb.

Prime Rib and Secret Speakeasies

If you think they only do pasta, think again. Just look at this 12-hour slow roasted prime rib. They grill it to a perfect medium rare. It is served alongside rosemary drippings and garlic butter. Tender, juicy, and insanely flavorful.

But the experience does not stop there. They also have a hidden speakeasy in the back called Lantern's Keep. It is the perfect spot for a delicious cocktail. They are also serving up some insane food back there that you cannot get in the main room.

I dove straight into their prime rib steak sandwich. It is loaded with dipped beef, fontina cheese, caramelized onions, and mushrooms. They drench it in a thick horseradish cream sauce. Wow. That is outrageous.

Next was the bistecca burger. This beast features an 8-ounce porcini rubbed steak patty, fontina cheese, onions, and garlic aioli. Look at how juicy that looks. Unreal. Stop what you are doing and devour this. Insane.

For the grand finale, I tackled their jaw-dropping lasagna. It is packed with meatballs, sausage, hot sobrasada, cheese, and ditalini pasta. Look at that cheese pull. Who is hungry?