Thursday, July 29, 2010

Gigino Ristorante of Wagner Park, NYC


I had such a nice time taking a Zephyr Cruise of New York Harbor last week that my husband suggested we return to Battery Park on the weekend to have lunch in a restaurant where he recently dined with a business associate.  He knew I'd enjoy the view from Gigino Ristorante of Wagner Park, located at 20 Battery Place in lower Manhattan.


The wonderful attraction of this restaurant is its location in Wagner Park, which has a beautiful view of the harbor, and the fact that it has an outdoor patio area. 


Our table was on the inner edge of the park grass, with a view of......


.....the Stature of Liberty!


It was pleasant to relax and watch the harbor traffic go by as we gazed into the distance at Lady Liberty.


I had taken many close-up photos of the Statue of Liberty when I had gone on my cruise to the harbor. If you missed them you can see them on this link.  I've visited her many times over the years, but she never fails to make me be in awe whenever I see her.


We enjoyed a bottle of wine and nibbled on our crusty bread after dipping it in extra virgin olive oil and some aged balsamic vinegar....pure bliss!  A small bowl of cured olives was also provided and they were a nice salty addition.  Although we were very tempted by their descriptions, we decided to forgo appetizers and instead try a couple of luncheon specials.


My husband had rigatoni served with baccala (salt-cured codfish) and broccoli sauteed in olive oil, red pepper and garlic.  My husband is a native Italian and baccala is a fish he can rarely refuse.

I had gamberi (shrimp) sauteed in a light fresh tomato sauce served accompanied by julienned zucchini and yellow squash.  Both entrees were rich, full of flavor, and the perfect portions for an enjoyable lumch.

Gigino's chef, Luigi Celentano, is a native of the resort town of Positano on the Amalfi coast in Italy.  Dining al fresco, while enjoying his expertly crafted creations, made us feel as if we had taken a mini-vacation to an exotic port.


Giginos Ristorante is located in the beautifully manicured  Wagner Park, which is a wonderful mix of open lawns and intensively planted gardens, threaded through with paths and walkways. In my next blog post, I'll show you more photos of this magnificent park and the "green gardening" method used to maintain it.



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43 comments:

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

I am soooo craving Italian food right now! Both of your meals looked wonderful and the view, out of this world.
Hugs,
Penny

Kathy Walker said...

What a lovely day! The food looks wonderful and the view...awesome!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Oh Wow, Pat.... Those lunches (both of them) made my mouth water... We have NOTHING like that around here. Oh--you are so fortunate to live in such a diverse area. AND--the view is fabulous also.... Hello Lady Liberty.... NEAT!!!!!!

Thanks for taking us along--but you could have at least saved us a bite or two...Geeesh! ha ha
Hugs,
Betsy

Sheila said...

Hi Pat - I's sure you enjoyed those delicious meals with such a spectacular view to gaze at. Just wanted to let you know I have tried to "follow you" several times but it just won't work for me. I have you on my sidebar though and that works.

Annesphamily said...

WHAT A DAY YOU HAD! I LOVE WHEN YOU POST ABOUT YOUR HOME AND ALL THE BEAUTIFUL SIGHTS. I WOULD LOVE TO VISIT LADY LIBERTY. MY DAUGHTER ENJOYED HER TOUR WHEN SHE VISITED NYC A FEW YEARS AGO WITH MY NIECE WHO WAS ON A BUSINESS TRIP AND HATES TO FLY ALONE!
THE FOOD LOOKS DIVINE.

SavoringTime in the Kitchen said...

More beautiful views of that lovely lady but those luncheon shots are show-stoppers! Mmmmm, the gamberi looks wonderful.

Lisa@GrandmasBriefs said...

I'm reading this rather late at night and was not the slightest bit hungry ... until I saw the luscious shrimp dish you had! Yum!

Tales From My Empty Nest said...

Pat, this Italian restaurant looks so good. Loved the view of the Statue of Liberty from your table and your dish looked so good, Pat. Your husband's looked pretty, but I am not a fish eater, so it would not have been my favorite. I always feel like I have taken a mini vacation when I visit your blog. Love & blessings from NC!

Life@Cee said...

Next time I'm in NYC I'll definitely dine at Gigino's. I was salivating looking at your pictures. I think I need a midnight snack.
Cee

Pondside said...

What a gorgeous place! I'd have chosen either of those dishes - delicious!

Naturegirl said...

A nice quiet palce to dine in such a busy city! Mmmm..love the food choices!

nannykim said...

What a gorgeous place to have lunch! The food looks a bit too rich! We spent some time in the South of Italy in Ravello (spelling?)--the food there was not as rich, but they surely have a way of using fresh food and making it so tasty!

The garden looks grand!

Anonymous said...

How beautiful!!
I am with your husband.... I love seafood & am an adventurous eater when it comes to everything that swims!! His plate looked heavenly!!
Have a Great Weekend!
Love,
Marilyn

Old Kitty said...

Oh wow!! I feel as if I were there dining with you - sipping wine and dipping yummy bread in oil and balsamic vinegar and having some olives (what a brilliant combination!).

It's a beautiful setting for a great dining experience. What stunning views!

I love that the food is hearty and incredibly Italian! LOL!! Inside the restaurants just as lovely looking at the pics of their website - oh I'm salivating at their dessert selection! Yum!

I look forward to your post about Wagner Park - it looks amazing - again with those fab views!

Thanks for sharing!

Take care
x

Allie and Pattie said...

Pat, I'm putting this on my list of "must try" places when we visit back home- just lovely! Positano was a favorite place to visit with my grandparents during our summer stays. The Amalfi coast is just spectacular
xoxo Pattie

Chiara said...

you have a wonderful blog Pat!! I love it!Thank for sharing these beautiful photos...I like gamberi...have a nice we...

black eyed susans kitchen said...

The food looks delicious Pat, and the view just can't be beat! Now I want shrimp and pasta...maybe tonight.

Just a little something from Judy said...

A delicious sounding menu, crusty bread with ev oil,and a view like you shared...what could be better! Your pictures once again made me want to board the train and head for the city. This restaurant you shared would be right at the top of my list. As for Lady Liberty...I never tire of the sight of her either. You continue to share so many interesting aspects of the city...thank you!

Tracy said...

Ohhh... such views... such food...*SWOON*... I hope you & your hubby too samples from each other's plates! ;o) What a beautiful lunch... a happy moment. Thanks for sharing with us, Pat. Happy Weekend to you both! ((HUGS)) Oh, I'm having some giveaway fun... stop by, if you can!

Natasha in Oz said...

Oh wow, what a fabulous place! I am thinking of visiting New York next year with my family as a 40th birthday present to myself! I will have to remember this place-thanks for telling me about it.

Best wishes for a fabulous weekend,
Natasha.

Jenny said...

Beautiful setting.

Beautiful lunch.

Beautiful view.

Beautiful post.

Off to heat up a can of Chef Boyardee now. Hey, desperate times call for desperate measures!

Vee said...

Your hubby has the best suggestions! It all looks so wonderful...love that (mostly) unobstructed view of The Lady and your dinners...hmmmmm...I want Italian food now!

Ciao Chow Linda said...

Pat - I love the way you and your husband have these nearby "getaways." Looks like a good place to eat that I'll have to follow up on.

Proud Italian Cook said...

Ooooh Pat I love the look of both you and your husbands lunch. That view, sitting outside and gazing at The Lady, you are blessed Pat! Will you adopt me?

Kathleen said...

Looks good, Pat! Beautiful view. I am an a/c gal though. If it is hot out, I want the cool inside! Today would have been a good day, the humidity finally broke!

Splenderosa said...

This is SO wonderful. Truly. I wish I could have been there with you. Italian in NYC, what could be more American. xx's

diane b said...

I'm envious. That would be a wonderful place to eat. All my favourites. I love Italian food and what a view.

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

I can't believe it, but my favorite shots were the shots of wine and food on the table! YUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Donna said...

What a fantastic place. The food looks delicious, and a perfect view!

Hugs,
Donna

Sarah said...

Pat, I've added this one to my NY list. Italian food with a view of The Lady ~ my kind of wonderful.
Hope your weekend is full of fun. ~ Sarah
PS
Reviewed a book set in NY. Wondering if you've read Love and Other Impossible Pursuits?

Claudia said...

My grandmother frequently made baccala and my mother hates it! Consequently - I've never tried it. Must rectify that. I need to tell you how much I appreciate coming here. You open up worlds for me. The world I lived in and the world I need to still explore. Everytime I postpone a trip to NYC, I think - but you need to see Pat and NYC through her eyes!

Judy said...

It all looks delightful...from the view to the yummy food. Isn't summer the best?

steviewren said...

This was a great outdoor summer post. The food looks delish and the view is to die for.

Trotter said...

Hi Pat! This one is new to me! Which meanns that I've been absent from NYC for quite some time... Great to see those views...

There is a weird post at Blogtrotter Two... Enjoy and have a great Sunday and a gorgeous week ahead!

CatHerder said...

Looks like fun, and YUM Baccala! Im the only one besides my mother in law who will eat it in my family!

Linda (More Fun Less Laundry) said...

Pat, I just found you through your red post and I must follow you! We lived in brooklyn heights for some time while we both worked at WTC, and your blog is bringing back so many memories of our time in NYC. Even though we are only in CT now, it is different to live in NYC instead of visiting. We took so many business cruises--loved every one of them.. Try one at night! Oh-the lights in the city are incredible. I am so looking forward to going back over all your old posts. You can't imagine how I am feeling! Linda

Anonymous said...

How lovely. It certainly looks like you had a good day there. The food looks really good. ;-)

Paz

Laura in Paris said...

Oh, lovely setting for a restaurant! And beautiful pictures.

RoeH said...

Incredible!! And I was around there and didn't find that restaurant? Won't happen next time.

The Quintessential Magpie said...

This is so neat, Pat! And fun, too, with all of that divine food!

XO,

Sheila :-)

GailO said...

I so want BOTH of your entrees! Yum!

Anne in Oxfordshire said...

Hi I just came over via Willows blog, who came to mine via a lady Malaysia.. :-)

I haven't been to Positano, but I have a very good friend who spends all her summer there and other times during the year.

It is definetly on my big list!!

Anne in Oxfordshire said...

Oh sorry i meant to say that the food looks delicious.. I am not sure which I would go for, maybe yours :-)