Cucina Alba

The look this Chelsea restaurant is going for is “urbanite’s Italian holiday,” which means you should expect a bright space with pops of pink, floor-to-ceiling windows, and sightings of mid-level celebrities whose own European holidays consist of snagging invites onto richer people’s yachts. The summer-fling feeling of the space could be appealing if your seasonal depression has already hit, but the food won't inspire you to start planning a trip abroad. Cucina Alba feels like any other Fashion Week-friendly spot where eating is secondary to being seen. The menu is a mixed bag, and most things look good but end up tasting just OK. If you do go, skip the smoked lemon cacio e pepe (the smoky flavor really does not work) and the TikTok-friendly burrata with black truffle shaved tableside, and stick to the silky agnolotti and fluffy whipped ricotta.