Il Gattopardo

Il Gattopardo is a quiet restaurant on West 54th Street that feels a little like a cross between a fancy living room and some kind of embassy. Which makes sense, since it’s located in a set of townhouses that used to belong to John D. Rockefeller. It’s not the place to come for a bargain meal in the neighborhood - pastas hover around the $30 mark, and the least expensive dessert is $14. But the food is good, and it’s a nice place for a semi-formal meal away from the chaos of the busier Midtown restaurants.