NYCReview
photo credit: Kate Previte
Misipasta
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When you go to sleep at night, do your dreams taste like whipped ricotta? Do you have a dog named Rigatoni and another named Diavola? Have you ever thrown a penny in a well and mumbled the words “reservation at Lilia”?
If so, you’ll love Misipasta the way a Gleek loves nationals. If not, and you have no clue what we’re talking about, congratulations. You’ve somehow dodged the delicious twin vortex of Misi and Lilia fandom, and you therefore lead an uncomplicated life with few reservation hassles. You, too, will like Misipasta, just not as rabidly.
photo credit: Kate Previte
photo credit: Kate Previte
photo credit: Kate Previte
photo credit: Kate Previte
photo credit: Kate Previte
Williamsburg restaurants Misi and Lilia have gone double platinum, and neighboring sister establishment Misipasta is the follow-up EP for the dedicated fan base. Part grocery store and part aperitivo bar, this all-day spot features a leafy backyard, several rows of bar stools, and a section where you can buy fresh pasta, $28 housemade pesto, and other alluring take-home goods that seem to be priced in anticipation of a societal collapse. The menu is tiny, so this isn’t the most practical place for a full meal, but it’s the ideal venue for a flawless negroni and a few impressive bites.
Given the name, it would be fair to assume that Misipasta serves a lot of pasta. That is not the case. The menu changes frequently and includes, at most, two pastas. Most of the other options are snack-sized items that tend to do a lot with a little. Past highlights have included smoked swordfish with a hefty pour of olive oil, anchovies served over sweet roasted tomatoes, and a crunchy fried sandwich filled with mozzarella. If available, be sure to get the prosciutto paired with puffy gougères that taste like custardy Cheez-Its.
photo credit: Kate Previte
photo credit: Kate Previte
photo credit: Kate Previte
You’ll probably order a pasta as well, because not doing so would feel weird and inappropriate. Just be aware that the pastas here aren’t the showstoppers you’d expect from this restaurant group. They’re simple and understated—tart spaghetti with crunchy breadcrumbs, say.
Misipasta isn’t like its siblings. It’s not a big-night-out spot, and it’s not where you go to eat bucatini and agnolotti until you’re 50% semolina. It is, however, useful for when you want to enjoy some memorable small plates in a backyard that looks like it was airlifted in from Malibu. If the reservationist at Lilia is no longer taking your calls, you can also pop in for a box of rigatoni. It'll run you around $15, but in this stretch of Williamsburg, that's the price of fandom.
Food Rundown
photo credit: Kate Previte
Smoked Anchovy, Slow Roasted Tomatoes, Fennel Pollen
photo credit: Kate Previte
Spaghetti, Bottarga, Lemon, Garlic Breadcrumbs
photo credit: Kate Previte
Maltagliati, Salsa Pomodoro, Roasted Garlic, Fiore Sardo
photo credit: Kate Previte
Prosciutto di Parma, Fontina Gougère
Mozzarella In Carozza
photo credit: Kate Previte
Grilled Artichoke, Sharp Provolone, Hot Peppers, Sesame Roll
photo credit: Kate Previte