New York's Famous Del Posto Celebrates 10 Years

Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, Chelsea's Del Posto continues to be one of the highest-rated Italian restaurants in Manhattan.

The 24,000-square-foot lavish mahogany and marble masterpiece created by owners Lidia and Joe Bastianich and Mario Batali remains the most elegant, upscale and spacious of the Batali and Bastianich restaurant franchise.

The ambiance is palatial with an inlaid marble floor, a dramatic staircase leading the second floor, circular balconies overlooking the main dining room, a grand mahogany bar, walls covered with fabric, and soft live piano music.

Guests can choose between three dining formats. There is a five-course menu for $126 where each diner chooses an antipasto, a main course, two pasta courses to be shared with the table, and a dessert. The Captain's Menu includes an additional three courses for $179. The third option is the simply order off of the main menu.

Menu highlights include minted octopus, spaghetti with crab, pumpkin cappellacci with browned butter, orecchiette with lamb neck ragu and minted pea puree, poached lobster with artichoke and hazelnut, slow roasted grilled lamb, cacciucco and halibut with tri-color cauliflower. There is also an eight-course vegan tasting menu which includes pasta with a green bean pesto, globe artichokes, crispy brown rice porridge, roasted turnips, charred wild mushrooms and a coconut semifreddo.

The dessert menu includes butterscotch semifreddo, sweet pea panna cotta, coffee gelato, and pecorino romano cake with honey gelato and preserved cherries.