Tag Archives: Danny Meyers

An old bit of travel advice goes like this: If you’re looking for a casual place to eat in Italy, go for a trattoria over a ristorante. The word “trattoria” implies that the establishment is a family-owned business where the food is made in house, while the word “ristorante” connotes a more expensive place that’s run as a business, not as a labor of love.

Though Danny Meyer may be renowned for his business acumen, the feeling of a home-cooked meal comes through in his new Maialino, which he specifically calls a trattoria. Despite the madness surrounding its opening in the Gramercy Park Hotel two weeks ago—it’s nearly impossible to get through on the phone to make a reservation, so try Open Table—on a recent night, Maialino was surprisingly calm, orderly and friendly inside on a recent night. (more…)