PO Restaurant   

31 Cornelia St
New York, NY 10014
212-645-2189

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This 12-table Italian restaurant on secluded Cornelia St. in the West Village is where Mario Batali, of Babbo fame, made his mark on the NYC dining scene. His garlicky white-bean bruschetta and pappardelle with meltingly tender ragu put him among the ranks of the best chefs of the city, and Po's financial and critical success made him a hot commodity. When he left to pursue his television career and open other restaurants, his original partner bought him out and runs the place pretty much as it always has been, menu and all. The small, bright quarters lend a simple, homey air. If you're alone, you can plop down at the glossy wood bar to eat without a reservation (they are hard to come by). Po's tasting menu is much lauded and probably the most reasonably priced way to taste the recipes that launched the career of a food superstar. -- Erin Franzman