Nizza

Description:

• You won't do much better for pre- or post-theater dining than Nizza. Nizza offers the cuisine of the French Mediterranean, the city of Nice specifically, and its Ligurian-Italian influence. It's a restaurant where you can fill up on appetizers and salads, starting with the tangy tapenade of black olives served with freshly baked focaccia chips and socca, a chickpea pancake cooked in a brick oven and sprinkled with fresh herbs. Or savor a glass of wine with a plate of salumi, a selection of cured meats such as coppa, mortadella, prosciutto, and a variety of salamis, including duck. The romaine salad I had in a garlic vinaigrette with anchovies and shaved pecorino cheese made me swear off Caesar salad forever -- well, almost. From that same brick oven come pizzas, including a Provençal pie with ratatouille, goat cheese, and pesto; entrees such as the delicate polpette (meatballs), served on a bed of polenta and garnished with a hot green pepper; and wild boar lasagna that is much less ferocious than it sounds. The restaurant is loud and seating is tight, but you'll love the memorable food and the easy-on-your-wallet prices.

• © Frommer's 2013

Awards:

Frommer's

•  Highly Recommended 2010