I am not sure why it took me so long to write this, as this is perhaps the meal I have eaten more times than any other in the last 10 years while living here in the The Kitchen (once a week, pretty religiously, for a decade), and it is for sure my favorite meal anywhere in Hell's Kitchen, and perhaps my favorite anywhere in NYC.
Drum roll please.....Lobster Ravioli with Pink Vodka Cream Sauce from Don Giovanni (West 44th Street near 9th Avenue). Lord knows they have the worst website in the world, but pay no mind to that people, and read on...
I have discussed Don Giovanni before (they also have another location on 10th Avenue near 23rd Street as well), strictly as it relates to their Pizza, which is one of my favorites in the hood, as well as in the city. But we aren't here to talk about Pizza, we are here to talk about the Holy Grail of Lobster Ravioli with Pink Vodka Cream Sauce.
Don Giovanni is very close to Restaurant Row (The Restaurant Row website really sucks, but it has the info), though it is definitely not part of it. However, it sure gets a lot of tourist and theater foot traffic, which is one of its major downfalls. Dining inside the restaurant (or outside in its cafe) is not an option for me; too crowded, too many annoying tourists and its a little tight in there. Well, actually, its more than a little tight, its very tight, so it gets an automatic DQ as far as me ever dining-in there.
The place is nothing special as far as decor, and it hasn't really been updated for quite a while, however, its nice and its clean, and frankly, you ain't going here for the decor, you're going for either the Brick Oven Pizza or the Lobster Ravioli with Pink Vodka Cream Sauce.
The Lobster Ravioli is simply perfect. The ravioli itself is very, very good, but its the sauce that is the magic part of the equation here. Its even the perfect color and looks as one would hope and expect Pink Vodka Cream Sauce to look. The sauce is also just the right thickness; creamy, not too watery, absorbs the bread (ask for bread and grated cheese with your order), and it has just the right amount of onions and other crushed ingredients so as to not be too lumpy (I hate lumpy). I could literally drink the sauce for a meal - its that good.
So, now that you have decided not to dine-in and order delivery from home (trust me people, order in), so you head to Seamless Web, which they are a part of. The menu is pretty simple, with a lot of brick oven pizzas, as well as plenty of traditional Pasta dishes and Entrees. Prices are very reasonable with my cherished Ravioli Alla Aragosta (as it is known on the menu) being only $12.95, which isn't just reasonable, its a downright bargain. I have eaten a few other things here, though one of the things I haven't tried and would like to are (its only been 10 years) the Mussels, however, I am very weary and weird about eating Mussels (bad Mussels tend to make you very ill).
The other item that I absolutely love here is the Chicken Francese ($12.95). I find that the really simple classic dishes are usually the ones that get screwed up and demolished the most often, and Chicken Francese is one of those dishes. The one here is borderline perfect here every time I have ever had it; cooked just right, perfect amount of breading and seasoning, and the exact right balance of white wine, butter and lemon in the sauce.
Delivery is pretty good, though I have had a few not so great experiences over the last decade (perhaps 4 or 5 out of several hundred, literally), and they are less than gracious on the phone over there if you call asking where the hell your food is (honestly though, my tone probably doesn't help matters much, I can be a d*ck), however, in all fairness, it is a zoo there during pre and post theater times, so you need to use some common sense and order before or after the pre/post theater rush. Once you get the timing and rhythm of the place down you will generally get your food within 45 minutes, hot, well packed and prepped, with the order correct. If you order delivery during the rush, expect to wait an hour to an hour and a half.
So my fine feathered friends, I give Don Giovanni an A+ for their Lobster Ravioli, an A- for their Chicken Francese, a C+ for the dining-in experience for having too many dopey/annoying tourists, and a B-/B for delivery.
I also bestow upon them the distinguished honor of Best of HKL for their Lobster Ravioli and their Chicken Francese, as well as adding their Brick Oven Pizza to the Best of HKL for Pizza.
Don Giovanni
358 West 44th Street (Near 9th Avenue)
NY, NY 10036
212.581.4931
www.dongiovanni-ny.com
