Cavatappo Grill

Formerly known as Luca Restaurant, this classic Upper East Side spot has been cooking up Italian cuisine for more than a decade. Start with a complimentary basket of salty fried olives, or share one of the assorted cheese plates ($11–$21). The expansive menu includes both old world favorites—think gnocchi with veal ragu ($15), butternut squash ravioli ($15) and chicken milanese ($21)—and more casual offerings, such as a variety of sandwiches (each $15) and even a burger ($13). Crowd-pleasing desserts like the pear-almond tart ($9), ricotta cheesecake ($9) and tiramisu ($8) round out the meal—and one of their house cocktails certainly wouldn’t hurt, either. Drop by on a Tuesday or Thursday for live jazz featuring a rotating cast of local musicians, or check out the brunch offerings on Saturday and Sunday.