A trip to chef Matt Adler's bright ode to Italy's coast costs way less than a plane ticket, but can honestly be almost as transportive. The vibe here is beachy, breezy, and easy, as demonstrated by the numerous seafoods and light yet hearty pastas on the menu. If you're not interested in seafood, don't worry, because Adler's menu includes plenty of hearty dishes with pork, lamb, and poultry that are worth trying, too.
The vibe: The vibe in here is effortlessly cool. The interior is modern, bright, and welcoming. A perfect spot to take someone you want to like you, and a perfect spot to go if you like yourself. Brunch feels like a busy, sunny cafe.
The food: Don't skip trying the handmade pasta or the excellent seafood. The Taglioni Neri balances the salty squid ink with the pungent tang of Calabrian chili, and the branzino, mussels, calamari, and scallops that dot the Frutti di Mare make a tasty combo. If you're not into seafood, get the Gramigna, a comforting squeeze of a dish with rich pork sausage, black pepper and egg yolk. Appetizers shine here, too: the focaccia with straciatella is mouthwatering, as is the bitter rapini and earthy cauliflower with lemon aioli and pistachio.
The drink: The only thing to do is to head to the lounge for Martini Hour, where you can snag $7 martinis of the espresso, dirty, classic, or citrus varieties every day. For just $3 more, you can upgrade your spirit to a premium version, which still puts your total drink cost way under what's typical at comparable eateries. I'm sure you can see why this deal is extremely popular, so get there early before the lounge fills up.
Time Out tip: You can certainly run up a tab at Cucina Morini, but this is one of the few higher end spots that consistenly runs great specials. For example, a recent promotion called "Morini Mondays" gave diners half portions of pasta for $10 and full ones for $20 on Monday evenings; keep an eye on the restaurant's website and social profiles for any new deals.