LINCOLN.

The restaurant at Lincoln Center, Lincoln Ristorante, is certainly worth checking out - even if you aren't out watching the ballet or the opera.

You know how I usually go ballistic on restaurants that don't cater to vegetarians or serve me meat and don't care? Well - you can expect QUITE the opposite coming from Lincoln. My waiter asked our table if we had any food allergies or preferences - and noted that I was vegetarian...and apparently informed the entire waitstaff.

Even the bread man!!!! I wanted to try the "fluffy bread" but the bread man informed me that it unfortunately contained LARDO (which I had accidentally ingested during my meal at COI). Good catch!

Even the little amuse bouche was specially catered for me! My friend received a lentil-topped crostini and I was served one with an olive tapenade. I whimpered and wanted to know why I didn't have a lentil-topped crostini as well - and the amuse bouche server informed me that the lentil-topped crostini had chicken stock in it. Good catch! I ate the lentil one anyway.

My pal ordered a side of Fughi Misti - a delicious blend of roasted mushrooms of all different varieties! A symphony of textures and flavors.

I ordered a side of the Beets, Sheep's Milk Yogurt, and Pistachios - not quite as thrilling as the funghi misti, but still very good.

I have never seen gnudi on a menu since my visit to The Spotted Pig - a dish that I still talk about to this very day. So I was more than excited to order the Gnudi di Ricotta e Rapini - ricotta dumplings topped with broccoli rabe pesto, pine nuts, and garlic chips. While they were not quite as "melt in your mouth" as the gnudi for Spotted Pig, they certainly came in a close second. The plump dumplings were filled with soft cheese. I loved the contrast of texture from the crispy garlic chips.

For dessert, I ordered the Gianduiotto con Panna - served with chocolate gelato, hazelnuts, and whipped cream. This was literally like a Ferrero Rocher Sundae SPRINKLED WITH ROOFIES. The whipped cream was of a light, airy, and smooth consistency that I have never experienced before. The crunchy ferrero rocher-esque sphere was crunchy and crispy, perfect with each spoonful of rich gelato and crunch hazelnuts. YUMYUMYUM.

Petit fours for the table before the bill arrived. Cute.

My meal at Lincoln Ristorante was a lot better than I had anticipated - an indulgent and conscientious waitstaff, delicious pastas, a celebration of vegetables, and fantastic desserts. I cannot wait to return...possibly when I watch The Barber of Seville in February?