We went on a date tonight!! It’s so crazy to think that (with the exception of vacation) we haven’t gone to a restaurant or had a traditional date night in months. We decided to check out Pappardella this evening, since we had heard raving reviews.

I made reservations through Open Table and was honestly surprised that they had availability tonight given that dining is limited to outdoors and it’s a Saturday night! A rain shower came through right before we left the apartment to walk that way and we caught the last little bit of it while en route, but nothing an umbrella couldn’t shield us from. I believe NYC has allowed outdoor dining for a couple of weeks now but we didn’t get around to giving it a try until today - for a few reasons. One, we just kinda limit eating out because of how expensive it can be. Two, it’s NYC… there are tons of people and therefore tons of demand for the few tables each little restaurant has to offer. Three, most weeks we just pick one night we don’t feel like cooking whatever is on the meal plan and order takeout and that’s been the extent of our restaurant exploring since we got here in April (occassionally more than one meal a week, but for the most part we have really done a great job about eating at home).

*Gluten Free Pappardella Giant Meatball*

I had heard so many great things about the gluten free offerings at Pappardella. We had considered eating here a while back when I was really wanting pasta but none of their pasta options really call my name. So we didn’t dine here until tonight when we wanted to try something new and I realized I wanted just about everything on their gluten free small plates and desserts menu!! LOL.

Pappardella is located in Manhattan in the Upper West Side on Columbus Avenue.

We ordered just the right amount of food, albeit tons of carbs and cheese, but it was perfect for the two of us. So what did we order? We shared a few small plates: gluten free garlic bread with marinara, the gluten free Pappardella giant meatball, and the whipped buffalo ricotta with white truffle honey and gluten free crostini, along with one side: risotto milanese.

*Whipped Buffalo Ricotta with White Truffle Honey and Gluten Free Garlic Crostini*

It was all delicious! We ate every last bite and were perfectly full and satisfied. Every bite was filled with the most amazing flavors and texture. The gluten free bread was HEAVENLY. Seriously, I don’t know that I’ve had gluten free garlic bread or crostini. And the whipped buffalo ricotta? HOLY MOLY I WANT MORE!! Such a wonderful item to include for the gluten free community, very rare in my experience that you find that on a restaurant’s menu. A wonderful surprise.

I have no idea how they make a meatball that large but it was magnificent! The fontina cheese and marinara were fantastic. Highly reccommend!!

And the risotto… you can guarantee that if a restaurant has risotto and it’s made with an acceptable broth (and doesn’t include any of our other restrictions) then we’re 99.9% likely to give it a try! Pappardella’s risotto is EXCELLENT!! So, sooo good!

If you’re looking for exceptional gluten free italian food in NYC, you can’t go wrong with Pappardella! I’ll leave you tonight with the words of Will.I.Am in Fergie’s hit, Fergalicious:

D to the E to the L-I-C-I-O-U-S!

Disclaimer: I am not a dietitian or medical professional and while I share what ingredients work for me or what I choose to eat (at my own risk) while dining out, I advise you do your homework when choosing ingredients and places to eat. I highly encourage everyone to do their own research when it comes to the products they cook with or restaurant’s procedures. I do not have celiac disease but rather a gluten-intolerance and I’m not an expert on gluten or other food intolerances, autoimmune diseases, or food allergies. I simply share the ingredients I have found work for me, the places where I’ve dined and my personal experiences.

Dinner Al Fresco at Pappardella

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