Il Vagabondo

351 E 62nd St., Upper East Side, NY

7.1

map & more

Neighborhood
Upper East Side

Cuisine
Italian
Pasta

212-832-9221

Official Website

By Chris Stang
September 25, 2009

Aside from having a bocce court in the dining room, Il Vagabondo isn’t much different than any other old school, NYC Italian restaurant. We have so many places like this in town that it’s hardly worth writing them up…”the home made pasta is great, best meatballs ever, their red sauce is to die for”…whatever. What makes Il Vagabondo special, and worth some real estate on this site is that it’s a true neighborhood restaurant. Regulars have been coming here for forty years, not four. Friendly faces and consistent food keep people coming back. It’s a relaxed atmosphere – the antithesis to Il Mulino, and not somewhere you are going to bring your friends on a weekend night to blow their mind. This is a place to chill out and get down on some pasta on a winter Tuesday. The front bar and dining room have been renovated sometime within the last ten years, but we recommend eating in the “vintage” dining room with the bocce court. If you’ve got any self-respect, you’ll slam a bottle of wine and challenge some old dudes to a game.

Food Rundown:

Zuchine Carpione
This is a great, fresh appetizer dish which you will appreciate since the rest of your meal will no doubt leave you so full you’ll consider sleeping it off on the steps of a nearby brownstone.

Penne Ala Vodka
This is one of my favorite penne vodkas around town. An excellent vodka sauce that is rich and heavy on butter and cream. This and all other pasta dishes are pretty big…a half order isn’t the worst idea ever.

Pasta with Broccoli, Garlic & Oil
I thought I would miss the sausage in this equation, but this is still a very flavorful dish. Well balanced so the garlic is present but not overpowering.

Veal Parmigiana
Il Vagabondo is known for their veal parmigiana, and it’s pretty damn good. Munster cheese makes this one a little different than the norm, and it works.

Sautéed Chicken with Artichokes
A go-to dish for me at Il Vagabondo, the artichokes are fresh and tasty, and the chicken is excellent.