New York's Loveliest New Restaurant

La Sirena may be the loveliest new place to eat in the city.  It's a huge, open space - windows everywhere - and Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich have been smart enough not to  cram it full of tables.  Light and air - that's your impression- a true luxury in our cramped city. It's a bit like going to a resort without leaving town. And in the summer, when there are tables outside ... this is where we'll all want to be.

It's a large menu; here are a few of my favorite things.

Those baked clams above: irresistible.  And quail, with a really wonderful blood orange mostarda and a frizzle of bitter greens:

The most beautiful ravioli with its translucent pasta.

A "carbonara" of cauliflower. Such a smart idea!

And to end - pineapple bomboloni with roasted pineapple. I didn't want to eat it. Couldn't help myself!