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| - I almost hesitate to give a 5-star to a place that I have only dined at once and only sat at the bar and had a glass of wine and a dessert. But here I am, doing it anyway.
Casellula is a bit of a hidden gem, because it is actually located in a larger space, Alphabet City/City of Asylum (I'm still unclear on the relationships between each). And Alphabet City is located in a larger building structure where part of it has been under construction apparently forever, and on its end is an abandoned adult movie theater. Once you find it and step inside, however, you're in for a real treat. It's bright and open, but after dark can feel cozy and intimate at the same time. The restaurant is on one side of the space, a book store is on the other, and in between is an open area with a raised stage and some couch seating.
It was happy hour, so we sidled up to the bar and ordered a glass of wine (me) and a cider (my date), and we split a pistacho tart. We sat and chatted for awhile before wandering over to the books with our drinks (totally cool) and exploring what was on offer. The wait staff was all very friendly, and one guy even gave us the background on City of Asylum and its mission.
My date and I are big fans of good cheeses, so I have a feeling that we will eventually be on a return visit to have an encounter with their house Fromagier and go on a journey of cheese. I also noticed that there is a brunch, which I immediately shared with two of my girlfriends that I go to brunch regularly with. I really look forward to returning, for any occasion!
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