Trattoria Tre Colori

254 W. 47th St

New York, NY 10036

212-997-4540

www.trattoriatrecolori.com

A second visit to the fine city of New York gave Watson and I reason to further investigate whether our first instincts on this Trattoria, neatly hidden away in plain view on 47th St. between Broadway and 8th, were correct.

With our sudden call by Scotland Yard to study and advise on the Security Detail at MOMA, what with their showing of Edvard Munch's 'The Scream' for the first time in New York, we had a bit of time on our hands and prepared to mix with the tourists and enterprising NY'ers alike at the TKTS line.

However, with the ticket window not scheduled to open until 3 PM, we sidled into Trattoria Tre Colori (just half a block away from Times Square no less!) at 12:30 on a Friday afternoon for an effortless and yet sustaining meal.

 Quickly seated I noted there were perhaps 20 or so patrons inside…… an intriguing development which seemed a tad peculiar at what would normally be considered a robust lunch trade hour. Yet it was a clue from our cabbie on our way over from Paddington Station (er, Penn Station) about it being a type of holiday in this fine city.....what type of holiday was not offered but one which may have explained this ripple in scheduling normality.

Olive Assortment 

Pimm's Cup #1

A basket of bread delivered, two types - both crusty and soft, was served with butter tabs and a knife along with a colorful assortment of olives in a dish with oil and garlic which was procured from a large cistern near the bar.

With drink and lunch entree's decided among us, Watson chose a rich and robust Malbec ($10) while my  melancholy for an old favorite brought to mind a Pimm's Cup #1 ($10). Remembering my old friend James Pimm from Kent who came up with this wonderful gin-derived and herb distilled elixir while at his oyster bar near the Bank of England, this short and squat refresher was an amalgam here of Pimm's #1, Limonata, mint, and cucumber…..and while not served here in it's original and customary tankard as it is in London, it was a splendid and vitalizing mid-afternoon digestif nevertheless.

Entrees of Cappelini Puttanesca ($16), a fine pasta of Angel Hair mixed with tomato, garlic, anchovy, capers, and Gaeta Olives and the special of Ravioli Giorno - a Lobster Ravioli with Jumbo Shrimp in a creme sauce ($22.50) arrived very quickly to sate our famished dispositions. The Cappelini was tasty and tart with an airy lightness that was delicious if not subtly twinged by the Gaeta Olives (which both Watson and I found numerous on the plate after the meal...a small but telling sign.)

Cappelini Puttanesca - Angel Hair Pasta with tomato, capers, anchovy, garlic, and olives

Lobster Giorno - Lobster stuffed Ravioli with Jumbo Shrimp

The Ravioli Giorno, the day's special, came with only 5 fairly large Ravioli but it was what they did WITH these that stirred the soul and was made evident upon the first bite...... Oh! Deliciousness Incarnate!! A melange of flavor enveloping the palate……… I was quite taken with the creamy goodness and the taste of fresh lobster, however limiting they felt in this group of five, that I nearly swooned and surely would have denied it had it happened, blame it on jet lag I always say! 

Brooklyn Brewery Point Amber 

Pimm's cup depleted, a Brooklyn Brewery Six Point Amber Ale ($7) was proffered and used to help wash down the Lobster Ravioli wonderfully while Watson ordered a decaf coffee and we left soon after completely satisfied and ready for our stint in Times Square and its half priced Broadway tickets for that evenings performance. 

(And as an interesting aside - we attended a show that evening of 'Peter and the Star Catcher', winner of 5 Tony Awards and a surprising take on the pre-Peter Pan story told with melodrama and humor but just AS surprising was seeing Bill and Melinda Gates, they of presumed Microsoft fame, just standing next to Watson and I at the intermission...... just a couple of regulars out for an evenings show. 

Brooks Atkinson Theater

As Watson and I are not inclined to be particularly taken with celebrity OR with the wealth of others, I was impressed by the restraint exercised by all in the theater, both tourist and NY alike, as well as afterwards in avoiding any type of clawing or fawning scene. 

Afterwards, in the process of capturing the pic of the Brooks Atkinson Theater placed here, they remarkably appeared again before us and with just a walk across the street towards us they quickly just blended back into the sidewalk crowd. No one else with them, no drivers, no livery cars. It was an easy picture to take but dropped the lense and let them pass as they approached without so much as a visual acknowledgement of their presence. Once gone I made a mental note to discover the head of their security detail for surely they were either completely inept or surreptitiously successful beyond all!)

Now Come Quick! The Game's Afoot!