With a definite Milanese flair, Nomad Girl is an all-day café and ristorante in the heart of Nomad and joins the neighborhood’s growing neighborhood of luxurious hotels, bars and restaurants. The restaurant is the brainchild of hospitality veteran Alex Cesaria and his co-owner Rich Simeone.
Co-owner Cesaria is proud of the modern yet comfortable décor. “Nomad Girl’s interior has a modern European and relaxed feel that is the perfect spot for a fashionable meal with friends. The long bar in the front of the restaurant serves as the focal point for people watching and sipping on classics such as a Negroni or an Espresso Martini,” he told us.
LUXURIOUS DINING
We reserved an intimate table for dinner in the back of this ultra-long ristorante. Nomad Girl does not disappoint with their homemade pasta in shapes you’ve never seen before, adding a fun dining element! A typical pasta dish here is Trofi Pesto E Burrata which surprises your palette with its adorable squiggle-shaped pasta and a pesto that gives it a softer herbal flavor. The cold ball of burrata on top of the hot pasta is a contrast rarely found in Manhattan—and it works! We also tried the Tagliatelle Bolognese which features a heavenly beef and veal sauce that you’ll say is unforgettable.
Cesaria is delighted with his restaurant’s pasta dishes’ praise and agrees that they are a high point. He says,,“Nomad Girl’s pasta is homemade and delivered to the restaurant by a true Italian (pasta) creator. The (pasta) dishes are based on the available seasonal ingredients. Our signature pasta options include the Gnocchi Ciccio Bello, Tagliatelle Bolognese and Vodka Ravioli.”
A MENU THAT PLEASES
Nomad Girl is known as “Tuna Central” for foodies all over town. You can get delicious organic salmon so many ways here that your head will spin. We had the classic Tuna Tartare served with avocado and cucumber as an appetizer and then the Sesame-Crusted Tuna with mixed greens salad, pickled red onion, avocado and cherry tomatoes as an entrée. There are many customizable grilled and sesame tuna items offered.
Additionally, try the rock star dish on the Nomad Girl menu: Sformatino Di Melanzane, an eggplant terrine with mozzarella fonduta. It’s become their signature app and it’s kind of a sophisticated form of Eggplant Parm. The eggplant, cut very thin, is spread with a little homemade red sauce, then coated with the cold fonduta that tastes more like bechamel sauce! These signature Milanese dishes are made with the highest quality organic ingredients and created via a “collab” with former Bottega Del Vino chef Fernando Baez.
The prime grass-fed Skirt Steak with chimichurri sauce is undoubtedly not a Milanese item but it’s fabulous. The meat is tender and well-seasoned and in a generous portion. Also look for eleven variations of pizza good for an appetizer or entrée.
ALL-DAY SERVICE
Of course, Nomad Girl serves breakfast and lunch, too. “We have a bustling breakfast service that serves the Nomad and Flatiron residents as well as many tourists who are staying at top nearby hotels including Virgin Atlantic, and The Ritz-Carlton,” says Cesaria.
He adds that world-class Euro coffee service is central to NomadGirl’s successful breakfast business (as well as baked goods made by a real French viennoiserie): “Coffee is one of the most important things in our Italian culture. The day begins with small-batch Dell’Aria Coffee pulled through an Astoria Tempesta—the official espresso machine of the World Barista Championship. With Nomad Girl’s three separate grinders, the Tempesta allows for incredible customization of every drink with adjustable pre-infusion, pressure, and temperature controls for flawless coffee extraction. The beans are specifically sourced and roasted by Dell’Aria Coffee from dark roast to medium roast to light roast for the perfect coffee experience.”
Once you visit Nomad Girl, you’ll want to go back. The friendly staff, large bar and great art are just the icing on the cake of a menu that’s got a little something for everyone who loves both Northern and Southern Italian fare!
For more info on Nomad Girl, visit nomadgirl.nyc