Gridskipper's The First Bite is the Sweetest: Falai

We recently made the two-minute trek to the newly opened Caffe Falai which opened last week on Lafayette. We spoke with chef/owner Iacopo Falai who is perhaps the sweetest man I've ever encountered. Caffe Falai is the sensible middle-child to the ridiculously expensive Falai and the cheaper Falai Panetteria, both on Clinton St. Lafayette, according to Chef Falai, isn't destined for Clinton St. scale restaurantification. There's too much traffic for one. But that doesn't mean he doesn't offer the freshly made pastas and mains. Among his favorite dishes, Falai suggests the potato vortelli with bolognese ragu ($11), the octopus with potato and black olive ($8) and the veal scallopini ($14). Pressed for why the discerning luncher should pick Falai over Balthazar, Chef Falai gave two reasons: "It's me. and it's Italian."

Caffe Falai [Eater]

[Video: Courtesy of our amazing videographer Richard Blakeley]

Previously: Gridskipper's First Bite: Pizzeria De Santo, Black Chicks are Always Game, Franksgiving in the LES