on the side Streets of new york

‘Cesca — 164 West 75th StreetSince opening in 2003, ‘Cesca has become a fixture in the neighborhood — an integral part of the community. There are people who dine here several times a week, and over the years the staff has welcomed families who are now returning with the next generation of little ones. In the beginning, “’Cesca was celebrity-driven,” according to a manager. Tom Valenti started as the executive chef with Food Network’s Amanda Freitag as chef de cuisine. Both have since left the restaurant, but the menu continued to evolve. For several years, Chef Kevin Garcia has run the behind-the-scenes kitchen operation, and the Italian menu is outstanding.

To read more, visit Manhattan Sideways (sideways.nyc), created by Betsy Bober Polivy.