Startle

The food presentation at Scarpetta resembles the cuisine itself: simple and elegant, without being overly extravagant. Among the dark, unfinished wood interior design and intimate lighting created by sheltered illuminated globes, the table setup is conservative, with a bare table, cream-colored placemat, white napkin folded in a square, sparkling cutlery, a bread plate with a butter knife, and glassware from the renowned European brand Schott Zwiesel. When it’s time to eat, your authentic meal will be strategically presented on a clean plate. The braised short ribs of beef, for example, are symmetrically situated on top of a heaping pile of farro risotto. When you order a plate of sauce-dripping spaghetti, the presentation is still neat — defying all spaghetti laws; the spaghetti with tomato and basil is brought to you molded into a perfect ball. Even considering all the presentation effort, your only thought upon your fare’s arrival will be to dig in.