Of course, a trusted neighborhood trattoria will have been serving various tasty creations for a while and will always have a host of regulars who like the familiar ambiance, but few of them manage to reach the astounding heights of Sette Mezzo.

Located on Manhattan's Upper East Side, there is more than a touch of neighborhood charm about this exceptional New York Restaurant. Regulars are welcomed time and again and can be found seated at the bar, sipping fine wines and talking fervently in that Big Apple fashion, but Sette Mezzo is not to be confused with a small place which offers up one or two good dishes served up on red and white table clothes, this is fine dining at is most luxurious.

A New York Restaurant which was already the choice for the local jet set who love their northern Italian cuisine brought reverently and delightfully to life, it achieved a great deal of national recognition when it was cited by Oprah Winfrey as her favorite New York Restaurant. She can often be found at her usual table eating her favorite dish of Scallops and Artichokes.

Sette Mezzo has managed the tricky task of creating an elegant fine dining New York Restaurant which also feels like a warm, welcoming neighborhood eatery, which is not to say that all sorts can be found waiting for tables. Far from it, reservations are imperative if you hope to get a table.

Those who find themselves enveloped in the white-linen chic being tended by the equally elegant waiters, will undoubtedly be able to include a bit of celebrity spotting in-between courses. Celebrities and bankers may well be drawn to the conviviality of Sette Mezzo, but the real star of the show is the food.

The menu reads like a book of worship of great Italian cuisine, and the daily specials offer up a host of tempting delicacies which make full use of the season's latest ingredients. The kitchen of Sette Mezzo is well known for its ease with accommodating special requests, so if the Mozzarella Farcita you had the last time wasn't quite to your taste, then they will add a little of something you had in mind to make it just the way you want it.

As a New York Restaurant specializing in regional Italian food, you can expect a range of delightful chicken, fish and veal dishes. The Pollo Patanato is a much enjoyed main course of chicken covered in a thin potato crust and served with arugula and tomatoes.

Those looking to transport themselves to the distant coast might do well to try the Orata Al Forno, a baked Mediterranean seabass. Great veal dishes are the mark of a superb Italian New York Restaurant and those at Sette Mezzo are likely to make a regular of anyone. The Milanese Vico is a rack of veal with a breaded crust and is prepared to perfection by the characteristically marvelous kitchen.

Naturally the menu boasts some delightful risottos and pastas, many of which find their way onto the specials board. When truffles are in season, few mouthfuls can compare to a risotto with a generous inclusion of those little tasty treats. Don't forget to save room for the sweet stuff, perhaps a traditional tartufo will do the trick.