I’ve always wanted to try Parm, but never seem to make it there. Now there are a number of Parm outposts around the city – including one on the Upper West Side. When my friend JB and I were trying to figure out a spot to catch up one night, we decided Parm it was. The nice thing too about the UWS location is that it’s on OpenTable – always a huge plus in my book.
I’ve heard the other locations aren’t massive spaces, so I was surprised to see just how far back the UWS location extends. There’s a counter on the right as you enter where you can get sandwiches and other items to go and the bar runs along the left-hand side of the restaurant’s entrance.
We were both quite hungry, so had their crispy zucchini. It was super thin and lightly fried. The flavor was just the right amount of salty and the perfect ratio of coating to zucchini. While not as healthy as a salad, it made for a perfect start.
For my main, I had to go with one of the parms. I felt like being the namesake of the restaurant and all, that it was almost a requirement. That being said, I usually don’t love chicken or eggplant parm. I usually find it heavy and underwhelming, but put that aside for the sake of the experience. That proved to be a wise, wise move. The eggplant parm from Parm was absolutely outstanding. Every layer was thin and tight in presentation, making for an amazingly layered balanced dish unlike any I’ve ever had. It even managed to reheat equally great the next day. Definitely a must try dish!
Although we were both quite full from dinner, we couldn’t leave without trying a slice of their much touted ice cream cake. I love me some ice cream cake and can’t say I’ve come across a nice restaurant that offered a slice at all, let alone multiple options as their specialty. They had their classic – essentially spumoni, with layers of strawberry, pistachio, and chocolate. Or there was their s’mores – graham cracker, chocolate, and toasted marshmallow gelato. We couldn’t resist the allure of the s’mores option, which proved to be a wise choice. It really did taste like s’mores, a fun contrast to enjoy in cold form versus the warm norm you enjoy fireside. I would have a hard time ever coming here and not opting in for dessert. Bonus – these amazing ice cream cakes can be purchased as a whole cake to take home. Happy birthday, indeed!
Parm – 235 Columbus Ave (b/w 70 & 71st) – 212.776.4921
Reservations Suggested
Leave a Reply