Alaluna

This speakeasy-ish restaurant in the West Village serves "seacuterie" and tuna lasagna. At best, the concept sounds AI-generated. At worst, an omen of dark times ahead. The thing is, that lasagna hits the spot. You'll find Alaluna behind a set of curtains in the back of restaurant and grocery store Travelers Poets & Friends. The space is upscale and intimate—with white tablecloths, dark blue walls, and an upright piano parked in the middle—and the menu is Italian and seafood-heavy. At a glance, the food looks gimmicky, but we've had some memorable bites here. If you're bored of your usual Italian go-tos, stop by for some shrimp carpaccio and a cube of lasagna that reads like a tuna melt. Jury's still out on the seacuterie.

photo credit: Patrick Dolande