by Kristen Depken
If you need a break from the busy 2nd Avenue bar scene, let Vespa take you on a quick trip to Italy. On a recent Saturday night I did just that.
My date and I wandered into Vespa and were instantly transported to an authentic Italian-style bar that could easily have been located on a quaint side street in Rome.
Vespa’s actual location is on 2nd Avenue between 84th and 85th streets, where a green polka-dot Vespa is parked in its front doorway.
Inside, Vespa is adorned with a clever mix of old-fashioned Italian décor and unique modern-day touches, such as mini-Vespas placed around the bar. Warm red candles and vibrant music create an atmosphere that is at once quaint and trendy, inviting yet not overwhelming.
The highlight of the establishment is the back patio, where trellises and greenery surround each table, allowing a large group to have a lively chat over drinks without disturbing the couple getting cozy at the next table.
Once we had been seated at a perfect corner table on the upper level of the patio, my date and I were promptly given glasses of water (which our waiter made sure were never empty) before being left with the dinner and drink menus. Eager to order cocktails, we were impressed by the extensive wine list and specialty drink menu.
Raspberry mojitos, pomegranate margaritas, strawberry-apple cosmopolitans, and a bottle of 2003 St. Michael-Eppan pinot bianco all caught our eye before we decided on a lemon-mint martini and a Vespa royale (Prosecco, lychee puree, and cassis). Both drinks were just what we had been expecting: light, refreshing, and very tasty.
Though we didn’t eat at Vespa, we found ourselves wishing we had. The menu is a combination of fresh seasonal fare and traditional Italian dishes, such as yellow watermelon salad with shrimp, feta, and mint; gnocchi with artichoke hearts, fresh tomato, basil, and garlic; and chicken with roasted peppers, mushrooms, and aged balsamic vinegar.
Their mouth-watering dishes convinced my date and I that our next trip to Vespa would have to include dinner. Vespa’s only shortcoming was the cigar smoker seated at a nearby table, yet when we requested a move to the other side of the patio, our server was very accommodating and set us up at a new table right away.
The warm ambiance, dependable service, and delicious drinks more than made up for the inconvenience. Whether for dinner or cocktails, Vespa’s eclectic Italian charm is a welcomed addition to the Upper East Side.