Spaghetti on the Mount (and reason for gap in blog entries)

I could start off by profusely apologizing for how long it's been since my last entry, but even that would be an understatement.  Since my last entry, life has thrown twists and turns in my way both good and tough that have kept me removed from this blog.  Alas, I am back with the hope of continuing to grow this blog into the central New Jersey restaurant review site that I had originally envisioned.  I hope you will will join me for the ride.

Last year, my husband went in for surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC, one that we had hoped would go smoothly, but alas, as life would have it, ended up being a pretty bumpy ride.  All is good now, but in the midst of it all, I spent many a night searching for good food on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.  I wasn't looking for exotic eats, more so for solid, comfort food to calm my nerves and bring a sense of normalcy to the chaos that was that time in our lives.  One of these quintessential foods in my mind is pasta and red sauce (coated, no not sprinkled, but coated with parmesan cheese.  I know that it's fashionable for a waiter/waitress to lightly shave fresh parmesan over a diner's plate, but it makes me self conscious when they are ready to stop, and I see barely a little dusting over my food.  I much prefer when they leave the shaker on the table, and I can help myself.  Even if it's not as fresh, at least I am able to have the flavor I desire).

Searching for a good pasta and red sauce near the hospital ended up being easier than I thought.  Tre Otto is right down the street from the hospital and serves a delicious plate of Spaghetti Al Pomodoro.  The pasta is cooked perfectly al dente.  The red sauce is light.  It is the perfect dish to calm one's nerves after a rough day at Mount Sinai.

I went there some days for lunch too and highly recommend the Caprese Panini.

If you find yourself at Mount Sinai (for what I hope are only positive outcomes) in need of good Italian comfort food, I highly recommend Tre Otto.  It definitely helped me get through some rough days and nights.