It’s time we pay tribute to Rubirosa, a little Italian eatery tucked away on Mulberry Street in the Nolita neighborhood of Manhattan. We visited the hidden gem last week for lunch, and left happy once again.

We entered the restaurant a little around 1 PM and found it to be pretty empty. Where were the crowds in this sometimes overcrowded and packed restaurant? We wondered, all but shrugging the question off as we were sat at a cozy table towards the back of the restaurant.

After looking at the menu for several minutes, we came to one conclusion: everything sounded great. Realizing our appetites were finite, and we’d probably order too much, we settled for several past favorite dishes. To start, we ordered Rubirosa’s Caprese Salad and the Roasted Octopus appetizer. Our entree selections: Spaghetti alla Chitarra with Meatballs, and the Rubirosa Sandwich.

Rubirosa is known for their great service, among other things. Just under ten minutes after placing our order, our appetizers arrived. Our Caprese Salad, consisting of the restaurant’s homemade mozzarella, tomato, and basil pesto, was delicious with every bite. The homemade cheese made all the difference – it was just how we remembered it from our last visit back in 2012. Rubirosa’s mozzarella, quintessentially Italian, melts in your mouth with every bite. The tomatoes were remarkably fresh, especially for the winter season. The basil pesto added a nice, welcome touch to an already awesome dish.

Rubirosa’s Caprese Salad

Next up, our Roasted Octopus appetizer. The dish consisted of  chunks of succulent octopus, paired with mache salad, tomatoes, almonds, and giardiniera (pickled Italian vegetables). We loved every single bite of this dish, with octopus that was cooked perfectly. It doesn’t get any better than that. You have to order it for yourself to experience every flavor this dish has to offer.

Rubirosa’s Roasted Octopus appetizer

After about 15 or so minutes, it was finally time for our entrees. Something we really love – and can’t get enough of – is that Rubirosa delivers an extremely homemade version of Italian classics. Take our Spaghetti alla Chitarra with Meatballs, for example. First off, the homemade spaghetti makes all the difference in this dish. It’s prepared and cooked prefectly – and it tastes like it. And the meatballs are so homemade, they taste exactly like what you’d expect to eat on a Sunday night at home with family. Simply put, it’s great.

Rubirosa’s Spaghetti alla Chitarra

The Rubirosa Sandwich is a reinvented, yet original Italian classic. Consisting of brick-roasted chicken, homemade mozzarella, roasted peppers, and basil pesto, it blends an array of savory Italian flavors into every bite. The chicken is sliced straight from the oven with a welcome combination of light and dark meat. The mozzarella, roasted peppers, and pesto add flavor to the sandwich. And the sesame bun is perfect for the combination of ingredients, if a little messy. By the time we were done, the sandwich had fell apart, but we didn’t care. It was delicious.

The Rubirosa Sandwich at Rubirosa

Finally, there was nothing like a fresh Italian cappuccino to finish our meal off. We passed on dessert as we had already ate way too much. But it was okay – Rubirosa is and will remain one of Manhattan’s great authentic Italian eateries – and deserves our full appetites.

Gerard Boucher is the Editor of Livin’ Large NYC and a New York City native.