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Mia Dona

Critic's Pick Critics' Pick

206 E. 58th St., New York, NY 10022
at Third Ave.  See Map | Subway Directions Hopstop Popup
212-750-8170 Send to Phone

  • Critics' Rating: star star Price Range: $$$$
  • Reader Rating:

    5.5 out of 10

    4 Reviews | Write a Review

  • Cuisine: Italian, Mediterranean

Hours

Mon-Thu, noon-2:30pm and 5pm-10pm; Fri, noon-2:30pm and 5pm-11pm; Sat, 5pm-11pm; Sun, 11am-2:30pm and 5pm-9pm

Nearby Subway Stops

4, 5, 6 at 59th St.

Prices

$18-$24

Payment Methods

American Express, MasterCard, Visa

Special Features

  • Brunch - Weekend
  • Hot Spot
  • Lunch
  • Notable Chef
  • Take-Out

Alcohol

  • Beer and Wine Only

Reservations

Accepted/Not Necessary

Profile

There’s nothing improbable about the animated Mediterranean-style cooking at Michael Psilakis and Donatella Arpaia’s restaurant, Mia Dona. It comes at you, in two-fisted, Psilakis-patented style, like the proverbial freight train. Arpaia and the talented Psilakis began their collaboration (they operate the Greek establishments Kefi, on the Upper West Side, and Anthos, in midtown) at a three-star restaurant called Dona, which closed in 2007 because of landlord troubles. Mia Dona, which occupies a narrow railroad-car space among the upscale Indian restaurants along East 58th Street, is not as ambitious or stylish as its namesake. But what the room lacks in ambience (the ceiling is low, the tables are jammed together, the racket is deafening), the kitchen makes up for in quality and cost (nothing on the menu is over $25). Among the heartier dishes, I liked the grilled spiedini (sweetbreads, lamb, and quail, expertly charred, on skewers) and Psilakis’s already legendary crispy rabbit (served atop a mountain of vinegar chips, for $13). Purists may argue that you can’t taste the rabbit (they’re right), but as a dissertation on the pleasures of deep-fried crunchiness, it’s difficult to beat. For something marginally lighter, try the hamachi crudo (drizzled with salt and oil and laid out on a marble slab), or the chitarra pasta (with pepperoncini, strips of zucchini, and Manila clams caked in Parmesan), or even the sliced pork chop (plated with frisée, crumblings of pork, and a wet fried egg). But this is a restaurant for hefty eaters, and the heftiest treats of all are the lamb ribs, which are braised to a fatty tenderness and caked with a rich beet gremolata. If you’re still standing after a slab or two, I recommend the chocolate-hazelnut semifreddo or the cannoli for dessert. Beware: The latter come three to a plate, with ice cream.

Note

Many of these delicacies are available as part of the $25 prix fixe lunch.

Ideal Meal

Spiedini or crispy rabbit, chitarra pasta, lamb ribs, chocolate semifreddo.

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New York Magazine Reviews

5.5 "Mixed Reviews"
Average Reader Rating
on a Scale of 10
Write Your Own Review

PUSH YOU OUT!

foodisgod from 10022 | Posted on 5/22/08

Overall Reader Rating: 2 (Not Recommended)
Food: 6
Service: 2
Décor: 7
Value: 2

Enjoyed this restaurant very much on a first go although it was loud. My second visit ended in anger. As my party finished our first course the plates were quickly swept away (perhaps they needed them) same treatment with the next...Read More

More spices!

food_is_amazing from 10019 | Posted on 5/20/08

Overall Reader Rating: 7 (Recommended)
Food: 6
Service: 8
Décor: 7
Value: 6

So we tried Mia Dona, and we had the crispy rabbit, the risotto, the maple panna cotta. Good. No complaints, but not much to write home about, either. Where were the spices? The crispy rabbit could have been fried chicken (fried...Read More

Read All 4 Reviews >>

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