It's been a total culture crush at Lincoln Center. You're dizzy with dance or jazz or just the throng of thousands of New Yorkers at one of the great presentation halls in the city. Now you're ready to relax, drink, eat, think about the entertainment you just experienced.

Steps away, an easy walk even in 3" stilettos, Café Fiorello is holding a place for you. A breeze blows you through the door and to your choice of booth or antipasti bar seating. If you're with a group, take the floor choice so you can talk and better watch the stream of smart looking folks finding their places amidst the pampering of attentive though not fawning wait staff and delicious choices at Fiorello's. If you're by yourself or with a friend, take a seat at the antipasti bar. You'll be in the catbird seat. It's a fine location for a single person to feel comfortable or to strike up a conversation with someone nearby. Fiorello's is that kind of friendly place.

Designed like the prow of a great ship, the bar is laden with immense platters and bowls filled to heaping with anything but the usual. One might as well say: Bring on the anchovies (white at that!), beefsteak tomatoes, caponata, caramelized fennel, frittata del giorno, eggplant parmigiana, grilled portobellos, hot sausage, imported olives, lobster, mozzarella di bufala, polipo salad, prosciutto di parma, scallops, shrimp, Tuscan white beans and so much more.

Don't limit yourself; order what you love or would love to try with small or large plates of vegetables, antipasto and seafood and three or more choices for shockingly reasonable prices. Munch on the flatbread and breadsticks, sip some wine, watch the prosciutto being expertly sliced into tissue slices of succulence. Notice how often the heaping platters are replaced with fresh selections. Rely on diners coming up to the bar to choose their food. Observe the antipasti waiters selecting only the best morsels for each customer. The portions are generous, visual temptations. One can almost hear the zucchini and gratinato vying with each other: "Choose me!" "No, me!"

Will you have room for dessert? Maybe not. Order coffee and a liquor and have no regrets. Look at the menu and plan the next meal you'll have when you return to Café Fiorello.

Lincoln Center Plaza Photo © & courtesy of Susan Weinrebe

NYCB At Lincoln Center Photo © & courtesy of Susan Weinrebe

Intermission At Lincoln Center Photo © & courtesy of Susan Weinrebe

Fiorello's Antipasto Bar Photo © & courtesy of Susan Weinrebe

Choices At Fiorello's Photo © & courtesy of Susan Weinrebe