Class (and Donuts) in West Chelsea

At the risk of being a neighborhood whore (too late), west Chelsea deserves some attention for one of its most western outposts.

Tucked in on 10th by the West Side Highway across from Chelsea Market sits a string of very notable spots, including the no-holds-barred, classy-as-class-gets Del Posto, the curious Willow Road, and a great discovery called Colicchio & Sons. Gorgeous inside, with a towering slim slice of glass retaining hundreds of wine bottles behind a shiny bar with liquor and taps galore, its "Tap Room" is a great place for lunch or dinner.

Different than the "MDR" (Main Dining Room as our charming server Brian noted), the Tap Room is the more casual of the two, appointed tastefully for fall (stacks of firewood and a few pumpkins, as opposed to the ubiquitous spiderweb and haystack circus) and very comfortable. The brunch menu features some pretty upscale egg treatments, but the whole menu couldn't have listed more than 20 items. A confident offering.

Again, the service surprises -- warm, helpful, funny -- you want to be friends with these people. Not to be missed.

Basics: http://www.craftrestaurantsinc.com/colicchio-and-sons/

Be Advised: Nothing on the menu looked bad. The duck confit is outstanding, the cavatelli homey and delicious, and if you leave without trying the lemon thyme glazed donuts (donuts are a house specialty, designed by their very expert pastry chef), the only one who will miss out on life is you.