Mary Langan

This was definitely a unique dining experience and in its own way it was memorable.

I have never been in such a tiny restaurant with so little space to maneuver. The wait staff literally pulls tables away from the wall for you to slide onto the wall side bench and then pushes it back towards you - every inch matters here. This restaurant is a bit of a machine - the waitstaff is very present and urging you onwards through your meal, they turn over tables quickly. I can see why the place was humming - people come because it's the most affordable Indian food around.

But the food itself is not memorable at all. The decor is one of a kind but all I could think of was how difficult it must be to properly clean all those strings of lights (to the point where I highly doubt they do get cleaned). If you want affordable Indian food in a restaurant setting in lower Manhattan this fits that bill.

Would not recommend if you are a person of size (either height or width really) nor a wheel chair user nor if you have significant mobility issues.

Our visit to the sculpture garden was supposed to be a prequel to the museum as we waited for it to open. But we enjoyed it so much we stayed and explored it for a couple more hours. So many interesting and beautiful pieces in a tranquil shaded space. Really enjoyed all the water elements as well. We had a lot of fun trying to predict the names of the pieces as we approached them. We were generally always wrong but it helped us look at each piece more thoughtfully. For the parts of the garden that are less shaded I recommend you bring a hat, water, sunscreen and perhaps even an umbrella. Otherwise you'll be more tempted to cut your visit short because of the sun and heat.

Arthur Avenue is chocked full of Italian/Italian American restaurants, we picked San Gennaro for lunch because of the enclosed sunny seating area and very hospitable front of the house team. The restaurant turned out to be a lovely choice - the staff were friendly and attentive, the atmosphere was what we were hoping for and the food was tasty. The chef was accommodating of vegetarians and we ended up with the gnudi, paparadelle with mushrooms and a ravioli marinara. The gnudi was recommended by the waiter and was definitely the strongest dish - absolutely delicious. The limoncello marscapone cake was another winner. San Gennaro is a solid choice among the many winners of Arthur Ave.

Mezza Luna's food is delicious and it's a overall lovely experience. The arancini and house salads that come with the meal slow down the pace of dinner a bit (in a positive way). It's a BYOB located across from a liquor store so there's no hardship there. I always wish there were a few more vegetarian options on the menu but I've never had a problem ordering something tasty. One option is a vegetarian take on paparadelle boscaiola, you won't be disappointed. I haven't been downstairs since the renovations but I recommend the street level/main floor level seating, downstairs is a bit more appropriate for larger gatherings.