Antonioni's

This Lower East Side corner alcove pays homage to Michelangelo Antonioni mainly in that it's Italian and has a timeless, cool vibe. While many of the director's movies exposed the blight of alienation, that's not at all the intention at Antonioni's, where intimate conversations take place in leather booths and faces are warmed by little lamps set on red-checked tablecloths. Circus animal wallpaper is another cheering touch. Owner Luc Levy, also behind Cafe Gitane, enlisted artist Amy Grantham for the charming, whimsical hand-painted plates. Chef Andrea Taormina and his team load them up with ample portions of fried artichokes, robustly flavored pasta and chicken marsala with wild mushrooms. The thin-crust pizza here is also first-rate.