In true Milanese style, Nomad Girl is an all-day café and ristorante in the heart of Nomad, which has become known as a hotbed of luxury condos anchored by an increasing number of posh hotels. Nomad Girl sits in the heart of Nomad’s new Piazza and joins the neighborhood’s concentration of trendy bars, lounges and restaurants, set to be a destination to connect with friends and linger over classic Italian specialties. The restaurant was conceived by hospitality veterans Alex Cesaria and Rich Simeone who met in Aspen, Colorado.
Alex Cesaria was born in Milan, Italy before traveling the globe and landing in New York City several years ago. First venturing into the art world, Alex owned and operated UniX art gallery in Miami and New York. He opened his first restaurant, Il Piccolo Ristoro in Chelsea in 2017, attracting a well-heeled crowd until it was forced to close due to the pandemic. Rich Simeone, who began his career as an attorney, has been in the industry for over 25 years with a portfolio of more than 30 casual and upscale restaurants throughout Florida, California, Colorado, and New York. This partnership combines their expertise—Alex’s creativity, and Rich’s ambition for discipline and scalability. Both demand quality and consistency as a part of their new brand.
The duo’s creative take on Nomad Girl is unfussy Italian cuisine that gives attention to high-quality organic ingredients. Several of its authentic, Italian menu items were created through a collaboration with Chef Fernando Baez (formerly of Bottega del Vino).
Nomad Girl is set in a modern and stylishly designed space with gray-washed walls. A chic, steel front bar is met with the warm brown tones backlit with soft lighting. The overall interior uses hues of nudes and cappuccino browns, alongside wooden furniture, hanging plants, and art from Alex’s UniX gallery to give the restaurant a relaxed feel.
My guest and I started our meal with drinks (as always). I decided to order the We Are Old Fashion (bourbon, simple syrup, lavender bitters, & smoked rosemary) and my guest decided to order the Nomad Girl True Blue (tequila, blue matcha, lemon juice, simple syrup, topped with club soda). I absolutely loved this Old Fashioned. It was familiar yet different all at once; it was so enjoyable I had a second round. I had a sip of my guest’s drink and it was enjoyable as well; perfect for summer!
For appetizers, we shared the Wagyu Carpaccio (served with arugula salad, shaved parmesan and mustard sauce) and the Prosciutto e Mozzarella (Prosciutto di Parma (aged 24 months) served with Bufala Mozzarella). The Wagyu Carpaccio is a must-try. I love how the wagyu blended perfectly with the parmesan (both flavors could be quite overwhelming but worked so well together) The salad with the mustard sauce was a nice touch. The freshness of the prosciutto and mozzarella should not be understated as well. Both of these apps are definitely worth an order.
I had to get the Prime Original Skirt Steak for my main course (with arugula salad and parmigiano) and my guest enjoyed the Pollo Milanese (breaded original chicken breast with arugula salad and shaved parmigiano). I order my steak medium and it was cooked to perfection. We had a side of mashed potatoes to go with our mains as well as the Trofie Pesto e Burrata (basil, pesto and cherry tomato) and they were both amazing! I recommend the Trofie, not because you can’t go to an Italian restaurant and not order pasta, but because the freshness and flavors will only elevate your meal. My main course is truly what stands out in my mind when I think of Nomad Girl and will be a huge reason for my return. For dessert, we shared a light and delicious Tiramisu.
I really enjoyed my time at Nomad Girl and it absolutely made my list of restaurants for those looking for quality Italian in the city. Stop by Nomad Girl today, enjoy high-quality Italian and thank me later. nomadgirl.nyc
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