"La Pecora Bianca is expanding once again. The popular Italian spot, which first opened in Nomad in 2015, will be opening its largest location yet on Bryant Park at the new Park Terrace Hotel at 18 West 40th St. next summer. Beyond the antipasti and pasta at the other locations, the menu will expand to dishes from a wood-fired oven and a pastry kitchen that serves a take-out bakery up front with paninis, pastries made in-house, and seasonal focaccia owner Mark Barak says. The restaurant will also provide room service for the hotel. Popular stand-bys from chef Cruz Goler such as gramigna with pork sausage, broccolini, chili flakes, and garlic; gnudi with sheep’s milk ricotta; and cauliflower with pickled raisins, almonds, and mascarpone will also be on the menu. While the initial restaurant was a rustic room, and the Midtown offshoot had a more residential feel with bookcases and iconic photos, this 200-seat rendition will lean Mediterranean. Barak is going for an Amalfi coast vibe with blue accents against a black-and-white room. It’s been a rapid rise for the stylish Italian restaurant, which since opening in 2015 has spread to now three locations." - Beth Landman