Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca, opened by Mario Batali and Joseph Bastianich in June 1998, is an exuberant celebration of the best of Italian food, wine and lifestyle.

Hailed with a glowing 3-star review by Ruth Reichl of the New York Times shortly after its opening, Babbo has since been met with much critical acclaim, and was the recipient of the James Beard Foundation's Best New Restaurant Award for 1998. The menu is a roster of Chef Mario Batali's lusty creations, incorporating the best and freshest seasonal produce, Italian cheeses, meat, game and seafood, accented with fine Italian olive oils, traditional aceto balsamico and many unusual ingredients that will surprise and delight. The wine list represents one of the most extensive and intelligent collections in the city, and indeed the country, presided over by Bastianich and Beverage Director David Lynch and served by our expert wine and service teams. Babbo seats up to 90 diners in its split-level dining room, and has a lively bar area where patrons may enjoy a quartino (quarter-liter) of wine, or choose to have a full meal. We are located steps from Washington Square Park, in the center of romantic and colorful Greenwich Village.

Also visit Mario Batali's own website: www.mariobatali.com

IACP cookbook award winners and Italian gastronomy experts Joseph Bastianich and David Lynch return with their second book — VINO ITALIANO BUYING GUIDE: The Ultimate Quick Reference to the Great Wines of Italy. As a pocket sized companion to their acclaimed VINO ITALIANO: The Regional Wines of Italy, this is the only guide to simplify the complexities of Italian wines, regions, grapes, producers, and standards.

Joe Bastianich, co-owner of Babbo, and David Lynch, Beverage Director of Babbo, explore the regions of Italian wine in their new book, Vino Italiano.