Marco Polo Café

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Nope, the infamous Marco Polo in Carroll Gardens (you know, the place with valet parking?) hasn't crossed the bridge. While this East Village spot doesn't offer curbside check-in, it does come equipped with a gimmick: Like the explorer for which it's named, Marco Polo Café bridges East and West. The husband/wife team behind this venture, Stefano and Huihui Magadinno, offer a dining experience that draws from his Italian heritage and her Chinese background. Most of the dishes fall squarely into one camp or the other (a variety of steamed buns, penne with bison meatballs), but a few push the fusion boundaries (Moo Goo Gai Panini with grilled chicken, shiitake mushrooms, fontina cheese and caramelized onions). Joining the list of uber-cute schtick is the "dumpalini" combo plate featuring a mix of dumplings and ravioli. We're still not sure if it's genius or lunacy, but the culinary chutzpah sure sets Marco Polo apart in a notoriously competitive neighborhood.

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East Village restaurants, New York restaurants