The minute I peered into the front window of the East River Café and saw Albert’s fingers flying past the ivory keys of the piano, I knew my choice for dinner was made. And the minute the door opened and the sweet sound of Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon” danced through the garlic-laced air, I knew my choice was a perfect one at that.

Finding the right blend of cleanliness, quality, freshness, service, taste and ambiance in a New York City restaurant can be as difficult as finding a vacant taxi in a rainstorm. But East River Café, located on First Avenue at 61st Street, offers everything – even if it’s not on the menu. When I read through the appetizers and saw Bruschetta missing, I was mildly disappointed until the chef specially whipped up an order that was so fresh and tasty that it made me wonder if I should specially order my entire meal.

“If we have the ingredients in the house, we’re happy to make something special,” says owner Sam Marcos, whose Egyptian heritage and former wife’s Sicilian roots fused to create a menu full of Mediterranean and Italian cuisine. “We try to please our crowd as much as we can. Then again we can’t do too much or we’ll be out of hands in the kitchen.”

Choosing an entrée among the many exquisite selections wasn’t easy, but Executive Chef Paolo Nozzoli’s trademark olive dip and fresh-baked breads kept my stomach happy in the meantime. The menu boasts five types of homemade gnocchi, and while I usually avoid the thick potato pasta altogether, the Brie cheese and pesto sauce option placed my diet temporarily on hold.

“Our ingredients are fresh,” says Marcos. “Our Ricotta cheese comes from Florence, Italy, and it’s delivered once a week.”

The light, airy texture of the gnocchi along with the decadent, creamy sauce made them worth the exception, and the portion was something Goldilocks would have approved of – not too big or too small.

“We try to make sure our customers leave our place happy, but it’s not necessary to go home with a doggie bag,” says Marcos.

The personal attention of the waiter coupled with the reasonable prices – most entrees fall below $20 – made me enjoy the visit and want to plan another. But the real fun started when our plates and cappuccino cups were cleared and we relocated to the bar. On a Saturday night the classy crowd is buzzing, and Patrick, the cheery bartender who’s been in business more than 30 years, keeps the stories flowing as freely as the drinks. His pleasant disposition and tales of everything from relationships to careers makes an after-dinner Tia Maria at the bar almost as good as any dessert on the menu, even the Cannoli alla Siciliana.

“Patrick is one of the last dinosaurs in town,” Marcos says. “It’s very hard to find someone like him. The unique thing about him is he really entertains the crowd. He feels his job is to perform, not just serve drinks.”

In the 12 years the restaurant has been open, its patrons have included everyone from Sopranos mob boss James Gandolfini to former news anchor Dan Rather to comic and Broadway star Jackie Mason. But one thing at East River Café is clear: you don’t have to be a celebrity to be treated like one!