The best entree sampled was a fall-away-tender osso buco special served over saffron rice.
Much better were a white-chocolate-yogurt and banana napoleon; a strawberry-rhubarb shortcake special served with house-made ice cream; and the refreshing homemade sorbets.
The wild-tuna sashimi a glistening, garnet dinner special, served alongside fermented yuzu zest spiked with chili pepper is the ultimate revelation.
At Casa Nonna, 310 West 38th Street (Eighth Avenue), in the Garment District, an all-you-can-eat meatball special served with a side of pasta and a full carafe of wine is $35.
The Nasi Babi Guling special — served with a fiery red sauce over local greens, cooked jackfruit and coconut-infused rice — is 25,000 rupiah (about $2.70 at 9,241 rupiah to the dollar).
A pennette pasta special (served as an appetizer or entree) came with his oyster mushrooms, artichoke hearts and broccoli rabe in a fennel cream sauce that combined the sweet and the savory to great effect.
We also liked the prime rib (a special, served medium rare as ordered) teamed with a very creamy potato gratin and assorted varieties of baby squash, and a light version of a Reuben sandwich made with turkey and homemade sauerkraut.
The daily specials, served from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, include a huge cup of soup, rice or potato, fresh vegetable, beverage and dessert.
What they are eating, if a recent lunchtime visit was representative, are daily specials served from steaming stainless-steel vats, the kind you might find in a high school cafeteria.
The specials served as lead actor David Tennant's denouement as the Tenth Doctor.
