Clay is located on a charming brownstone-lined street just south of the cacophony of 125th Street. When the weather warms, the French doors open and tree-shaded sidewalk tables create a breezy indoor/outdoor vibe. Inside, the petite room features white-washed brick, pale grey walls and an inviting bar area where local residents nibble on the daily charcuterie selection and sip on a spritz. Pastas are the highlight of the menu, with offerings like squid ink calamarata with crab, Fresno chile and crispy garlic. Heartier eats include the duck leg confit sporting nicely rendered skin plated with smoky farro and braised collard greens. To cap things off, the chocolate budino is a decadent crowd-pleaser.