Cipriani Downtown

Doesn't Recommend

onecreativei

Joined 6 years ago

Avoid this old relic!. With their current $10 million IRS tax evasion charge and the possibility of the feds shutting them down and the owners going to jail, I thought we should see what the fuss is all about. The man guarding the entrance in the way too tight tuxedo asked "doo... you have a... re...ser...va...cion?" I almost started laughing because it reminded me of a Steve Martin bit. Clearly he was no more french than the actor Antonio Banderez whom he looked like. It should have sent us running but there were four (one whom is an out of country house-guest) of us and we were hungry. We were seated at a cramped table pushed into the corner of the room. It was a warm, humid night but they had the doors open onto the sidewalk which was not very comfortable and it allowed flies and mosquitos to fly about and feast on us while we waited for our dinner. I don't mind mosquitos when I'm outdoors, but when you're at a "fine restaurant" spending a few hundred dollars for dinner, I prefer to be the host for our guests and not the mosquitos. It would have been appropriate if they included a can of Raid with the salty bread sticks. We ordered: I had their home made pasta with smoked bacon and when it arrived it was overly greasy and looked like a child's portion on a medium sized plate. And the sauce we buy at Whole Foods (Fabello) is superior. I'm not a big man but come on, it was insulting. I expected more for my $25 meal. And $12 for a bottle of flat water? It's obvious this place is coasting on a reputation created from a bygone era and services mostly tourists and the euro crowd who don't care about the food as much as being seen there. It's pre-ten-tious. The food is average. And it's extremely over priced. Save your money and your time.

Recommends

ldk2126

Joined 6 years ago

just okay. i was so excited to try cipriani. the place was jammed (which i expected) and my friend and i were told it would be a 5 minute wait. after 30 minutes, we continued to check in with the host, who assured us that we were next. we were waiting for 1 hour before we were seated (people who came in after us were seated first--when we asked the host about this he mumbled something, but couldn't provide us with an answer). belinis were tasty (not overally special) and the food was just okay--salads were wonderful, pasta was SO tasteless (and i'm pretty easy to please when it comes to pasta!). after we sat down the service was great. i just think there are enough fun places in NYC to people watch AND have incredible food. cipriani, on this particular day, is not one of those places.

Doesn't Recommend

sleepyrobot

Joined 6 years ago

Why do people go here? It's terrible.. TERRIBLE service. Mediocre, poorly presented, over-priced food. And yet somehow they have buzz. AVOID.

Recommends

westvillage189

Joined 6 years ago

Go Elsewhere. Maybe the worst culinary experience I've ever had in New York. The maitre'd is incredibly rude and yelled at his waitstaff. There are a million waiters - probably a 1-to-1 ratio - but somehow the service is horrible. My friend had a chocolate cake spilled on him and no one offered to pay for the dry cleaning. A waiter took my meal when I was halfway finished. The food is mediocre and incredibly over-priced ($25 hamburger and $17 mimosas). The space is way too crowded, so much so that the people watching isn't even enjoyable.

Recommends

Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

Editorial Review by Citysearch Editors. Soho outpost of the chichi, celeb-baiting Italian restaurant features a heated outdoor area and an exclusive members-only bar.

Doesn't Recommend

jayabras

Joined 7 years ago

Avoid like a plague. I have dined at many top restaurants during my travels in Europe and Asia, and Cipriani Downtown is very far removed from the top. The maitre'd or manager is rude and had an attitude (he doesn't realize that he's a only a chief server). My party was told to come back2 hours later at 10pm even though there were many empty tables (on a Wednesday night). Food was mediocre for an overpriced selection. Don't waste your time at this establishment. The owner of Cipriani should consider replacing his senior staff if he's serious about his business.

Recommends

b52

Joined 7 years ago

great service, beautiful and friendly people. girls night out! we went there on friday night to celebrate my 30th birthday.we were promptly seated outside. 10 minutes after that we realize that girl seating next to our table is penelope cruz with some friends. wow..waiter was very friendly, food was good, i recommend chillian seabas and calamari. lot of sexi men, models, artist, fealthy rich people. feels like in IVY rest. in beverly hills.

Recommends

ritzgirl21

Joined 10 years ago

Treated Like a Principessa. I guess I'm a regular now. I keep coming back to this adored establishment and really find no fault in the killer bellinis and wonderful service. I love the way the servers treat me. They go out of their way to give complimentary menu items and great seating. The atmosphere may be even better than the food. The best thing to order is the fra diavlo, calamari, or proscuitto. Anything with Chip's name on it is a class act.

Doesn't Recommend

motheryammy

Joined 7 years ago

Is this " the Cipriani ? ". Who is the chef ???? I cook better and who is the manager ??? drop the attitude

Education please............go back home stop fake

Recommends

nikanix

Joined 7 years ago

fun but not dazzling. I went with a Tuesday night party hosted by a promoter and was comped and also got to sample alot of really good appetizers! The broccoli rabe, aspargus, and scallops are notable, and the mixed vegetables are pretty yummy, as are the signature bellinis. The food is good but not amazing; true gourmands may be dissapointed, as people go for the food, the scene, the crowd, the name, the experience, etc. It isn't as pricey as I expected although it isn't cheap (entrees range from 20-35$). The crowd was pretty strange-- alot of tacky, flashy people with too much $ and not enough taste. I assume uptown is more sedated, elegant, and refined, as this one is honestly a bit declasse. Also, I think this one is considered trendy by Eurotrash, as there was an international crowd with money to burn but without much breeding or class to back it up. Made for a pretty fun experience though! The party I was with was great- a mix of models, photographers, artists, actresses, fun, beautiful people, etc. The upstairs is a sort of nightclub filled with tall, skinny women, eurotrash, and bankers. Pretty typical. I would go back, but it isn't a must-do. I would eat dinner there again, but not if I were paying. If I were to spend a decent amount of cash on dinner, I'd go someplace with EXCELLENT, not just "really good" food. But, if parents or friends were treating, I would go, knowing I would have fun, but not super-exciting time. Tuesday is fun, Sunday night is a model karaoke party upstairs.