Hearth Restaurant

(212) 673-3650

403 E 12th St
New York, NY 10009 40.7301 -73.9832

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Neighborhoods: East Village, Downtown

RESTAURANTHEARTH.COM

Years in business

Established in 2003

Price:

$$$

Last updated 8.16.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Discover, Visa, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Local Favorite, Romantic Dining, People Watching, Online Reservations, Group Dining, Dine At The Bar, Notable Wine List, Bar Scene, Prix Fixe Menu

Cuisine:

New American, Traditional American, Italian

Notable Chef:

Marco Canora

What People Are Saying About Hearth Restaurant

Featured Review

Allison Austin

Contributor

The Scene – From the engaging and frank wine service to the homemade truffles that arrive at the end of your meal (personally delivered by the pastry chef, no less), service is strikingly deft for such a casual, comfortable restaurant. The two dining rooms, decorated with wooden tables and chairs and surrounded by exposed brick, are flush with good energy and conversation. – – The Food – Chef Marco Canora's cooking has an unusual clarity and restraint. Raw snapper could easily be overwhelmed by rosemary and lemon; in his hands, the combination is ethereal. Celery…

Editor's Tips

What to Drink:
The wine list is exciting and daring, and owner Paul Greico can be found kneeling next to tables, walking diners through the one-page list of seasonal options that might include a dry Greek red Karyda ($40). The wines by the glass are no less impressive, especially the Genot-Boulanger pinot noir ($10.50).
ambiance
96.96999549865723% positive
  1. Outstanding dinner, friendly and unpretentious atmosphere
  2. The atmosphere is wonderful, the service is excellent.
  3. Food is very, very good to just so-so, service is lovely and attentive to m.i.a., portions are reasonable to "delicate", ambience is warm, romantic and inviting to obnoxious and malodorous.
  4. You will enjoy one of the best restaurant experiences in NYC, with lovely food, great service and a nice ambiance.
  5. Warm atmosphere was a welcome from the cold.
  6. In all, Hearth has everything going for it, charming staff who enhance the dining experience, reasonable and exceeding worthwhile prices, a relaxed and inviting ambiance, and most importantly delicious food.
  7. Very cozy and comfortable ambience.
  8. Hearth is one of the best new restaurants to open in the past year - comfortable, fun, hip, and it has a great wine list and some of the best Italian-American food to be found anywhere.
  9. The flawless service and relaxed atmosphere raise the bar for all restaurants in the city.
  10. One of the most romantic places i've been to, cozy atmosphere, romantic lights, intimate, excellent (and wholly unexpected!)
  11. This restaurant looked so quaint on the outside, I was tremendously and happily surprised to find this place not only has great food, fantastic service but the cozy atmosphere of friends.
dessert
81.82000160217285% positive
  1. The initial host was very nice and sat us promptly, but once we sat and then mentioned to our server that we were going to have just drinks & dessert (it was 10:45PM), the mood changed drastically.
  2. While the starters and entrees were more than filling, I had to indulge in dessert.
  3. The food is great but the desserts are even better.
  4. The food WAS good, and we enjoyed it and ordered dessert, which was also wonderful.
  5. We had the tasting dinner for $75.00 quite lovely- kobe beef was excellent, I personally did not care for the coconut dessert but the rest was devine.
  6. They even wrote Happy Birthday on my dessert because my friend mentioned that it was my b-day on our way in.
  7. My veggie girlfriend's salad with beets, spinach cannelloni, side of gnocchi and milk chocolate tart were equally tasty.
  8. Maple cream was terrible too.
  9. We shared apple cider donuts with an apple compote and maple cream and an olive oil cake with burnt sugar icecream which was savory and delicious.
  10. They brought out our dessert so fast (it felt rushed), that my friend wasn't even back from the bathroom when it arrived.
  11. But the best part was the pecan tart for dessert - the warm pecans were perfectly complemented by the scrumptious sweet potato ice cream!
drinks
93.99999618530273% positive
  1. We all tried the House cocktails; none of them have good taste.
  2. The staff is incredibly knowledgeable and helpful, and the wine list is superb- full of classic great wines and new quirky discoveries, organized by region and producer, with a hefty after dinner drink menu.
  3. The initial host was very nice and sat us promptly, but once we sat and then mentioned to our server that we were going to have just drinks & dessert (it was 10:45PM), the mood changed drastically.
  4. we were already ordering our second bottle of wine before any 'real food' came, it would have helped if the bread was good, but it was almost stale.
  5. The flawless service and relaxed atmosphere raise the bar for all restaurants in the city.
  6. Decent service in the beginning but he knew nothing of wine and there was no sommelier.
  7. But the drinks are quite expensive.
  8. Wonderful wine list and great wines by the glass ($8-$12).
  9. Hearth is one of the best new restaurants to open in the past year - comfortable, fun, hip, and it has a great wine list and some of the best Italian-American food to be found anywhere.
  10. If you love the EV, you'll love Hearth for its original cuisine, impeccable service, and extensive wine list.
  11. While the food and drinks were amazing, what sets Hearth apart from so many NYC restaurants is the gracious, completely attitude-less staff, from the hostess who sincerely apologized for making us wait all of five minutes for our table, to the friendly an
  12. The staff was attentive and welcoming, the wine list offers an amazing selection and the food was outstanding.
  13. feel no need to go back to Hearth - although the wine list was impressive, and we got a great Zweigelt for $37 (one of the cheaper bottles).
  14. We are big wine people and the GM and most of the bartenders can always recommend a unique bottle of great wine.
  15. Both times knowledgeable servers walked us through an interesting and enjoyable wine list that my wife and I thoroughly enjoyed.
  16. The wine list had a number of very interesting options and seemed to have been put together with an eye on offering maximum value given the ridiculous American markup.
  17. An outstanding spot for wine and food lovers.
  18. to sit at the kitchen bar last time and we were served extra tastings of special dishes, and we got to enjoy the energy of the kitchen staff.
  19. Paul's wine selections were great and reasonable marked up.
  20. We started off with a pre-meal Spanish sherry-like wine that was absolutely perfect.
  21. The food was divine, the service lovely, the wine list impressive.
  22. The meal for two started out well, had a nice wine that matched the tasting menu.
  23. Great wine too.
  24. The wine list was a little confusing, and he really helped me out by making a great suggestion.
  25. Sensing I didn't like my original wine choice, our waitress suggested I try another and helped me choose a perfect glass to go with my meal.
food quality
88.97000312805176% positive
  1. Lobster ravioli was excellent as the scent of orange zest wafted towards us even before the plate was placed (abundant lobster meat).
  2. The food is really good - it sounds off the wall but it's exactly what you want.
  3. The staff was attentive and welcoming, the wine list offers an amazing selection and the food was outstanding.
  4. Would I have enjoyed the food as much if I did not have such excellent company?
  5. With our meal, Paul suggested a Lebanese red that was great.
  6. But the best part was the pecan tart for dessert - the warm pecans were perfectly complemented by the scrumptious sweet potato ice cream!
  7. The food is absolutely amazing - the gnocchi is the best I have ever had, the duck ravioli is amazing and I loved the lamb cooked three ways.
  8. In all, Hearth has everything going for it, charming staff who enhance the dining experience, reasonable and exceeding worthwhile prices, a relaxed and inviting ambiance, and most importantly delicious food.
  9. There are better places to enjoy a special meal.
  10. The service was impeccable and the food in my opinion was top notch.
  11. what a delicious menu.
  12. This restaurant looked so quaint on the outside, I was tremendously and happily surprised to find this place not only has great food, fantastic service but the cozy atmosphere of friends.
  13. The food is great but the desserts are even better.
  14. Though I promised to only order an app, a three course meal was in the works.
  15. The lamb was very good, cooked to perfection, but the sausage served with it was very dry.
  16. We shared apple cider donuts with an apple compote and maple cream and an olive oil cake with burnt sugar icecream which was savory and delicious.
  17. Save your money as you can get much better, quality, food & service else where for less money especially on the Lower East Side where great, reasonable restaurants abound.
  18. taste fresh at all.
  19. The food was excellent.
  20. The food WAS good, and we enjoyed it and ordered dessert, which was also wonderful.
  21. The calamara appetizer was just ok and was the one dish that was a little disappointing.
  22. This place is trying too hard to impart exotic flavors to their dishes and is missing the mark, resulting in hideous frankenstein-like combinations.
  23. We started off with a pre-meal Spanish sherry-like wine that was absolutely perfect.
  24. Desserts were tasty, but the "savory" dishes were very under-seasoned, and well, again, bland.
  25. My complaint is the food, if it was good, our table of 3 would have enjoyed the meal.
  26. didn't understand the previous reviews that complained about food quality or service issues as I have enjoyed two wonderful meals here.
  27. The Tortelli was also delicious--stuffed with goat cheese, beans, cabbages and mushrooms.
  28. definitely recommend the hen of the woods mushrooms as a side, the flavor lingers for days.
  29. The foie gras app and my lamb entree were delicious.
  30. Had a great meal on Sat.
  31. Alas, the meal itself was terrible, we can only remember that sometimes you try places that aren't worth it.
  32. The meal for two started out well, had a nice wine that matched the tasting menu.
  33. Good service, but the food is not that great for that price.
  34. nice finish to a good meal.
  35. The food was delicious.
  36. The braised octopus was great as was the woodhen mushrooms.
  37. good restaurant should pay attention to when their customers are ready for their food.
  38. The fresh ingredients were evident with each portion.
  39. We decided to get the $77 tasting menu, it was 5 courses, which is perfect - not too much food - but the dishes themselves were bland; there was nothing exciting or exceptional, and for $77 per person, there really should be.
  40. But the food is not really that great.
  41. Hearth is one of the best new restaurants to open in the past year - comfortable, fun, hip, and it has a great wine list and some of the best Italian-American food to be found anywhere.
  42. My veggie girlfriend's salad with beets, spinach cannelloni, side of gnocchi and milk chocolate tart were equally tasty.
  43. We were looking forward to a nice meal, instead for $50 including tip for each of us ($150 for our total bill ) we got food that was way over-hyped.
  44. The food was divine, the service lovely, the wine list impressive.
  45. The service is impeccable and the food is to die for.
  46. we were already ordering our second bottle of wine before any 'real food' came, it would have helped if the bread was good, but it was almost stale.
  47. The soup was incredibly flavorful and precisely the right portion size for a first course.
  48. The food was divine, with interesting and fresh ingredients from the Union Square Green Market.
  49. OK food, horrible service, go elsewhere!
  50. and high priced average to good food.
  51. In a city with as many good restaurants as New York, there's no need to trek down to the East Village to pay seriously extraordinary prices for such ordinary food.
  52. While the food and drinks were amazing, what sets Hearth apart from so many NYC restaurants is the gracious, completely attitude-less staff, from the hostess who sincerely apologized for making us wait all of five minutes for our table, to the friendly an
  53. to sit at the kitchen bar last time and we were served extra tastings of special dishes, and we got to enjoy the energy of the kitchen staff.
  54. Our food was divine, as always, lamb to die for.
  55. From the amuse soup to the petit fours, every bite was delicious.
  56. An outstanding spot for wine and food lovers.
  57. The food was decent tasting but nothing spectacular.
  58. The food runner who dropped off and explained the courses of the tasting menu was much more friendly and interested in our dining experience.
  59. Great service, better food, a top notch dining experience.
  60. The salad was AWFUL and inedible.
  61. would not say the food was terrible, but it was just OK.
  62. If you love the EV, you'll love Hearth for its original cuisine, impeccable service, and extensive wine list.
  63. I'd like to start by saying the food was great.
  64. Sensing I didn't like my original wine choice, our waitress suggested I try another and helped me choose a perfect glass to go with my meal.
  65. The citrus of the bld oranges was perfect with the slightly buttery fish.
  66. The food was good but too salty and nothig that special.
  67. And the food-truly great.
  68. You will enjoy one of the best restaurant experiences in NYC, with lovely food, great service and a nice ambiance.
  69. It's good food, don't get me wrong.
  70. The food was way overpriced, the portions were tiny (don't go if you are actually hungry) and the waitstaff is very inttentive and not helpful at all.
  71. We had the tasting dinner for $75.00 quite lovely- kobe beef was excellent, I personally did not care for the coconut dessert but the rest was devine.
menu variety
95.83000183105469% positive
  1. what a delicious menu.
  2. Waiters dressed in country barn style outfits (striped button downs, Levis jeans and girls hair up in buns) and the menu was all over $20/plate w/ not a lot of great options.
  3. The staff was attentive and welcoming, the wine list offers an amazing selection and the food was outstanding.
  4. The wine list had a number of very interesting options and seemed to have been put together with an eye on offering maximum value given the ridiculous American markup.
  5. My boyfriend and I had the tasting menu and we loved every course.
  6. The food runner who dropped off and explained the courses of the tasting menu was much more friendly and interested in our dining experience.
  7. Paul's wine selections were great and reasonable marked up.
  8. The meal for two started out well, had a nice wine that matched the tasting menu.
  9. The staff is incredibly knowledgeable and helpful, and the wine list is superb- full of classic great wines and new quirky discoveries, organized by region and producer, with a hefty after dinner drink menu.
  10. If you love the EV, you'll love Hearth for its original cuisine, impeccable service, and extensive wine list.
  11. We decided to get the $77 tasting menu, it was 5 courses, which is perfect - not too much food - but the dishes themselves were bland; there was nothing exciting or exceptional, and for $77 per person, there really should be.
  12. We had the tasting menu (the scallops with golden raisin reduction were my favorite), every course was flavorful and sumptuous, I was unceasingly impressed.
overall
100.0% positive
  1. wanted to make sure that I came back to see what a great restaurant it really is, and I was definitely convinced!
  2. You will enjoy one of the best restaurant experiences in NYC, with lovely food, great service and a nice ambiance.
  3. What a great restaurant!
  4. This is a great place.
  5. It really evokes the quality of its name - we went weekend before last when it was cold and wet outside, and Hearth was a great place to warm up.
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. feel no need to go back to Hearth - although the wine list was impressive, and we got a great Zweigelt for $37 (one of the cheaper bottles).
service
90.64999580383301% positive
  1. Upon arrival, we were greeted by a pleasant hostess and a large, spare dining room with padded carpet strips on one wall.
  2. Decent service in the beginning but he knew nothing of wine and there was no sommelier.
  3. Sensing I didn't like my original wine choice, our waitress suggested I try another and helped me choose a perfect glass to go with my meal.
  4. We are big wine people and the GM and most of the bartenders can always recommend a unique bottle of great wine.
  5. Great service, better food, a top notch dining experience.
  6. If you love the EV, you'll love Hearth for its original cuisine, impeccable service, and extensive wine list.
  7. Our server was amiable without being overly solicitous.
  8. The staff was attentive and welcoming, the wine list offers an amazing selection and the food was outstanding.
  9. didn't understand the previous reviews that complained about food quality or service issues as I have enjoyed two wonderful meals here.
  10. Food is very, very good to just so-so, service is lovely and attentive to m.i.a., portions are reasonable to "delicate", ambience is warm, romantic and inviting to obnoxious and malodorous.
  11. Outstanding dinner, friendly and unpretentious atmosphere
  12. The flawless service and relaxed atmosphere raise the bar for all restaurants in the city.
  13. Our waiter was attentive and knowledgeable.
  14. to sit at the kitchen bar last time and we were served extra tastings of special dishes, and we got to enjoy the energy of the kitchen staff.
  15. The service is impeccable and the food is to die for.
  16. You will enjoy one of the best restaurant experiences in NYC, with lovely food, great service and a nice ambiance.
  17. Both times knowledgeable servers walked us through an interesting and enjoyable wine list that my wife and I thoroughly enjoyed.
  18. The service was attentive and helpful.
  19. Hearth: definition: bad service, small portions.
  20. The service and execution was excellent by any measure and is all the more noteworthy when considering that the restaurant is so young.
  21. The wait staff were extremely helpful and attentive, I would not change anything.
  22. The atmosphere is wonderful, the service is excellent.
  23. The initial host was very nice and sat us promptly, but once we sat and then mentioned to our server that we were going to have just drinks & dessert (it was 10:45PM), the mood changed drastically.
  24. This restaurant looked so quaint on the outside, I was tremendously and happily surprised to find this place not only has great food, fantastic service but the cozy atmosphere of friends.
  25. The staff is incredibly knowledgeable and helpful, and the wine list is superb- full of classic great wines and new quirky discoveries, organized by region and producer, with a hefty after dinner drink menu.
  26. The waiter was great, very helpful.
  27. The food was divine, the service lovely, the wine list impressive.
  28. Good service, but the food is not that great for that price.
  29. But if I had to make just one comment, it'd be this: the people at Hearth know what a great dining experience is supposed to be like, they work very hard to make it happen, and they succeed.
  30. Everyone (hostess, waiters, busboys) at the place is pleasant, friendly and attentive.
  31. The service was impeccable and the food in my opinion was top notch.
  32. Save your money as you can get much better, quality, food & service else where for less money especially on the Lower East Side where great, reasonable restaurants abound.
  33. Everyone on the staff was very helpful and friendly.
  34. The host, waitress, bartender and runners were all very friendly.
  35. OK food, horrible service, go elsewhere!
  36. In all, Hearth has everything going for it, charming staff who enhance the dining experience, reasonable and exceeding worthwhile prices, a relaxed and inviting ambiance, and most importantly delicious food.
  37. The food runner who dropped off and explained the courses of the tasting menu was much more friendly and interested in our dining experience.
  38. The service is very good.
  39. The service was very pleasant and not overbearing at all (we had a lot to catch up on, and the waiter recognized that).
  40. While the food and drinks were amazing, what sets Hearth apart from so many NYC restaurants is the gracious, completely attitude-less staff, from the hostess who sincerely apologized for making us wait all of five minutes for our table, to the friendly an
  41. The service was extremely slow and the waiter was very opinionated.
value
64.28999900817871% positive
  1. Everything that came out of the kitchen was wonderful, it was just that everything else about the place was so sterile and unremarkable, the restaurant lacked as an overall experience especially for the money.
  2. In all, Hearth has everything going for it, charming staff who enhance the dining experience, reasonable and exceeding worthwhile prices, a relaxed and inviting ambiance, and most importantly delicious food.
  3. Alas, the meal itself was terrible, we can only remember that sometimes you try places that aren't worth it.
  4. This restaurant is a step above most and is a great value.
  5. Food is very, very good to just so-so, service is lovely and attentive to m.i.a., portions are reasonable to "delicate", ambience is warm, romantic and inviting to obnoxious and malodorous.
  6. Hearth: definition: bad service, small portions.
  7. Save your money as you can get much better, quality, food & service else where for less money especially on the Lower East Side where great, reasonable restaurants abound.
  8. Good service, but the food is not that great for that price.
  9. We had guests from LA this weekend, real foodies who the evening prior had spent huge $ at midtown high end place (name withheld).
  10. The wine list had a number of very interesting options and seemed to have been put together with an eye on offering maximum value given the ridiculous American markup.
  11. But the drinks are quite expensive.
  12. In a city with as many good restaurants as New York, there's no need to trek down to the East Village to pay seriously extraordinary prices for such ordinary food.
  13. the portions were small-and please note that we were a table of mostly Italians with fine tuned palets-used to meager portions big on taste-but this was average.
  14. The food was way overpriced, the portions were tiny (don't go if you are actually hungry) and the waitstaff is very inttentive and not helpful at all.
wait time
50.0% positive
  1. While the food and drinks were amazing, what sets Hearth apart from so many NYC restaurants is the gracious, completely attitude-less staff, from the hostess who sincerely apologized for making us wait all of five minutes for our table, to the friendly an
  2. The service was extremely slow and the waiter was very opinionated.
3 Star Rating: Average

08/02/10

Expensive Italian Cuisine

by Athena Chang , Citysearch Contributor

I read a lot of reviews online about Hearth and I wanted to take advantage of their Red Sauce Sundays. I finally got here and was excited to try out their food. But I ended up being quite disappointed.

With the Red Sauce Sundays, you get an appetizer, an entree and a dessert. I got the caesar salad, meatball pasta and Espresso over vanilla ice cream.

The caesar salad was good but I mean you can't really go wrong with caesar?!? The meatball pasta is just plain. The sauce is lacking seasoning and the meatballs are not even simmered enough to grasp all the flavors as they should have. Unfortunately, I think the best of my dishes is the dessert. Espresso was strong and vanilla ice cream tastes artisan.

My boyfriend's dishes were slightly better. He got the shrimp scampi and they were pretty flavorful but again they are small portion and really just shrimps and nothing else.

The panna cotta was creamy and milky soft. Again, this is probably the highlight of his meal too.

I won't pay $50 per person for all these. Service was outstanding but not enough to make up for the lack of flavor.

  • Pros: Very attentive service
  • Cons: Pricey and average food
2 Star Rating: Below Average

10/26/09

All around lukewarm

by petersondr

I am a NYC fine dining regular and was excited to give Hearth a shot after numerous excellent reviews. Upon arrival, we were greeted by a pleasant hostess and a large, spare dining room with padded carpet strips on one wall. Hearth has a large, complicated wine list that is likely excellent by-the-bottle, but too highbrow if going by-the-glass. After plenty of consultation with our server, we opted for the autumn tasting menu with one substitution. The salad course was not remarkable, with light dressing reminiscent of Henri's Tas-tee on the pear and pecorino salad. Next, came lukewarm pumpkin ravioli that was so sweet it made my teeth ache, like a too-rich dessert. The main course was venison (again, lukewarm), which was overcooked and which the server smartly and subtly tried to warn me off. I should have taken her advice. My wife substituted the duck, which was excellent and the best thing we ate that evening. The apple crisp dessert was very basic and very good. In the end, I was turned off by the coldness of the dining room and the average quality of the food, especially at those prices.

  • Pros: Great duck
  • Cons: Chilly dining room, average food, high prices
3 Star Rating: Average

12/28/08

Average

by ajk1

Average New American restaurant. Nothing special about it, but nothing bad about it either. Ambiance is a bit dark, but it caters to a large group and casual couple dining.

  • Pros: Ambiance
  • Cons: For all the hype, food could've been better
3 Star Rating: Average

12/08/08

Enjoyable Dinner

by wetzel

I met a couple of friends at Hearth for dinner on a Saturday night.

We decided to share so we carefully scanned the menu for the items that appealed to us the most. We selected the braised veal breast , the pumpkin ortelli , and the beet salad.

The service was timely. The food was tasty and well prepared. The decor was modern and welcoming. It's just, for some strange reason, nothing stands out as excellent.

And then we had dessert. We selected the chai spice cake. A nice finish to a good meal.

Would I have enjoyed the food as much if I did not have such excellent company? Perhaps. It's all part of the experience.

It was enjoyable. I would eat there again.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

11/17/08

Phenomenal!

by ValW

This is hands down, one of the best restaurants in New York City! My boyfriend and I went on Friday night for our one year anniversary, and the experience was amazing. We had a reservation, but we requested a seat overlooking the kitchen and the hostess was extremely accomodating. I highly reccommend the seats overlooking the kitchen - you can watch the chefs as you dine and you get a firsthand look at all the care and preparation that is put into each dish. The service was wonderful and the food is divine. I highly highly reccomend the chicken with autumn vegetables - it was cooked to perfection and each bite was heaven. My boyfriend had the sturgeon wrapped in prosciutto, which he said was the best he has ever had. I think our waiter overhead that we we there for our anniversary, and he sent a side of gnocchi over with the food- each piece melted in my mouth - it was amazing! Not only is the food exceptional, but service of the waitstaff and chefs is one in a million. It is worth every penny. Hearth provided me with one of the best dining experiences I have ever had!

  • Pros: Service, food, wine ambience
  • Cons: None

The Details on Hearth Restaurant

Place Categories:

  • good italianamerican food
  • good restaurant
  • great high end place
  • cozy relaxed atmosphere
  • attentive wait staff
  • great premeal spanish sherrylike wine
  • nice special meal
  • perfect everything
  • friendly everyone
  • much more friendly food runner
  • way overpriced food
  • sumptuous course
  • outstanding early dinner
  • wonderful dessert
  • great waiter
  • attentive busboys
  • fresh ingredients
  • very interesting options
  • comfortable very
  • knowledgeable waitstaff
  • amazing drinks
  • only order foie gras app
  • savory dish
  • great service
  • great top notch dining experience
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