Morandi Restaurant

The Scene – Baltahazar, Pastis and Schiller's whiz Keith McNally exits bistro-ville with this West Village trattoria. Decor matches the outfits of the de rigeur crowd that pack the place--serious cash has been spent to make everything look worn-in. Brick arches span the long room, stressed wood forms rafters on the low ceilings, and straw-wrapped wine carafes line the shelves. Not worn-in enough, however, is the awkward, hovering service. – – The Food – The major pleasures of the prettified trattoria menu come from minor dishes, like an addictive bowl of olives stuffed…

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Editor's Tips

Outdoor Dining:: Sidewalk seating is available come the warmer seasons.
What to Drink:: In addition to a list of more than 200 bottles, there are 20 Italian wines available by the glass, half-carafe or carafe--ask to try a sample first.
Lunch Spot:: Dishes like duck breast panini and Meyer lemon risotto comprise the menu, a stripped-down version of dinner's offerings.
Know Before You Go:: Entrees don't come with sides; split a few for the table, in light of the fact that dishes of grilled raddicio and broccoli rabe cost $7 a pop.

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User Reviews (44)

ambiance	66.66999816894531% positive	“In downtown Manhattan, these things usually mean you've picked a good spot for a fun afternoon or evening.” “No pretense here at all - just good food, good service, great location.” “this place is great fun!” “The decor is atrocious, with low ceilings, awkward room layout and horrible wine bottles with grass skirts lining each wall.” “If your idea of a fun night is eating mediocre slop in the crowded steam-room of the David Barton gym then Pastisio, sorry, Morandi is your place!” “ll speed it up: the entrees & desserts were all solid/good/even great, each of them, and Salvatore our friendly server (the perfect, edited amount of friendliness New Yorkers feel comfortable with) was magically there to take yet another wine order and to”
dessert	100.0% positive	“Finally, we had the Budino for dessert, which was also delicious.” “ll speed it up: the entrees & desserts were all solid/good/even great, each of them, and Salvatore our friendly server (the perfect, edited amount of friendliness New Yorkers feel comfortable with) was magically there to take yet another wine order and to” “The food was absolutely delicious, starter, pasta, lamb shank, dessert and coffee.” “The pastas are fresh, the antipasti fresher and the desserts are what desserts are supposed to be: hearty simply and terrible for you.” “For dessert we had the tiramisu which was good but I have had better.” “Dessert was the lemon cake and tartufo all of which was so good.” “just loved the gnocchi, but when desserts came - OH MY!”
drinks	83.33000183105469% positive	“... paired with the perfect wine (recommended by a very professional waiter who knows his wine list well)” “Yes, we waited an hour and a half without a reservation, but we came prepared to do so and it was far from unpleasant - we grabbed a spot at the bar where the bartenders were extremely attentive and we were able to order items from the main menu to tie us” “The food is exceptional and the house wines are delicious.” “great wine and food” “Morandi's is expensive, serving weak drinks by barmen with an attitude.” “The funniest thing was that our waiter talked us out of a wine purchase and steered us to a less expensive bottle - excellent training!” “The decor is atrocious, with low ceilings, awkward room layout and horrible wine bottles with grass skirts lining each wall.” “The food was good the wine in question excellent, and at 135 it should have been -but you can go to BOTTINO's in chelsea and get the same food and a much better enviroment.” “This is the place for great food and wine.” “We had a wonderful Sardinian wine.” “His response led me to believe that he didn't know enough about these three particular wines so I asked him explicitly if he could recommend a similar "big red" at $100 "or Less” “ll speed it up: the entrees & desserts were all solid/good/even great, each of them, and Salvatore our friendly server (the perfect, edited amount of friendliness New Yorkers feel comfortable with) was magically there to take yet another wine order and to” “The food was absolutely delicious, starter, pasta, lamb shank, dessert and coffee.” “went with several friends how like different wines.” “For starters, the drink menu is pretty good.”
food quality	82.43000030517578% positive	“great original italian food” “The food was absolutely delicious, starter, pasta, lamb shank, dessert and coffee.” “I'm craving focaccia occhio di bue and their delicious sweet breads.” “The fish is stale” “The brussel sprout salad was unique and delicious.” “The food is exceptional and the house wines are delicious.” “Don't order brasserie fare at a cafe (that is, if you want steak frites or tartare, go to Balthazar - but you can't beat Pastis for the onion soup, salad nicoise, or french fries).” “Great food.” “The handrolled lemon pasta is my fave.” “started with mussels which were very tasty, I then had a pasta with pepper and cheese which was amazing.” “Overall it was a bit pricey,but it's a nice space,the food was very good and service was very good.” “Everything we ordered was delicious.” “The portions were on the small to average side, and the food was decent.” “cold pasta, small portion.” “The food was mediocre and not what i would expect given the raves.” “The food is so delicious!” “you would not imagine such a mediocre food.” “The food was delicious!” “really have never in my experience left a restaurant and thought that the whole meal was awful - it was not even decent.” “Chairs are uncomfortable, lighting made my hot date look his age and the food wasn't anything special.” “Decent food, few service glitches” “The food was so amazing - we tried so many dishes to get a great tasting - artichoke salad, meatballs, rolled pasta , heirloom tomato salad with the most fresh mozzarella I've ever experienced - everything was just perfect.” “Great food!” “thought the food was good and the service was outstanding.” “The pastas are fresh, the antipasti fresher and the desserts are what desserts are supposed to be: hearty simply and terrible for you.” “average meal that left a bad taste and a big check” “of us had teh scallops which were very good and the side of potatoes, The only disappointnig dish was the cuddle fish which wasn't horrible but paled incomparison to the rest.” “Each time, service has been great and the food, divine.” “This is the place for great food and wine.” “No pretense here at all - just good food, good service, great location.” “loved the simple and yummy bruschetta con ricotta.” “The food was good the wine in question excellent, and at 135 it should have been -but you can go to BOTTINO's in chelsea and get the same food and a much better enviroment.” “The food here was really fantastic.” “Once we were seated, the service was excellent & the food was amazing.” “Finally, we had the Budino for dessert, which was also delicious.” “great wine and food” “last night i had a fantastic meal at Morandi”
menu variety	100.0% positive	“Yes, we waited an hour and a half without a reservation, but we came prepared to do so and it was far from unpleasant - we grabbed a spot at the bar where the bartenders were extremely attentive and we were able to order items from the main menu to tie us” “For starters, the drink menu is pretty good.” “ll speed it up: the entrees & desserts were all solid/good/even great, each of them, and Salvatore our friendly server (the perfect, edited amount of friendliness New Yorkers feel comfortable with) was magically there to take yet another wine order and to” “very knowledgable about the menu, made great recommendations.”
overall	100.0% positive	“found my new favorite restaurant.” “live around the corner and have been watching the construction in anticipation of a great new place.”
service	88.10000419616699% positive	“Our poor waiter looked half dead in the heat.” “The funniest thing was that our waiter talked us out of a wine purchase and steered us to a less expensive bottle - excellent training!” “Clean bathrooms I love, the service was a bit rushed.” “And contrary to some reviews here, the service was superb.” “thought the food was good and the service was outstanding.” “Each time, service has been great and the food, divine.” “The service was also very attentive - Mr. McNally even stopped by our table to make sure everything was to our liking.” “Oh and our waiter was not helpful and thought being sarcastic would fly.” “Assistant waiters were attentive but not intrusive.” “Can't say enough good things about it - our waitress was really good too.” “Overall it was a bit pricey,but it's a nice space,the food was very good and service was very good.” “Our staff was so attentive (and adorable)and helpful that it was a dining pleasure.” “The staff was very friendly and warm.” “Once we were seated, the service was excellent & the food was amazing.” “ll speed it up: the entrees & desserts were all solid/good/even great, each of them, and Salvatore our friendly server (the perfect, edited amount of friendliness New Yorkers feel comfortable with) was magically there to take yet another wine order and to” “when we sat, out server was perfectly helpful, and though we were having a ball on our own, she really made the night great, we felt like we were really being taken care of!” “The setting and staff were great.” “Decent food, few service glitches” “... paired with the perfect wine (recommended by a very professional waiter who knows his wine list well)” “No pretense here at all - just good food, good service, great location.” “Yes, we waited an hour and a half without a reservation, but we came prepared to do so and it was far from unpleasant - we grabbed a spot at the bar where the bartenders were extremely attentive and we were able to order items from the main menu to tie us”
value	50.0% positive	“The portions were on the small to average side, and the food was decent.” “Don't expect big portions.” “Morandi's is expensive, serving weak drinks by barmen with an attitude.” “Overall it was a bit pricey,but it's a nice space,the food was very good and service was very good.” “This is truly a dreadful restaurant--expensive, noisy, crowded and hot!” “Probably worth letting this place 'cool down' before you go.” “The funniest thing was that our waiter talked us out of a wine purchase and steered us to a less expensive bottle - excellent training!”

07/25/10

Middle of the road Italian

by sueshii

We had walked by this place and thought it was cute, so we called to make a reservation on Friday, but was only able to get a 6:30p,, reservation instead of the 7pm we wanted and thought we got lucky.

However, the food was ok but overpriced, we weren't served bread (which is probably better for us) but was still something we noticed. And we noticed that it was still 50% empty at 7-8pm (so why deny us a 7pm reservation?).

Overall, the atmosphere was cute, but I we have other Italian restaurants we enjoy more to try them again.

Pros: cute atmosphere
Cons: overpriced for the food

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01/17/10

Expensive & Uninviting

by DaviesinNY

Morandi's is expensive, serving weak drinks by barmen with an attitude. I wouldn't bother; too many other cool places in the Village without wasting an evening of your life on this place.

Cons: Expensive weak drinks served by surly staff

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11/20/09

Its true horrible service

by CSMobileUser2

This waiter could not even explain the food on the menu. Waiter keep on forgetting my side orders.This place is a joke.

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04/30/09

quite a scene

by miriam12

The brussel sprout salad was unique and delicious. We had a wonderful Sardinian wine. The fish was simply prepared and flavorful. The risotto was very nice. Don't expect big portions. The night we went the outdoor dining was closed, so the indoor space was plenty crowded. It was hard to push your chair back because the tables were so tight. But we didn't mind. Our waitress got to us anyway, and we got everything we needed. For dessert we had the tiramisu which was good but I have had better. Overall, it is a fun, happening place with inventive and tasty food.

Pros: great food
Cons: crowded

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01/15/09

Great food!

by Lance77

I went with a few friends last week for dinner and had a great time. The staff was very friendly and warm. The food was delicious! This is the place! I started with mussels which were very tasty, I then had a pasta with pepper and cheese which was amazing. The best part about it was the wine choices. I went with several friends how like different wines. We were all able to order quartino's which made us all happy. This is the place for great food and wine.

Morandi Restaurant

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What People Are Saying About Morandi Restaurant

Justin Hartung

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Editor's Tips

07/25/10

Middle of the road Italian

by sueshii

01/17/10

Expensive & Uninviting

by DaviesinNY

11/20/09

Its true horrible service

by CSMobileUser2

04/30/09

quite a scene

by miriam12

01/15/09

Great food!

by Lance77

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