44 SW Ristorante & Lounge

02/14/12

Tips tips tips

by Johnny English

Food was ok, not bad but certainly nothing to write home about. What incensed me is the cheek of the waitress who accosted us on leaving. We spent $300 on food and wine and left what we felt a generous 12% tip. This was partly considering the average quality of the food, I.e. not a patch on a good Italian you can get in the UK and the fact that the service was slow. on leaving, the waitress accosted us in the middle of the restuarant with a guidebook stating we should leave 18% and not the 12 we left. Well excuse me, she had not cared a jot for us all night, and the foods was so poor that it did not justify 18% at all. I was that shocked I wish I'd asked for the tip back - how ungrateful and cheeky is that. I will certainly not be going back to this place again - and neither should you. How on earth can you spend $300 at a place and be treated like that. Unbelieveable....

12/18/11

44 SW Ristorante & Lounge

by 88steve88

12/17/11 - Awful: so noisy I could not easily hear the person across from me, people jammed in there, lighting so dim I had difficulty reading the menu, worst spaghetti and meatball dish I've ever had in a restaurant, long wait periods between courses, service was terrible for which they tacked on an 18% gratuity.

05/14/10

Excellent Red Sauce Italian

by Bob Y

We had a seafood special -- clams, mussels, shrimp and calamari over pasta, with a spicy arriabbiata sauce. The seafood was very fresh, the pasta cooked just right, and the sauce -- and this is the key -- perfecto. A really nice, unpretentious,neighborhood spot with friendly service -- heartily recommended!!!

• Pros: Great food and friendly service
• Cons: Wine list is ok, but more choices would be nice

02/11/10

Classic Italian

by EvanG

I have kind of lived in Hell’s Kitchen for almost three years. I say almost because below where I reside is the Lincoln Tunnel. Much further north is the area that most would consider to be the real Hell’s Kitchen. One of the few things I do have by me are restaurants, and a lot of them are Italian. The best of these Italian spots, which line 9th and 10th avenue, is not on the famed “Restaurant Row,” it is 44 SW. You will find all of the classic dishes you would expect, plus a few of “Mama’s Specials.” The vast menu even includes a number of vegetarian options.

44 SW won’t blow you away with new-age techniques, but for classic Italian fare at a reasonable price, few can match the quality.

10/30/09

Best Restaraunt in Manhattan

by Jeff Wright

My wife and I stumbled on this place when she was subletting an apartment nearby, and for the three years that we lived in NYC we visited often and never once left disappointed. The food is wonderful and for someone looking for Italian food that deviates from the normal lasagna plate, it offers unique dishes that are wonderful. The waitresses/owner of this place all speak with slight accents, and the owner is a small woman that walks around and monitors. The location places it near Time Square, but it's far enough away to avoid the noise and congestion that comes with that area. Also, the dining arrangements allow you to sit indoor or outdoor.

• Pros: Excellent/unique food, authentic waitresses, dining area
• Cons: I truly see none