Lunetta
New York, NY 10010
Phone: (212) 533-3663
- Price:
- $$$
- Cross Street:
- 21st Street
- Directions:
- R, W at 23rd St; 6 at 23rd St
- Hours:
- Sun-Thu 11am-11pm, Fri-Sat 11am-12am
Editorial Review for Lunetta – by Jane Lerner
The Scene
This Brooklyn favorite has made the trip across the bridge, settling in nicely to its stylish Flatiron digs. The space recalls a mid-century tropical lounge, as if Indochine started serving spaghetti. Cool-to-the-touch marble tabletops, roomy black banquettes and flickering candles create a dim, sexy atmosphere, though the service feels like a leftover from former tenant, Mayrose diner.
The Food
The Italian small-plate concept is similar to the Brooklyn outpost, but the kitchen's quality control didn't make the trip. A wintry escarole salad with crisp apple, pomegranate and pistachio is too powerfully puckering, and the pile of crisp-fried artichoke leaves seems sad without a sauce. Grilled tuna arrives in a heady but salty sauce of capers, olives and saba, while the signature meatballs are served in a garlicky tomato sauce that's disappointingly thin. Across the flavor spectrum is mezzaluna, a dessert-like ravioli filled with pumpkin and almond cookies, and a jiggly buttermilk panna cotta.
Hits: Located just down the block from the 19th Street movie theater, the stylish decor is worthy of a Hollywood period film.
Misses: The food and flavors don't shine as brightly as at the Brooklyn location, and the diner-like service doesn't do justice to the sophisticated surroundings.
(Photo by Noah Kalina; courtesy of Lunetta)
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
What to DrinkA Lacrima di Morro, from Luciano Landi, is a berry-rich, not-too-sweet glass of red at $11. An impressive selection of exclusively Italian dessert wines are priced from $40 to $180 a bottle.
Lunch SpotThe restaurant opens at 11am and serves a lunch that differs slightly from the regular evening menu: various panini, minestrone and a truffled egg toast are excellent early-in-the-day choices.
The ExtrasA more limited intermzzo menu is served from 3pm to 5pm.
User Reviews for Lunetta
04/04/2008 Posted by lauden
Was there last night for a friends birthday party, absolutely love this place. Everything I had was amazing, they did a buratta with fresh brussel sprouts that was just incredible, we had a mix bruschette which were just awesome (the ricotta with honey was my fav) and my entree, which was a lamb stew with spinach dumpling, was the best thing I've had in a New York City restaurant in the six last six months. Hard to believe it used to be Mayrose. Cool room, love the chandeliers, a little noisy, a light tight where we were, but cozy none the less. Great wine list, highly recommended.
Pros: Food, Wine, Service, Decor
Cons: A little noisey.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful
01/28/2008 Posted by sw33tears
We dropped by Lunetta saturday evening without a reservation. The hostess was amiable and seated us right away. That and the dessert was the high point of the evening. First we tried to order drinks but they didn't have their liquor license yet. Then we had the sommelier come over- we started by saying that we would like a red then he pointed in the general area of the expensive wines ($200+) saying "these are all great wines!"- he didn't ask what we liked in the past, didn't pick a specific wine, no descriptions of wines. We found him tacky and unhelpful!! We dine out alot and always enjoy the recommendations of sommeliers, whether they were $40 or $200. This guys was just awful- worst sommelier in the city! Don't bother talking to him. The rest of the service was great- from the hostess, to our waitress to the bus boys. The food was decent, not fantastic- I didn't like the octopus appetizer but enjoyed the scallops entree. My bf liked his appetizer (something with pancetta) and his tuna entree was mediocre. The desserts were ordinary but delicious- apple tart with cinammon ice-cream and tiramisu. Overall- the restaurant is new and will work out it's liquor license, I'm sure the food will improve but the sommelier needs to change his attitude....until then, unfortunately, not recommended....
Pros: pretty restaurant, great service by hostess, waitress & busboys, delicious desserts
Cons: food needs improvement, disgraceful sommelier
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