08/10/08

Manager,staff,pasta, wine list,garden

by toto70

This place is a great gem!

we were there last night ,it was packed,we did wait a little to get seated in the garden.

The staff was a real charm,the manager gave us a temporary seat to get a glass of wine while we were waiting.He was very caring to us,we had a conversation about restaurant business,we have one too in San Francisco. I would love to hire him anytime.Seriously!!!!

The evening was beautiful,we tried the famous pasta in the wheel and few different specials.All very simple but so tasty.We ordered a bottle of a delicious Chianti Riserva from '03.The wine list was very accurate and had good selections from different regions of italy.

We skipped dessert,but the waitress insisted to try the cannoli.

we did. we loved it

thank you guys,you made our last night in NY great.

we will see you soon

A&K

08/03/08

Surly Manager and Terrible food

by JohnJS

Surly manager and terrible food. Visited Aug 2, 2008. Ordered highly touted fish combo in red sauce --monkfish,mullet and shrimp. First two were overcooked, mushy--and shrimp were basically inedible--tough and dry. Tried to suggest to the Manager that perhaps the chef might , next time, not overcook the shrimp. He did not take kindly to this suggestion --which was intended to be helpful, not complaining. Instead, gave us some excuse saying that is the "way it is made", acting extremely uncaring and surly--then just suggesting we could leave--which we did. Will never return.

05/08/08

Good food and good wine

by punky21

There were four of us for dinner on a Wednesday night. We were seated promptly in the beautiful dark room. We ordered some wine to start. Before I tell you how great the food was... I would like to mention that the service was definitely below par. The waiter never checked on us throughout our meal. We had to chase down someone for some fresh pepper and cheese to top off our pastas. A friend asked an entree could be altered and we watched the waiter pretend to visit the kitchen and ask. Now... back to the food -- As an appetizer, we shared the bacon wrapped shrimp. They gave us an extra shrimp so that we could each have one (it usually comes with three). The shrimp were pretty small and the bacon was overcooked. Not a good start but not terrible, either. I had the spaghetti with fried zuchini, capers and codfish in a spicy olive oil. For such as simple dish, it was absolutely delicious. One of my friends ordered the potato gnocchi and that was even more delicious. The portions aren't huge and it was so satisfying to eat every last bit of my dinner! If you want big portions... go to the Olive Garden.

• Pros: food, wine
• Cons: service

09/27/07

Unbelievably great food

by xela27

I just got back from Italy 2 months ago and had (cacao e pepe dish) while in Rome. When I went with 5 other people for my birthday (after much debate) I couldn?t have been more pleased. The servers/managers were the nicest; I was treated like a VIP customer. Not only did I get an on the house champagne, but I got not one but TWO deserts (both on the house) they all sang happy b-day to me one but did it a second time bringing yet another desert with a candle b/c they said it was not loud enough! (The desert was so yummy!) Ok, so dinner. 3 of us had the Caco e pepe. Let me just say I am the pickiest eater in the world- I can never order straight off a menu I always change it up- but this time I did and I was not sorry. The buffalo motz melts in your mouth!!! Everyone I was with was beyond pleased and said they will be coming back. I on the other hand loved it so much I will be back the next night with my family!!!!!!! Not to miss out!!

• Pros: Authentic Italian food, staff

09/07/07

Terrible food!

by trixie16

This place is terrible! The "homemade" pasta is certainly the kind you can make at home -- out of a box, that is. The lobster ravioli is salty with barely any lobster in it Very expensive for what you get. We really wanted to like this place. Too bad.

06/15/07

Inedible..tasted like Chum

by zizicrush

The bf and I wanted a romantic, cozy little east village restaurant, and this place completely fit the bill. Service was great, ambiance was nice with good mellow music and candlelit tables.....then the food came, and thats where it all went down hill. The Lobster ravioli was more like lobster chum served in a canned brine sauce and stuffed into a rubber pasta colored pouch. The bf's beef with artichokes was something out of your freezer; if you topped it with some cheese and threw it on a roll, it might as well have been a steak-umm. Sounds bad, I know. Perhaps we just chose the wrong things to eat, the mozz and tomato were good...all 3 bites of it. Sorry, wouldnt recommend.

• Pros: ambiance, service
• Cons: food

03/14/07

Good, solid Italian

by hbrown11

The service here was great, the food was very good (the pasta dishes we had were excellent - the bucatini and the rigatoni), and they have a very reasonable wine list. We also had the bacon-wrapped shrimp appetizer which was delicious. Went on a Friday night and were lucky enough to get a table for two with a minimal wait, but it was definitely crowded. The atmosphere was lively and enjoyable. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a solid meal with nice atmosphere.

• Pros: Food, service, reasonable prices
• Cons: None

01/15/07

Consistent and delicious Italian spot

by coleyas

I find Cacio e Pepe to be pleasantly different from most of the other Italian restaurants in the same price bracket because of the dynamic of its ingredients. Just mentioning blueberries and peaches in the middle of - this unseasonably warm - winter added some excitement to the dishes. Definitely went beyond your quintessential italian ingredients into slightly more creative dishes, which in combination with the atmosphere, truly delighted us for the price. Here's what we had: 1) Appetizers: Bacon wrapped shrimp in white bean puree; 2) Entrees: Jumbo Rigatoni w/sausage, blueberries, and black truffle; Ricotta Ravioli w/butter and sage; 3) Dessert: Pumpkin Tiramisu w/Peach Pure. I went out on a limb with the dessert and almost talked my fiance into a second order of it. Great spot that we'll totally be back to and recommend to others! After two experiences here, I'll conclude that it's consistent, too!

• Pros: Interesting pastas, Open air seating, Cozy restaurant
• Cons: Loud (on a Weekend Night)

11/28/06

One of My Neighborhood Favs

by kmercuri

One of my our favorite restaurants in the East Village. The servers are knowledgable and pleasant and the food is consistently excellent. Wine list is reasonably-priced as well.

The dining room is small and not every table is in a good location. I suggest visiting Cacio e Pepe during off-hours to enjoy an early or a late dinner at a table of your choice.

• Pros: Good Food, Good Service
• Cons: Small Space

11/17/06

VIVA!

by bettyo70

Even though this place is dark, I would classify it as high-energy more than romantic. Maybe it was the night we went: the kitchen was bustling, there was a lot of chatting, the place was full, the staff was friendly...

The pastas were very good. I would have liked to see more fish and meat dishes offered. Definitely a place where I would return.

• Pros: pastas, friendly staff, vibe in the room, value
• Cons: loud, small and crowded, menu could be more daring