04/01/09

Great place

by Rathan

This is a great place to go for the first time! The wine menu is legendary and the mussels were fresh. I had a great time entertaining a client here and its a great place to do business.

• Pros: Quiet, Fun
• Cons: Overpriced

12/04/08

tasty, but somewhat regrettable, average high-end italian

by slinki

Good location (although the Subway located one door west pulls focus almost entirely from aurora's low-key entrance), tasty food, appropriately "rustic" decor, and sufficiently romantic lighting have doubtless helped put aurora on the map of quality SoHo restaurants. However, many factors make this a place to neither recommend nor return to. The food is very good - there are inventive dishes here, all of them tasty. But the overall dining experience is not unique, as there are a dozen restaurants in Manhattan alone following this textbook equation, and the busy, banal trendiness of the place makes having a relaxing meal (even on a weeknight) a challenge. What detracts most from the romance and potential art of aurora is feeling simultaneously on a conveyor belt and stuck in a cattle car. The tables are too close together (The space is comparatively large; they could get rid of a table or two, especially at these prices - $25 for a cup of lobster risotto - to afford diners a slightly more pleasant experience), and the whole staff seem to hover and observe every movement of fork and glass. Our server was kind and genuine enough, but a little too attentive - At this supposed level of sophistication, one should have enough knowledge of body language to avoid interrupting intimate or lively conversations every fifteen minutes just to make sure that everything is all right. But I blame this last issue more on New York restaurant service philosophy than on the poor souls who have to follow it.

• Pros: food
• Cons: noise level, portion size, hovering service

07/14/08

Wonderful food, so so services.

by debbienyc

I went to Aurora last friday night, second time there. The food is delicious one of the best Italian restaurants in the city. The services must improve though, I had this bad attituted server who has a poor knowledge of Italian wines, management should tell them no to lie about the wines since there are people who actually know characteristics about them. and when my food arrived I asked this guy for some red pepper and had no clue what I was talking about, so I waited for 10 minutes with my food at my table for someone who understood English and brought it for me...

• Pros: Marvelous food, nice enviroment, interesting decor.
• Cons: Lying servers, and bussers with minimal English.

05/17/08

Great service, nice atomosphere.

by bullensign

This was my first time at Aurora Soho and I found it to be an overall pleasant experience. This rather small but well appointed restaurant was was lively, rustic yet very modern in many ways. A perfect environment for a small group of friends to enjoy dinner. The service was excellent and it was encouraging to see a waiter that actually knew about wine, the grapes from the various producing regions as well as how it compared with more of the French wines that I am more familar. I highly recommend the Pin, an Italian varietal and the Cecila, an Italian grown Syrah. Both went very well with my black olive pasta with rabbit and the grilled seabass with clams. I was disappointed, however, with the lack of razor clams that was supposed to accompany my seabass, even though it was on the menu. But the manager did come by after I commented on the littleneck substitute and apologized. I felt he was sincere. The pasta was a little too salty but the seabass was grilled well. The highlight of the meal was the panacotta with blueberries. This was the best dessert I've ever had in an Italian restaurant. My mouth waters just thinking about it. The latte was also quite good, strong and not so milky like wannabe lattes. The grilled octopus appetizer wasn't great. I don't think it's their fault, grilled octopus just has a weird texture. It also lacked acid so I had to ask for lemon wedges. I much prefer octopus in a ceviche or sashimi, which they didn't offer. One more thing. We had reservations for 9:30pm but didn't get seated until after 10pm. That sucked. I'll give them one more chance, they're worth it.

Overall, thumbs up and would definitely go back to try the other wines on their impressive list as well as the other interesting dishes. The bartender was awesome. Pour the largest single malts I've seen in Manhattan. Well worth the 12 bucks.

• Pros: Ambience, service, wine, nice bar
• Cons: menu needs updating

01/23/08

Quality Italian Food

by rose1864

I have been to Aurora several times, for dinner and for lunch, and will definitely return. The food is always fresh and well-prepared. It is definitely NOT your typical New York Italian, i.e. enormous portions of gloppy, cheesy, overcooked pasta. But for people who are looking for quality food and wine, I suggest this place.

For me, the waiters have been friendly and helpful, especially since I am not familiar with many of the wines on their list.

It is a little off the beaten path as far as SoHo goes, which I thinks contributes in a good way to its atmosphere -- less attitude than other places in the area. It does get rather noisy when the restaurant is full, however.

• Pros: Food, interesting wine list
• Cons: Can get noisy

12/07/07

Pretty bad experience

by free2fly3520

I have never experienced worse service than this place. Food is good but the service is abysmal. Don't go on a friday coz they are "busy". If you want personalized service and food the way you like it go on Monday when its not busy (as per the waiter, European style, US style tip expected). Pls spare yourself the time and money and let other people waste their money here.

• Pros: food is ok
• Cons: service is the worst I have ever experienced

08/11/07

Amazing Italian eatery

by smithhea

We found this restaurant by chance, and what luck! The restaurant is warm and inviting, a real local nook. The staff are incredibly helpful with wine selection (fabulous true Italian wine selection) and the menu. The service was excellent and the portions were just right. The food is reasonably priced. The gnocchi were unbelievable and I highly recommend the cheese plate and their pannacotta for dessert. We are definitely adding this to our list of NYC favorites!

• Pros: food, service, atmosphere
• Cons: none yet

08/04/07

Loved the food but.....

by mccloud11375

There is not one bad thing I can say about the food and varied, tasty wine list but unfortunately our night was ruined by a horrible waitress. They need a little more work on getting the staff up to par with the food.

07/06/07

Aurora is fantastic!

by deniseahungerford

An all around wonderful experience! The atmosphere is relaxing and inviting (love the exposed brick walls and the seating is perfectly spaced). The staff is equally warm as well as knowledgeable. Jessica, the bartender offered enlightened descriptions of their great wine selection, even providing a much appreciated taste. Then our waiter turned me on to the best gnocchi I've ever tasted! It was so light , like little clouds perfectly paired with crab meat, tomotoes and fresh parsley. I'll be back for the gnochhi as well as the grilled octopus.

A great evening start to finish. Check it out!

• Pros: Food, Service, Atmosphere
• Cons: none

The upside of gentrification: A rustic Italian favorite from Billyburg franchises itself to Soho.

by Justin Hartung

The Scene
You know the gentrification of Williamsburg has really hit its stride when the neighborhood starts exporting restaurants to Soho. This spinoff of Billyburg's beloved Italian restaurant retains the original's mix of rustic charm and industrial cool, with exposed metal piping snaking atop a room full of country chairs and chipped-paint antiques. Servers are clad in all black, the better to coax their similarly clothed, deep-pocketed patrons into an up-sell.

The Food
The prices may have been raised, but the menu works the same refined rustic Italian territory as the original. Creamy burrata slathered on fresh, crusty bread transports diners away to dawn on an Pugliese farm, porcetta offsets the gamey flavor of rabbit roulade while still letting the meat's sweetness shine through, and the mushrooms tossed with handmade ravioli taste just-picked. If entrees like mushy sole and underwhelming lamb pale in comparison, desserts like a light-as-air lemon crostata help country cred bloom again.