07/26/09

AWESOME dinner party

by ck0007

WOW - this place is awesome to have a dinner party! I planned my friend's bachelorette party dinner here for 14 girl and we loved it. We had a large table set us in the back and the waitstaff and management were attentive and provided great service for the whole night. The pre-fixe menu we decided beforehand along with the 2 hours unlimited wine/beer price made it a no-frills and easy night for all. The food was delicious, a great value and awesome portions. I couldn't have asked for anything more! THANK YOU.

• Pros: Great food & value, friendly staff, group parties
• Cons: Cash/Amex only

10/12/08

Good neighborhood italian food

by venya

Over the past 2 years, I've eaten here maybe a dozen times. Each time a good experience. There hasn't been a recent review of this place in over a year, so I wanted share my opinion.

Whether sitting outside, or in the cozy, albeit dark interior, the restaurants offers diners a good meal in terms of menu, service and atmosphere. I've tried about 5 different appetizers and dishes, and every one has managed not to disappoint. Prices are fair for the neighborhood, and service always good. I think they're probably good with larger groups but I've only been with 2-3 other people. Give it a try!

• Pros: Food, service, ambiance
• Cons: none

12/02/07

PACKET PASTA

by jiw76

In a word, TERRIBLE!!!

My first impression was developed by a bar maid who seemed to be there to socialize rather than serve. With a rather empty bar to serve drinks to she found it was more important to talk to friends/fellow staff than take care of business and do what she was being paid to do.

It got worse. We ordered pasta and to my astonishment this so called ?Italian eatery? serves it patrons PACKET PASTA!!! I had one taste and asked the manager to confirm this, he said no. I called him out and he then admitted that it was?WHAT A DISGRACE!!!

My pasta dish was being served as an authentic, home made Italian dish but it turned out it was Packet Pasta?they should be ashamed of themselves?disappointment and highly recommend avoiding this place.

• Pros: Lighting - can't see the food
• Cons: Taste - food is terrible

09/22/07

great food. great ambiance. good for large party

by kamsantos

I'd eaten here a dozen times for new year's, romantic dinners, casual dinners, and so forth before getting engaged. for some reason, we didn't think about it as a place to hold our engagement party and then one day it all came together and we felt like idiots for not thinking of it.

wonderful place, wonderful food, great staff, and affordable for both dinner and large group. the back room is private and lovely, with access to back patio for smokers in your group. staff were so accommodating to our needs and everything was handled with patience and professionalism. they were instrumental in our last-minute planning and took care of our on-the-spot needs.

• Pros: great place for dinner or for coordinating large party
• Cons: parking at nite.

06/03/07

What a joke this place was

by asaromike

I'm sorry to those who wrote good reviews, but this is no where near acceptable italian, especially for manhattan. From beginning to end, this place was horrendous. The fried calamari looked like fast food onion rings and tasted even worse, it was so heavily breaded and so over cooked, it was like trying to chew through the rubber bands they put on lobster claws. Then came the entrees. I had the scallops, 4 of them, and they were slimy, and the side of pasta came with a teaspoon of 'marinara sauce', so they call it. My girlfriend ordered the stuffed trout which was supposed to be with a crabmeat stuffing, meanwhile it was more bones than meat and had a creamy broccoli stuffing, with no sign of a crab even swimming in the water near where this fish was caught. To top off the evening, I get the check and the waiter literally stood 5 feet from me, and was staring at me just waiting for me to pay. I agree that the place is very inexpensive, which scared me to start, but it's not worth paying anything for. No entrees were greater than $14, but i would recommend spending the extra few dollars and going to some place decent.

• Pros: The Maitre D
• Cons: Everything Else

05/23/07

My FAVORITE restaurant!

by jenny715

I go here alll the time when i'm on dates or have a craving for Italian food. It's my favorite Italian restaurant thus far in NYC. It is the total package...the prices are very affordable, the staff is unpretentious, the service is excellent, the food is DELICIOUS and the ambience is romantic and cozy! What more can you ask for in a restaurant? I love going to tihs place because I always know that whoever I bring with me will not be dissapointed. My dates usually love it. Their Early Bird menu is excellent. You have to try this place!

• Pros: Daily dinner special, prices, food, dessert, ambience, service
• Cons: can get very crowded at times (especially during hte early bird special times)

04/27/07

Good deal, No hassle, try the stuffed trout

by shootinhoops

Best thing about this place is that it doesn't pretend to be something it's not. Decent seafood. I got a seafood antipasto and stuffed trout .. both were tasty .. went there w. my girlfriend and we had a bottle of wine, 2 apps, 2 entrees .. bill was $82 ... this is a Tuesday night kind of place

• Pros: price, attitude, seafood
• Cons: oil heavy on the pasta

03/01/07

Do you want to never have a desire to eat again?

by rachels52

HORRIBLE HORRIBLE HORRIBLE! The food is DISGUSTING here. Everything is drenched in oil, sauce, bland, ugly just gross gross gross. I don't care that it's cheap and that you get generous portions. What do you need big portions of horrible food for???!!! They really need to invest in a decent chef who actually knows something about cooking. The only redeeming quality is the stellar staff. Hardworking and friendly, no matter how busy it gets. I'd come here for a drink at the bar maybe but steer clear of the food.

02/20/07

Amazing Prices & Outstanding Staff

by emailee

This is a cozy & romantic place. The food is delicious - specials and daily menu selection are both recommended. The staff is friendly. The prices are amazing for NYC. One of my favorite affordable places to go to the city where I can feel romantic without needing a date.

• Pros: What's NOT to like about this place?
• Cons: What's NOT to like about this place?

11/21/06

delicious and cheap

by mkarasi1

Great Italian food, nice space. The backyard garden is a tiny, beautiful east village outdoor garden with overhead vines and real grapes growing on them! Great prices, great service, delicious food.