05/08/09

5 stars for consistently delicious food

by gatinha85

I started going here with my co-worker Saba months ago, and became obsessed. Love the ambiance, reasonably priced, the food is AMAZING! I get the truffled polenta to start with every time I go. Anything I've ever ordered there has been delicious.

I normally go with friends or coworkers, but recently I went with my boyfriend, his mother and his sister. His mother is a tough critic, but was blown away by the quality of the food. She ordered the spinach salad and the frutte di mare pasta. even my boyfriend, who is a health and gym nut, finished his food and was picking off my plate of pasta.

The service is sometimes good sometimes not- I've had some fantastic waiters and some crappy ones. The good thing is that everything else is so superb you barely notice!! And the Italian family who owns it, including Massimo and Damien, are SO nice, so welcoming, greet you by name and walk you to your table, sometimes even sitting down with you for a bit.

It makes you feel like you walked into a neighborhood trattoria in Italy.

This is my go-to dinner spot. Great for going with friends, family, or on a date.

• Pros: Truffled polenta, cozy candlelit atmosphere, friendly owners
• Cons: defeats my gym-going efforts!!!

04/20/09

So Much Potential...

by hungrycouple

Located slightly off the avenue, Brio offers a little side-street peace in the middle of a busy shopping area and their outdoor tables are appealing without the avenue noise and traffic. Once inside, though, the room is drab, undecorated and in need of some paint and sprucing up. Cain chairs that look beautiful are uncomfortable and we found it odd that they don't open for Sunday brunch until Noon. Worst of all, though, is the slow and indifferent service, with waiters more interested in talking to each other than addressing their customers.

Despite all this, the food was good, the weekend prix fixe brunch is a bargain and the bloody Mary's were generous. The price includes a drink, a choice of salad or tasty soup and a delicious entree. Their take on eggs Benedict and tomato frittata are exceptionally good and the dessert menu offers many tempting choices. While the molten chocolate soufflé was a bit over-cooked, the homemade millefoglie was scrumptious.

A coat of paint for the room and some training for the staff could quickly turn this into a regular haunt. But perhaps they have little incentive to improve. With generous drinks, tasty food and reasonable prices, the restaurant quickly filled and tables turned. For us, though, New York offers too many options to return to Brio in the near future.

03/21/09

Very Good Food with Reasonable Prices

by TheBigAppleGirl

I ordered a pizza and it was delicious. Other people in my party ordered pasta and fish dishes. They all said that their food was very good and would come back again especially for the Napoleon dessert. Our head waiter was very energetic.

• Pros: Delicious Pizza and Tiramisu
• Cons: What are the drawbacks?

01/12/09

Good Food - Not So Good Service

by Nel2008

Interesting menu and the food was reasonably good, however the waiters were not very friendly.

I may be going back to try their pizza, but I will not order any overpriced fountain soda refills which really cought me by surprise.

• Pros: Decent Atmosphere
• Cons: Poor Servise

08/24/08

Good place to try, average experience overall.

by sirjonk

The restaurant was good, but if I may, what's with the whole bunch of glowing 5 star reviews from people who never reviewed any other restaurant, can't think of one negative aspect of brio, and the one guy who has only reviewed both of brio's locations? If you're going to spam a site with positive reviews at least try to make it believable, you know?

Back to brio, the food was good if a bit pricey for what it was. Staff was friendly enough, nothing particularly memorable. Service was timely. It might have been just a little bit too cozy but I had no problems with the spacing. All in all a decent neighborhood place to try if you haven't been there before but not worth a trip if you are coming in from out of town.

• Pros: Good food, acceptable service and timeliness.
• Cons: A bit small, a bit pricey.

05/29/08

Best in NY

by christys67

This is the best Italian restaurant I've been too - it does not fall under those Italian restuarants where they smother everything in marinara sauce. Your food palette will be very much fulfilled with anything you eat. I LOVE pizza!! I love all of them here, but they also have great main dishes and wonderful specials. I go back everytime to try something new... I recommend it to anyone looking for a new place to go to.

03/24/08

Pizza - Pizza

by masterful55

i go to a restaurant for the food and i must say the food here is superior... i've tried all their pizzas and never have been dissatisfied!! the entree dishes are good too... waitstaff is friendly and attentive as well... will always go back and recommend...

03/11/08

Best Pizza

by mellow00

Great place to go! The thin crust pizza is the best I've ever tasted! My two favorites are the one with baby spinach, speck ham and gorgonzola cheese and the vegetable one. Besides the pizza, the food is really good too! Have recommended this place to many and they love it as well. Definitely a place to try.

• Pros: Service, Price, Food, Wine
• Cons: None

02/29/08

Great Food & Service

by magpie67

Great place to go to for a meal or glass of wine! The food is spectacular and the service is wonderful!

Definitely a place I would make a regular stomping ground!

09/20/07

Quality, Quality, Quality

by dello123

You can come back here any time of day, on any day and have a delicious meal....how many places are there like that in New York city......the wait-staff is efficient and fast, and the atmosphere is fantastic...full of good looking people......The pizza is one of the best in the city, and the artichokes....well try it for yourself..simply fantastic....a truly italian experience........

• Pros: great overall experience
• Cons: service can be a bit slow