Veal
Osteria Morini - New York

Osteria Morini - New York

218 Lafayette Street New York, NY 10012, 10012-4025, United States

Pasta • Italian • Seafood • Desserts


"We decided to start with the Polipo, which consisted of grilled octopus served with roasted potatoes, green olives, and fresh herbs accompanied by a romesco sauce. The octopus was just slightly over-charred, but the sauce and the crunchy potatoes were outstanding. Our other appetizer was the Polpettine—five delicious meatballs that were moist and perfectly seasoned, resting on a bed of marinara sauce and served with two slices of buttery toast, which were excellent for soaking up the sauce. For the main courses, I chose the seafood special, featuring wide noodles with a variety of seafood in a broth reminiscent of linguine with clam sauce. The dish included perfectly diced carrots and zucchini that still had a nice crunch. My wife had the gnocchi with fresh pesto sauce, which was pillowy soft and contained incredibly fresh pesto. My daughter ordered the cappelletti, tortellini stuffed with truffle and ricotta, served with prosciutto and a light broth. The pasta was cooked to perfection, al dente. Finally, my son had the carbonara made with wide noodles, smoky bacon, and a poached egg. This unique version worked beautifully, and as with all carbonaras, the egg yolk created a rich and luxurious sauce. At the end of our meal, they brought out a three-layer vanilla cake with vanilla frosting. It was perfect—delicious without being overly sweet. On this special night, the restaurant staff truly went above and beyond. Our server did an exceptional job attending to all the small details. Thank you for a wonderful meal and fantastic service!"

Blue

Blue

1115 Richmond Ter, 10310, Staten Island, United States

Beer • Wine • American • Bar-lounge


"**Tuna and Salmon Tartar (2/5):** While beautifully presented, the seasoning was lacking, and the freshness was not quite there. The chips were somewhat soggy, which took away from the enjoyment of the dish. It was decent but not particularly memorable. **Octopus (5/5):** Cooked and seasoned to perfection, this dish came with a delicious sauce that added a creamy, savory finish. Highly recommended! **Ribeye (4/5):** Cooked perfectly to medium rare, but the seasoning was uneven. A quick sprinkle with salt would easily fix this. **Rack of Lamb (2/5):** It had great flavor, but it was unfortunately undercooked and too rare. It definitely needed more sauce, as some pieces were lacking in it, making it difficult to enjoy. **Seafood Risotto (10/5):** No, that’s not a mistake! This is by far one of the best risottos we've ever tasted, and we will definitely return for it. The only minor issue was that many of the meats from the mussels and clams fell out, leaving mostly shells. Nonetheless, I highly recommend it—you won’t regret trying it! **Tuna Florentina (1/5):** This was definitely one of our least favorite dishes. The tuna lacked flavor, and the orecchiette was inconsistently cooked, with some pieces soft and others hard. I wouldn't recommend this one. **Linguine Carbonara (3.75/5):** Rich, creamy, and well-seasoned. While it didn't blow us away, it was still a solid choice and you can't go wrong with it. **Soft Shell Crab Pasta (4/5):** This was a fun and delicious dish, with the soft shell crab providing a nice contrast in flavor and texture. Quite good! Overall, while the experience was enjoyable, it wasn’t without its flaws. The location and service were wonderful, but the food has room for improvement. On a positive note, everything came out quickly and together. Blue has great potential, and I have no doubt they will continue to evolve and enhance their offerings. I hope that next time I can give them the five stars I believe they are capable of achieving! Thank you for reading, and best of luck to them!"

Antica Trattoria

Antica Trattoria

5654 Lake Murray BlvdCA 91942, La Mesa, United States

Wine • Drinks • Italian • Sicilian


"Located in a strip mall with ample free parking, Antica Trattoria 's decor has a cozy, authentic Italian feel with different textures and al fresco style paintings on the walls. There is some limited outdoor seating looks like seating left over from Covid days in the parking lot). The music was a little loud and non fitting, but the atmosphere was vibrant. The food was good and portions were generous. I always judge a restaurant by its bread and this restaurant had excellent bread! Very fresh and doughy I could have eaten the whole basket! The freshly made generous portion of tiramisu for dessert was also excellent. $13, May 2023) Service was swift and committed a few 'faux pas ' in my book. First, they removed my plate before my dining partner was finished and then the waiter verbally announced the list of desserts as said dining partner was still finishing eating their entree. We could only remember half of the desserts a paper dessert menu would have been appreciated). About 2 seconds after dessert was delivered, the bill was placed on the table without asking if we wanted coffee or anything else. I understand we had a 90 minute window in which to dine as is common nowadays in the USA), but we were well within that window. We would have appreciated not feeling rushed, particularly since it was Mother 's Day, a special occasion. That and slightly high prices were why I took off a star."

Pirozzi

Pirozzi

2929 East Coast Hwy Corona Del Mar, CA 92660, 92625-2992, CORONA DEL MAR, United States

Meat • Pizza • Diners • Italian


"We were sat in the outer tent with a reservation on a Saturday at 6:15 pm. There was one server and a couple of runners assisting him for the whole space. There were several large parties sat, as well as 2 and 4 tops sat several seatings while we were there for over 2 hours for a long drawn out meal due to long delays for the server to return to take our order and check on us in between ordering courses. That wasn't necessarily the thing the made the experience unhappy it was just a bit much as it became noisier at the end of the evening and we were just sitting and waiting for the bill and then for it to be run. My main issue was cleanliness. The poor server and his crew outside were sooo slammed. Already sitting in the outside tent is a little on the dirtier side, but the exterior door of the tent was a pile of mess of chairs , silverware and cheese bowls etc. Our first order was spaghetti and meatballs for our child and one meatball had a hair in it. When the server finally returned to check on us, he was apologetic, and took it off our bill. But as I said I can kind of see overall the cleanliness plays into something like this occurring. Overall the food tasted good. I can RAVE about the pizza the crust is a perfect blend of soft and chewy. The pesto sauce they bring complimentary for the bread better on the pizza crust is delightful and the artichokes appetizer, if you are fan of this veggie, was quite delicious. I wish they had more specialty non alcoholic beverage options and that they didn't automatically bring water with ice. Overall we would definitely visit again for the pizza and/or order it for take out."

Luigi's Pizza

Luigi's Pizza

9950 Transit Rd, 14051, EAST AMHERST, United States

Soup • Pizza • Pasta • Italian


"My first visit...What a find! When you walk in the aroma let's you know that this is the real Italian deal, like grandma's house on Sunday. We all commented! First of all, the location is perfect close to everything but out of the hustle and bustle of any WNY area crowded city centers. There's plenty of convenient parking. It's deceptively large inside with 3 separate rooms and lots of seating. Just to be nit picky the decor doesn't match the menu or the exterior. Inside looks like 1980's modern instead of the NYC Little Italy neighborhood trattoria outside and the food it serves. Just a suggestion for the owners if you're thinking of staying around for another 10 20 years, invest in refurbishing/redecorating because the environment and atmosphere are almost as important as the food itself and sometimes that brings in the crowds. (think Chef's, Ilio DiPaolo's or The Village Eatery). People want to enjoy the surroundings too. Other than that, the place was clean and well maintained. The menu was spectacular. It had everything Italian you could ever want and the offerings were pure awesome old school dishes and pizza that will never go out of style. These cooks know the classics and there's no reason to change. It took 15 minutes for the four of us to decide what to order with so many great choices. The food: complimentary real bread sticks smothered in butter and garlic. I'm a garlic lover so there could have been more, but just enough to please everyone. The pasta fagioli is the classic and the best I ever had (meatless). Their cup is as large as a small bowl at other places and so filling. I was full after this, the bread sticks and a salad. The large bowl of soup style greens and beans were a tiny bit under seasoned. The broth was a little bland and could have been better if chicken broth was used, and again more garlic. The very large salads that came with some of the entree dishes were amazing. No iceberg lettuce, just the best tasting fresh greens and tomatoes. The bleu cheese and balsamic vinegar dressings were to die for a small but important detail. In general, all the food ordered was good to great and the servings were huge. Cons: The meatless lasagna was under seasoned for my friend's tastes, and it had a little too much ricotta so it didn't hold its shape once a fork was put to it. My eggplant parm tasted great but noticeably salty, probably from the salt used to drain the moisture during prep. Great sauce and seasoning. Also, there was a mountain of too much mozzarella cheese on top. My suggestion place a single layer of the eggplant slices in the dish and top it with a sprinkle of sauce and mozzie and repeat two more times (total of 3 layers of eggplant slices with a dusting of mozzie and sauce in between). Top with a thin layer of sauce and mozzie. That said, the baking and presentation was incredible. The serving was huge enough for three meals. It came fresh from the oven or broiler so hot that I couldn't touch the dish (the large pasta bowl it came in was served on a liner plate for safety). It was still hot when I boxed up the leftovers to take home. The chef really knows how to cook an old school parm. IT HAS TO BE BAKED and this was. It came with the cheese golden and bubbling with a small ring of cheese crust around the edge. This was the best I've had in a long time. It would have been the best ever except for the excess salt. I'm hoping the cooks will take my suggestion above, but I'll still come here and have it again whenever I have a craving. Most entree dishes offered a side of pasta (your choice) and a selection of three sauces. I had the penne with garlic and olive oil sauce I should have asked for extra garlic. Everyone else was completely satisfied with their meals and we're going back soon to try their pizza. The service was EXCELLENT! Great food and great potential. There's no reason this place couldn't compete with the best places around with a few modifications to the dishes, a boost to the seasoning and a consideration for new decor."

Ravello

Ravello

10100 Dream Tree Blvd, 32836-4012, Golden Oak, United States

Pasta • Vegan • Salad • Italian


"I recently had the pleasure of dining at this extraordinary breakfast buffet that left me utterly amazed. From the moment I walked in, I was greeted with a dazzling array of options that seemed to promise every breakfast craving imaginable. The spread included everything from freshly baked pastries and made-to-order omelets to hearty pancakes and a selection of fresh fruits and gourmet cheeses. Each item was crafted with care, reflecting a commitment to both quality and variety. What truly set this breakfast experience apart, however, was the brilliance of Chef Joel. His passion for breakfast is evident in every bite. Chef Joel's creations are not merely dishes; they are culinary masterpieces. The attention to detail in the flavors, textures, and presentations is nothing short of extraordinary. His dedication to perfection shines through in every item he prepares, making each visit a unique and memorable experience. Chef Joel's personal touch adds an element of warmth and hospitality that transforms a meal into a cherished memory. He engages with guests, shares his enthusiasm for food, and ensures that everyone feels valued. His expertise and genuine love for his craft elevate the buffet from a mere breakfast option to an unforgettable culinary journey. With an unparalleled selection and the exceptional touch of Chef Joel, it is more than just a meal—it's an experience that resonates long after the plates have been cleared."