Cipollina

While visiting Austin, we were having trouble finding anyplace to park. Everywhere we went, there weren't lots, the lots were full, or our truck didn't fit in the spots. I did a sarcastic Google search along it for relatively inexpensive restaurants with ample parking. That led us to Cipollina. It's a great little place that's tucked in with a few other places. We found a parking spot immediately, so we went in. We were seated and ordered a pizza to share--- they were able to do half and half for us. Very cool. My half was the prosciutto, which was excellent! We decided to go for dessert. Hubs chose the goat cheesecake and I had creme brulee. Both were delicious! Our waitress was really kind (which is more than I can say for Hank's---we found parking there, but left with how rudely my husband was spoken to by the waitstaff 🙄), and service was prompt. I'm not sure we'll ever come to Austin again, but if so, we'll likely come back to Cipollina.

Cipollina is a true hidden gem in Austin, nestled in a small shopping complex next to a grocery store, giving it the feel of your friendly neighborhood Italian spot. From the moment we arrived, we felt welcomed, and the warm, inviting ambiance set the perfect tone for the evening. Opting to sit outside, we were able to fully enjoy the laid-back atmosphere, complemented by attentive and friendly service. The food was just as delightful as the setting. To start, the garlic knots were an absolute must-try—soft, flavorful, and elevated by the touch of green garlic. They were the perfect way to kick off the meal. The fennel salad was another standout, fresh and vibrant with a great balance of flavors. While the burrata dish didn’t quite hit the mark for us—it was served pre-split, losing some of its signature creaminess, and the combination of grilled shishito peppers, tomatoes, and bread didn’t quite come together harmoniously—we appreciate the creativity behind the dish and hope they refine it. Now, for the real stars of the night: the Tagliatelle Alfredo was nothing short of spectacular. The noodles—oh my god—just melted in my mouth. The sauce could have used a touch more garlic, but the sheer perfection of the pasta more than made up for it. And to end on a high note, the crème brûlée was flawless. Perfectly balanced in sweetness with a crisp, hard shell—an absolute delight! Beyond the amazing food, Cipollina is well-priced with generous portions, making it a spot we’d happily return to. If you're in Austin and craving a comforting yet elevated Italian meal, this place is a must-visit!

Did lunch take out. The chicken parmesan was good. I got it with marinara spaghetti. The sauce was flavourful and well coated on the spaghetti. The chicken was a little over cooked making it chewy. But the breading was crunchy and the cheese on top was icing on the cake.

Beets by Cipollina changed my outlook on what could be accomplished with root vegetables. I came to this Italian restaurant expecting the usual suspects—spaghetti, meatballs, bread a butter, and a fat Italian resembling Mario. What I got was… yellow beets and pesto pizza that sent my tastebuds to the Mediterranean Sea, with an explosion of flavor!!! I would jump at the chance to try anything on the menu given how fantastic my food was. Liz my server was super friendly and made for a very pleasant dining experience. Cipollina: come for the carbs, stay for the root vegetables. Got to love supporting small business the blood line of America!!!

Wasn't a fan of reception, my mother and I were asked "do you have a reservation?" in a very condescending way then told we had less than an hour before they needed us out. Very rude in their tone of voice to us, when place was empty at 6:15 on a Friday, and the place overall felt like a cheap neighborhood bar with tables/chairs etc. Presentation of food looked amazing, but overall both the dishes were just a little bland. Gnocchi sauce was a little too watery and chicken parm could have had more seasoning/flavor throughout. Still finished the dishes, hence 3 stars, but extremely overpriced at $77 for 2 dishes, tip, waters. I'll give it a second chance at some point to try other items, but until then there are MUCH better Italian restaurants around Austin for what they charge.

Cipollina was incredible! Great service and delicious food. I will definitely be back.

Had a lovely dinner here today and can’t wait to come back and try other things! It was a bit busy so I recommend calling to make a reservation in case there isn’t room at the bar. Customer service was great and our foods timing had us enjoying our dinner. The food was amazing and the portions were plentiful. The tiramisu was nice and creamy but a bit dry on the lady fingers but still good. I recommend coming here for a quality chatty dinner date with friends, family, and/or partners.

A long time favorite. The area has multiple food offerings. This place holds it on and then some. Italian is a food you eat to be relaxed, this place makes it happen. Good memories too.

This place is such a gem. The service, food, and atmosphere were all 10/10. Let's breakdown why: Food: Amazing. So delicious and so fresh. I didn't feel heavy after. Some of the best pizza I've had yet in Austin. Service: 10/10. Vicky was SOOOOO SWEET!!! I would come back just for her Also, it did not take long for our food to come out. Atmosphere: it reminded me of an actual restaurant in Italy. I lived there for 4 months, and the restaurant brought me back to that time. In conclusion: run don't walk to Cipollina. Heads up, there is not a ton of parking.

I ordered the Tagliatelle Alfredo and I was a bit disappointed to be honest. It was not flavorful at all. It was a good portion size, but not very tasty. I usually don't need to add extra condiments whenever I eat at a restaurant, but I needed to add black pepper and red chili flakes to make it more edible. I went on a weekday and it seemed to be moderately crowded, but the waiters were a bit slow. I know pasta is usually a heavier meal, but I think this was a bit too much. It was very buttery and the dish did not have much actual flavor or seasoning. Parking is limited, but I was able to find a spot on a weekday at least. Perhaps I ordered the wrong thing, but I don't have a strong urge to return.

Really enjoyed my time here. I had never heard of it but the food was delicious. The pesto pizza and Cesar were amazing! I loved the atmosphere of the restaurant as well. The pizza oven made a nice aroma and there was plenty of seating. Our waitress was super nice and patient with us. They do happy hour on pizza and wine Monday through Thursday. They also take reservations!

5 stars across the board. Clean and comfortable. This is definitely my schtick, rave reviews for local spots we adore. Vicky was an amazing server, attentive, great recommendations, stellar experience. Calamari and Bean Dip with crudités to start, hit the spot. Prosciutto Pizza was crispy and delicious. My husband fell in love with the spaghetti and meatballs, which was everything you want in a classic Italian dish. I had the Redfish, so crispy and moist... nothing but satisfied customers here.

Very good service and perfect for a couple of professionals on a quiet date. We tried a variety of food, and it was all good; we left "full" and happy. The wine list was expensive, but we had a "cheap" Pinot that displayed the balance and complexity that sets Oregon wine apart from other lesser-known regions in N. Cali. #Borealis This is an old-style Italian bistro, minimalist feel, huge mirrors above a bar that only serves beer and wine. Austin has lots of competition, but West Austin [Tarrytown] should be proud of this restaurant, and it's just around the corner.

Overall my experience and Cipollina was okay. You first walk in and it feels like a neighborhood spot. Felt like a great intimate spot for date night. I will specify I went during New Years Eve and it was a pre fixe menu. The place was packed. I ended up going with the white bean puree, meatball (shared with a friend), the golden beets salad, seafood risotto, and the tiramisu. The food was okay. The appetizers were good the meatball was flavorful and the white bean purée was a tad bland. The golden beats also came bland but with the pistachios and herbs it was a great combo. The seafood risotto was on the overcooked side. The tiramisu was my least favorite. It was really dry didn't see a soaked lady finger, felt more like cake.

Another delicious meal, and great service. I had a cup of soup to start, which was a tomato, spinach blend, and very light and tasty, served with fresh bread for dipping. My wife, who wasn't that hungry, had golden bears and roasted Brussels sprouts. Large serving of both, and both were well-prepared and delicious (according to my wife). I had the chicken parmesan, a large portion if tender chicken surrounded by a lots of melted cheese and a tasty red sauce, served with spaghetti. Coffee for dessert topped of a delicious meal.

The best pizza in Austin!!! Pasta was not that good (pasta was too thick) but pizza was definitely the best one in ATX. I love here so much :) I visited here at noon, but later i will go here at night. The atmosphere looked really amazing! service? absolutely great! they even gave us a birthday cake for my friend.

I come to Austin it seems several times a year for concerts from south Houston/Galveston area. I planned on coming here based upon reviews etc., prior to concert. I was the first customer when I arrived but, by the time I left 1/2 full...which was still early. I got mussel app and bolognese w/ fresh pasta. Both, were excellent..had better mussels only because these were black and not green which are larger. But, pasta...never...had better. Amazing...and service was excellent. I look forward to visiting again...Well done...

Red Sauce Italian for the Tarrytown crowd. The customers are a geriatric but well upholstered collection of affluent professorial types. Think name chair emeriti who retired eight years ago. There are probably some doctors and lawyers in the mix. Looking for East Side cutting edge Yuppies? They are only there if they are taking Dad out for dinner. The place is comfortably decorated in the style of a 1930's botequim with big reflecting mirrors with dark hardwood frames. It is a beautiful and relaxing room. * * * The execution is perfectly credible. Normally, even well done Red Sauce Italian does not get me excited. But there is one huge huge exception that kicks this place way up the ratings. I will always give five stars to a place that has a dish that is "best in its category". For Cippolina, the Badge of Distinction Award goes to their Italian meatballs. Every American Italian restaurant does an Italian meatball. Cippolina's are four standard deviations above the mean in quality. * * * What is the secret? They completely char the outside of the meatball, so it has a tasty charred crust similar to the char you would put on a steak. The char packs a flavor that is out of this world. Charring a meatball is difficult without having the meatball fall completely apart in the cooking. So a lot of careful work had to be done in making the mix to both give the meat good flavor and to allow the meat to hold up to that kind of brutal treatment under the flame. Cippolina has figured out how to do that. As a cook who makes a lot of ground beef dishes and knows all about failure, I take off my hat to this impressive accomplishment. * * * I am not the only person who thinks this way. Looking around the restaurant, about 1/3 of the patrons ordered a meatball appetizer before having their main dish. Another 1/4 of the patrons had spaghetti and meatballs as their main course. So the word is out about Cippolina's meatballs. * * * Now that the word is out, Spread the word. You know it would not be a terrible thing If some people under the age of 50 chose to dine in This utterly meritorious place.

I have been wanting to try this restaurant for years and was finally able to do so. What a lovely and delicious treat it was. Reservations are accepted here, which is nice. Parking is a bit limited too. The food is so good. We ordered the shishito and burrata appetizer, which was excellent. Some peppers had spice but it wasn't too bad. For entrees, we ordered the tagliatelle Alfredo and the ricotta/pesto pizza. Pure excellence. We added a nice Pinot noir to our meal which was perfect. The service and ambiance was great too. All in all, it was a lovely evening at this well known West Austin gem.

Came here for a friend's birthday dinner and it was so cute!! We got some peppers with cherry tomatoes and basil to share for our appetizer, I got the shrimp scampi, and some Pinot Grigio to go with it. The portion sizes were great considering the price!! I'm not a huge Italian food fan but my dish was pretty yummy, just wish that it was spicy and had more shrimps lol. Our waitress did take long to come around to get our orders etc but overall was good too. I loved how cute the inside was it's really cozy and would be a great date night spot!

Cipollina, a dark, but bustling Italian restaurant. Service is quick here. Tried their bolognese and there was nothing special about it; plain tasting long noodles in light meat sauce. The four stars goes to the quick service and the bread with olive oil. This was the first time olive oil left any kind of impression on me. It was dipped in with their complimentary bread. I didn't care much for the balsamic vinegar in the oil, but that aside.

I've been dining at Cipollina's for a long long time. It's a great little neighborhood Italian place with casual atmosphere and vibe (and never too loud). Parking generally stinks since the lot is small and is shared with the Fresh Plus grocery (I think they actually claim spots). There are a few outdoor tables if you want to dine outside. The pricing is reasonable and it's a good place for kiddos too (Pizzas are good). I've enjoyed the mussels and they have a great calamari as well.

Cipollina was good but didn't make it to great. We went for dinner one recent weekday evening, and there was no wait for a table. We got bread and olive oil, but the bread was cold. The menu had a few vegetarian options, but many. The white bean puree was decent, but it was also served with more of the same cold bread; warm bread from the oven would have elevated this appetizer. We ordered the tagliatelle alfredo, which was good, along with a side of brussels sprouts. The brussels sprouts were good and creamy, but overall we felt like the whole meal could have used stronger flavors. We didn't order any dessert.

We came for a very low key birthday dinner. Its exactly what we got. The service isnt over the top. Its closer to a diner experience than fine dinning. The food though is delicious. We ate everything on our plates with nothing left over. I would definitely come here again.

It's been years since I've been eaten here and I the food was great! We shared a large Cesar salad which was huge and really good. The complimentary bread and olive oil was really good. We chose the Classico pizza. Great pizza! Loved the crust! Will definitely return to try their pasta dishes!

The service and the recommendations were great and omg these meatballs so soft and yumm and the cute bread in the tiny bag. Love it. Great wine selevtio

A hidden gem in the Clarksville area, this place has plenty of parking and a robust assortment of delicious lunch options. We met here for a work lunch. We started with calamari and mussels to share. I ordered the shrimp scampi, which was a generous portion with medium shrimp on an amazing sauce and bed of fettuccine. The noise level was a little loud, with happy diners talking over lunch. The service was excellent. We hope to come back to try their other dishes and wine list.

I loved it! I went here with my family to celebrate graduation. It was the perfect atmosphere. We ordered the garlic knots to share and I ordered the chicken parm as my entree. It was really good (nothing bizarre but averagely good). It was lots of food but I'm not complaining cuz my leftover made for a great munchie after coming back from the bars. Definitely a hole in the wall place and I recommend!

Such an amazing Clarksville staple! Yum! Get the meatballs! The staff is so nice and acknowledges regulars!

As much as I love Italian I can't believe it's taken me two years to find this Clarksville gem. Service is impeccable, ambiance is classic but I don't like the floor. It's cold and doesn't fit. Looks like it should Be in a park district bathroom But if you know me you know I am a floor freak. Maybe a few too many mirrors, 7 to be exact. I feel like I'm trapped in a fun house. Whose looking in those mirrors? No one unless you're a giraffe because they are super high on the wall. But the service? Wow! The wait staff knowledgeable and caring, the manager is working! honestly the minute the food comes up the manager delivers it-not waiting for the wait staff. The food top notch. Spaghetti and meatballs air chilled chicken and chicken Parmesan are all delicious. So let's just say--the service is unbelievable the manager is a her the food is the star and the ambiance? Well I know of a great interior designer that I'm happy to share.

This is a super casual italian place, busy on a saturday. we got reservations at 8 pm for a group of 5. it's super loud here so i did not enjoy that. The food was ok. Our server was weird in her demeanor but she got our order right. There were staff helping with orders. I liked the pizza, good dough. The calamari was overfried and dry. The special was the gnocchi and that was good, softy and pillowy, with pesto.

I've been here twice and enjoyed the appetizers and pasta so I highly recommend those. However, the calamari left me with a stomachache so I would think twice about getting that again.

Why isn't anyone talking about this place? Did I miss something? Cipollina and Austin is a match made in heaven. The atmosphere is lovely, tons of seating, friendly staff, allows for reservations, and delicious food at a reasonable price. Shrimp scampi 5/5 Pizza 5/5 Garlic knots 4/5 - too garlicky for my liking Mussels 4/5 - I'm not a mussels person so nothing against them or the dish tbh Chicken Parmesan 5/5

Went for a family birthday and was very pleased. Super nice and efficient staff. Loved the neighborhood vibe. We had a appetizer, salads, a pasta dish and a pizza. All very good. A definite recommend to friends and we will go back.

My boyfriend & I visited Cipollina on a Saturday evening, expecting a cozy Italian restaurant with romantic ambience. It fell well short of that expectation. It was quite loud inside. The decor was plain tables with very little other decor of note & while the lighting was somewhat low, it gave off much more of a casual vibe than a place you'd go for a romantic meal. As for the food: I started off with the chopped salad, which was very tasty. It had a lovely Italian dressing & really fantastic marinated peppers. My boyfriend had the arugula salad with shrimp; he said it was good, with a great lemon dressing, but he felt it was overwhelmed by too much arugula & not balanced enough with other vegetables. For my main meal, I ordered the bolognese pasta; the sauce had a peculiar taste & the pasta itself was so overcooked & gummy as to be inedible. I ended up sending it back & we shared a pepperoni pizza instead. The pizza was yummy, but I didn't come to Cipollina wanting pizza for dinner. I wanted Italian food - pasta - which was extremely disappointing. Basically, Cipollina is a glorified pizza spot - based on the atmosphere, noise level, & the food. Definitely don't come here expecting a romantic Italian restaurant because you'll be disappointed.

Delicious, reasonably priced, & great service! Our pizza and pasta dishes were delicious. We love the ease of parking and accessible to downtown Austin.

I was surprised to see just 3.5 stars as Cipollina's rating given that we had a fabulous experience. I ordered a pizza that I cannot recall the name of but it was absolutely fabulous with multiple types of cheeses that really complemented each other and an unusual combination of toppings. The dough was divine. We also got the garlic knots, which I loved as a Italian from New York because it's hard to find moist saturated in oil garlic knots, so yes I will definitely be back. I know they haven't had happy hour since pre-Covid but I hope they bring it back because that would definitely bring me in more often for appetizers and drinks.

Got the meatball appetizer and they were burnt. Got the chicken parm and the chicken was burnt. Marinara was fairly bland. The service and the ambiance were great. Server was super attentive and nice and the whole place had a good, fun vibe. The food however was strictly mediocre at best. Maybe it was an off night but the fact that two different meats came out burnt doesn't fill me with confidence

Excellent! The best restaurant in Austin! Everthing made from scratch, everyday! Chicken Parmesan is one of my favorites! When you walk in Cipollina it reminds you of little Italy in New York! Wonderful atmosphere; great service!

I personally can't find many "great" Italian restaurants, but this one is a gem. A lovely classical layout, with the most friendliest staff. I started with a Cesar salad and a glass of Merlot. For my main entree I had the chicken Parmesan pasta. It was cooked to perfection, and had a great flavor. The serving was definitely more than enough to get you full.

Had a reservation they wouldn't honor, the restaurant was also less than 50% capacity and said he wasn't able to accommodate. They also don't advertise on any of their platforms they don't have a full bar. Happy to spend my money at a much better Italian place in Austin who wasn't rude to their patrons with a reservation. Definitely never recommending or spending any money here.

Great food and service! Went last night for a friend's birthday dinner. I didn't catch our waitress's name, but she was wonderful. Gave us great recommendations and even let my friend pick what dessert she wanted for a complimentary birthday dessert. Usually restaurants will just give you a scoop of ice cream or something. haha I would definitely recommend the meatballs. Shrimp scampi was a favorite at the table as well. I got the pesto pizza and added pepperoni. It was delicious! Only con was parking, but not much the restaurant can do about that, so I won't ding them for it. ;)

I love this place! My husband and I discovered it a few years ago and we have visited many times. They have never disappointed us. The mussels in white wine sauce is our favorite appetizer. It comes with their signature sour dough bread for dipping in the sauce - so delicious! The oven fired pizza is so good! , We usually get the Italian sausage pizza. You can also add toppings if you want a more customized pizza. The wait staff are always friendly and give good service. For dessert, you can't beat their crème brûlée.

I wasn't so sure about making a reservation at this place after reading some reviews, but I'm so glad I did! I wish I remembered our server's name, because she was so wonderful -- even let me taste 2-3 different wines before I ordered a bottle because I wasn't too certain on what we wanted. She didn't rush us to order our entrees, and came by enough to make sure we had everything we needed but not so often that we felt bothered. It is kind of dark inside, which we appreciated for a more intimate meal, and the food was exceptional too. We had a burrata for an appetizer, which was served with shishito peppers (perfect, not too filling, with good flavor), and split the shrimp scampi and a pizza. Admittedly, I've never had shrimp scampi before, but whatever they served me was -insert chef kiss emoji here-, and the pizza was a thin-crust pie that paired great with our wine. Even if the reviews make you wonder if this place lives up to the rest of the amazing restaurants Austin has to offer, I highly recommend giving it a try. We certainly did not regret it. I'll note, however, that if dark atmospheres or louder settings, are not your things, maybe stay away or go during an earlier dinner hour when there's more light and a smaller crowd

My young daughter and I went to Cipollina for the first time and we didn't have a reservation. Even though the restaurant was booked pretty full that Saturday night, the team was welcoming and so patient with us. We were initially sat outside, on their sidewalk patio. When bar space opened up, the host proactively moved us indoors. I was so impressed. Food: we ordered the Chopped salad, Spaghetti and Meatballs. The Chopped salad was fresh and delicious. The spaghetti was homemade and absolutely delicious. The lovely al dente chew in the pasta was out of this world. I have been wanting to try this Clarksville gem for a long time. I'm thrilled we had such a positive experience on a Saturday night. Thank you to the Cipollina team. We will definitely be back.

Food was incredible! Server was very friendly & it's a cute place. We went at night & it's pretty dark inside but not sure how it is during the day. Definitely make reservations, we were seated right on time. Everyone enjoyed their food & it was fairly priced for the amount & quality of food you get & compared to other places in the area. I think it was about $35 per person with appetizers & entrees

Cute little Italian place in a nice neighborhood. Parking can be difficult but the food is great! I would definitely come back!

Service Tip Top. Great Acknowledgment of Customers. Food Delicious. Nice Wine Variety. The only complaint is the unaware patrons of this fine neighborhood restaurant. Always tip service industry well and heavy. Pretty sure many of the patrons here have never worked in a restaurant before. Appreciate!

This place is great. Away from the buzz of downtown in a nice close-in west Austin neighborhood. Always intimate and consistently good with good service and a relatively small but fine menu.

The workers were very friendly and were able to accommodate my family of 6 who came from out of town to celebrate a college ceremony. However, the place we were seated had rips in the chairs that were itchy and dug into my skin, but I can't complain too much considering I didn't call ahead. I love Italian food and was excited to try their spaghetti and meatballs. At first, it tasted super good but I won't lie the sauce was a little weird and was almost watery. Halfway eating I got a sudden burst of nausea and had to run to the bathroom and gagged until I felt better. I lost my appetite after that and didn't eat until the next day because of the lingering sickness. The rest of my family really enjoyed their pizza and other items they order, but I'm probably going to pass this place next time.

Quality little italian joint, certainly for a small neighborhood like Clarksville. Garlic knots pizza combo is something every carb loving animal deserves to try. Beer options are poor (to be expected) but wine list ain't bad. Not a wino but they have options.

Great service and food. We made a reservation on opentable the day of and they were prepared for us. The garlic knots were made with freshly rolled dough. They come with four. The marinara dipping sauce is fresh and delicious. You will want to get extra sauce! The sausage pizza is thin crust. The veggies on top were fresh. The meatball app comes with three. They are small size. The sauce is delicious! The chicken Parmesan is large and thick cut and had a bone in. It is served with spaghetti and fresh marinara. There is a small attached parking lot. The pricing is a little higher, but it is worth it for the quality and ambiance.

I was excited to go here because it had good reviews. The ambiance was nice but the food was alright. We got caprese salad which was good, the bolognese which was light on the sauce, and a margarita pizza which was nothing to write home about. The dough was soggy I think from the liquid of the mozzarella. I would try another pizza and hope for it not to be soggy because the crust was tasty. The pasta would be better with more sauce

The review is from my 6 yo son: This is the best place ever. You guys make the the best food. It's just tasted amazing. That's all.

Had a great experience and wonderful food here! We got pasta and pizza and it was beyond expectations. The staff was super friendly and accommodating. There was a long wait when we arrived, but luckily two seats at the bar were open. I do wish they had a bigger bar, but what can ya do. Will definitely be back!

Being honest which is not to say I always am, I didn't eat a thing here. It wasn't that kind of event. If you're one of the many who've been following these reviews of mine and you get the suspicion that most really aren't about the place at all then congratulations on being a perceptive individual. Of course this is a travelogue, a diary almost, about... well, me of course. But to keep to the purpose here I add a few salient points of quality that you would want to know, and then again you might consider reading further a waste. If that's the case I won't be offended if you bail out now. Did you stay with me on this? OK so it's about the inside of this place. I've eaten in a great many Italian restaurants, mainly Manhattan, San Francisco and of course Italy. One thing about Texas, not many Italians (that is, Italo-Americans who had a Nonna) live there. But more than a few are transplanting themselves from high-tax blue states which, oddly enough, do have many Italians. I'm pretty apolitical so no reason to go further with why that might be because my point is if you've grown up eating bbq, chicken fried steak and okra what do you really know to expect from a simple plate of linguine with clams, or particularly bolognese? From the looks of the plates of food here I'd say there's a good wood fired pizza oven; go with it. For some reason a lot of the other stuff seemed to be swimming in sauce and crowned with a too generous pile of parmesan. Why the latter is on seafood really relates to what I said about expectations. Just say no, ok? Italians are inclined to be skimpy on parmesan anyway, not because they're frugal which they are; it's not supposed to be the main event. Back to the room itself. This is really pretty classic and for me the best part of the place. High ceiling, fans slowly turning the air, long woody bar with big mirrors behind the bottles, funky framed pictures all around the room. None of these seem to be about anything or anybody in particular, it's the dark woody frames actually that caught my eye. Room is underlit for its size and cast a bit of sepia on things at night. The floor and bartop aren't marble, but neither is this Brooklyn. So when you enter, look to the far left corner for a nice, quiet little table. That's where we sat for our reunion. Now this "we" is the real point of why I wrote this in the first place, but in my defense I first mentioned a few useful suggestions (pizza, hold the parmesan, drain the excess sauce, admire the Italiano classico sense of the place). She was the centerpiece for me in my last year here longago. Without her I wouldn't likely have made it where I am now, but at the time I had many painful things on my plate. So I left in the middle of the night and now was back to say what was really on my mind, in my heart at the time, and why it was better for her I left. If you have such a complex meeting someday in this town, forget the parvenu hipster joints in town and come out to this little place in the neighborhood where it seems somehow timeless. In the end I was so caught up by that moment with her I left my laptop behind. But 5 miles later the waiter called, which might not happen in certain parts of NY.

The worst excuse for an Italian restaurant ever.......service was good snd nice wine list, but it stops there .......my guest ordered Shrimp Scsmpi......never ever put cheese on seafood.....very Italian knows that, but not on Y cheese but covered in it. I ordered Gnocci ......are you kidding ? Oil and garlic with lots of mushrooms snd a few gnocchi ........garlic is not Italian good, it is a small part of Italian food.......I was very disappointed.