Nicole P.
Yelp
Was excited to try this GF Italian spot with my celiac father. Each visit where my parents come to the city, they love finding new GF (or GF friendly) spots to try. My dad was diagnosed just before I moved her over 20 yrs ago. We've had some amazing gluten free meals in this city, and this was not one of them.
The menu is very limiting for anyone that does not eat meat, or dairy. (It was ironically the least accommodating restaurant I've been to). They say they will work with other food sensitivities/allergies, but they don't.
I ordered the only thing I could eat, the spaghetti alle vongole (spaghetti in clam sauce), I'm not a huge fan of clams, but enjoy a good clam sauce every once in awhile. This was not one. The sauce was flavorless and watery. The pasta wasn't bad, but also not the best gluten free pasta I've had.
My parents had the pasta e fagioli to start, a childhood favorite of my dad's, so he was extremely excited for it. It was a thumbs down, the base was thin & watery, barely any beans, not much flavor, was "missing something". The pasta was over cooked / had fallen apart. Anyone dealing with GF pasta on a regular basis knows to never over cook it or it completely falls apart.
For dinner one had a special, Spaghetti Frutti di Mare and the other lasagna. The report on the Spaghetti Frutti di Mare sauce was thin and bland, but ok. The lasagna looked like a sad microwave single serve lasagna. It had way too much sauce, cheese, and again the pasta wasn't handled correctly. But an A for effort for attempting a dish many others won't touch in the GF world.
Beside the disappointing food, the service was horrible. The waiter was rude, dismissive, and never returned to refill drinks, to ask about pepper, or ask if anyone wanted Parmesan cheese.
The bussers would not ask but take stuff away, we still had bread and they took away our plates with olive oil; they'd grab glasses, then ask if we were done once in hand (in a "nicer" restaurant they should know better then to handle the glass of someone before they are done). They cleared plates before everyone was finished.
As many others have mentioned, it's very very strange for a business to accept only AMEX & cash, especially in this day.
The restaurant is smallish, it's not bad for a place in NYC, but the set up lacks thought. We could barely get in and out of the chairs at the table. We are thankful not tall/big people, but would have to move the table to get our feet & legs under the table. (Without aid from the staff, most places will usually help to pull the table out & push back in for guests). If the table is to be so close to the wall, and they don't have the "time" to aid, they should make sure it's a pedestal or other design so guests don't feel like they're climbing on a piece of playground equipment to pay $200+ for dinner.
Overall meh. It's a big city with plenty of GF options better than this, not worth the $$.