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A Voce
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian [Edit]
41 Madison Ave(at 26th St)
New York, NY 10010
Neighborhood: Flatiron
(212) 545-8555
- Nearest Transit:
-
28 St (4, 6, 6X)
23 St (N, R)
23 St (4, 6, 6X)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 12 pm - 2:30 pm
Mon-Thu 5:30 pm - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
160 reviews for A Voce
Review Highlights
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"You must try the duck meatballs and a pasta dish if you go." In 17 reviews -
"Cappelletti (sheep's milk ricotta filled pasta, braised..." In 3 reviews -
"Bomboloni alla Toscana and chilled chocolate covered..." In 3 reviews
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160 reviews in English
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Review from Lindsay F.
NY
Updated - 5/25/2012 5 photos
It had been nearly 4-years since my last meal at A Voce and, to be quite honest, I was a bit apprehensive about returning. While I don't recall it being bad, per se, I do remember walking away from my experience wondering what all of the food blogger and media hype was about...
As stunning as the interior dining room may be, Alex and I chose to dine al-fresco. After all, it was the first warm, clear night that we'd had all week! A Voce is blessed with an outdoor patio that's large enough to house both lounge seating and dining space. We snagged a table right at the perimeter's edge, overlooking a bustling post-work 26th Street.
Since we had not seen one another since her wedding reception last summer, Alex and I toasted to our reunion with...you guessed it...margaritas! A Voce makes their version with black pepper-infused tequila, lime juice, and an Aperol-like orange liquor.
Briskly shaken, then poured in to a salt-rimmed glass over ice, this just may be my favorite non-Mexican-restaurant margarita!
One thing I do remember about my prior meal at A Voce was this incredibly delicious ricotta cheese + toasted bread appetizer. And luckily for me, it was still on the menu! "I vote for the ricotta as one of our appetizers," I said. "Now, it's your turn to choose one!"
...And what did Alex choose? The damn octopus! "Ah man, really? I hate octopus." Before I even had the chance to let out a gaping sigh or dramatically roll my eyes, Chef de Cucina, Hillary Sterling (who, it turns out, was standing right behind me) approached our table. "Hi, so I hear you don't like octopus..." After we introduced ourselves, she asked me, a) if I've ever even tried octopus, b) how I've had octopus prepared in the past, and c) why I hate it. "Of course I've tried octopus. It tastes like a giant rubber band. What's not to hate?" She chuckled a bit, and then asked me if I was up for a challenge. "A challenge? Ya, OK. Fine," I said, in my most confident-sounding voice. "Challenge accepted!" And with that, Chef excused herself and disappeared...
Starters -
"Ricotta"
A shallow "well" is dug in to the center of fluffy cow's milk ricotta cheese. The area is then filled with olive oil and sprinkled with fresh mint, thyme, and red chili flakes. Buttery, toasted, garlic-smeared country bread serves as an accompaniment.
This dish is proof positive that there really is heaven on earth.
"Terrina di Polpo"
Served atop a shallow puddle of olive oil was a row of thinly-sliced octopus, finished with cerignola olives (a Puglian green olive) and citrus ribbons.
Oh geez, there it was. The dreaded octopus challenge. "Here goes nothing," I proclaimed, with octopus-speared fork nearing my mouth. After that first squeamish bite, I couldn't help but laugh. "This is actually really, really good!" Alex gave me a 'see, I told you so' face, before helping herself to the octopus.
I never did get a chance to tell Chef Hillary, to her face, that she "won" the challenge, but I made sure that our server passed on the message. :)
Entrees -
"Bigoli"
A mound of tangled, hand-rolled pasta noodles were tossed with meaty hen of the woods mushrooms and crowed with salty bacon crumbles.
This pasta tasted very similar to carbonara. I loved it! The noodles were dense and boiled to a precise al-dente. The mushrooms added bulk, texture, and an earthy flavor, while the smoky bacon crumbles provided a subtle crunch.
"Pollo"
Skin-on, rosemary and lemon-marinated chicken (breast and thigh) was placed atop a shallow broth, swimming with fragrant salmoriglio and nibs of broccoli rabe.
Being the push over that I am, I didn't outwardly flinch when Alex told the waiter to "surprise us" with either the chicken or the steak entree. Look, I figured that if the dude put in an order for chicken, then I wouldn't eat as much (...since I'm not a big fan of the bird). And, being that it's almost bikini season and all, that could be a good thing...
Just as my luck would have it, Alex and I were presented with the chicken. I think "damn it" may have slipped out of my mouth, but I can't be too sure. I reluctantly served myself a chunk of the breast meat and a spoonful of the broth. After my first bite, it hit me: Twice in one night I've been blown away by an ingredient that, not minutes before, I claimed to dislike. First octopus, now chicken. What was going on here?
Because the chicken was prepared skin-on, the meat was incredibly moist and retained every bit of its flavor. The "broth moat," surrounding the bird acted as a gravy. This entree was so delicious that...are you ready for this...I would actually order it on my own! Without a gun to my head!
Side dish -
"Polenta"
A bowl of polenta was finished with olive oil, freshly-ground black pepper, and a dollop of ricotta cheese.
While I typically love polenta, I found this version to be lukewarm and undercooked. Fail.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/5/2008
Not a minute after we sat down, dinner menus and a wine list appeared before our eyes. It certainly… Read more »
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Review from sasha h.
3/26/2012
3.5 stars
i came in with no expectations so that probably helped, I wasn't disappointed but I also wasn't impressed. Service was attentive, cocktails were refreshing but food was mediocre. I had the gnocchi, a staple of mine - portion was small but filling, little too oily for my liking and less flavor than expected. Tre piani was dessert, imagine two sets of small round hard crepes with mint gelato in the middle layered one on top of the other, it sounded good but then wasn't. I think we got an appetizer but a few days later I can't remember what it was so couldn't have been that good.
Probably a place best suited for client dinners, put this meal on the company card
Deserving of a Michelin star? Not really... -
Review from eve a.
2/23/2012
I'm not fan of Italian food and not fan of Flatiron. But A Voce is on my good list. polished as fancy french restaurant yet it has (I would like to apologize upfront for my use of flashy broken Italian) Italian Corason.
Warm and welcoming yet polished and refined room filled with light.I derived unexpected amount of happiness from sitting on a warm dark wood table,sipping delicious Egyptian jasmine tea while watching through gleaming glass walls Madison crowd running to hide from upcoming cold rain.By the way, I've heard the rumors that their kitchen can compete in cleanliness with many medical labs.
im in love with their sophisticated clientele that values good food,professional service and can afford to spend on pricey business lunches.
Food- Ive had goat cheese raviolis.Tender and flavorful it will make you forget about upcoming bikini season. Followed by fish fillet which had mixed flavors due to careful seasoning. i felt kink of spice in it,then sweetness of the fillet and the curtains were closed by tangy mustard sauce. They make homemade delicious pastas too.
service-is very professional yet friendly and helpful.
Overall,two words.belissimo and bravo! (oh yes,I did. im cheesy just like that) -
Review from Alex F.
Westport, CT
5/18/2012
Went here for the restaurant week menu with my girlfriend and we were thoroughly impressed. All the dishes were delectable. The service was very friendly although you could detect a hint of snobbiness lying underneath. I would be happy to return and try out their regular menu.
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Review from Brian L.
WALL STREET, NY
4/30/2012
Im not a fan of italian food but this place was quite good. the service was impeccable and quite knowledgeable about all the food on the menu including wine. One thing to note, the portions in this restaurant is rather small but still tasty id advise at least getting 1 or 2 appetizers before moving onto the entree. I had the hanger steak as my entree. As for as steaks go i am pretty crucial about them. The sauce they made with this hanger steak was amazing. I would definitely order again.!
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Review from Namrata A.
New York, NY
1/18/2012
This was a really great meal. Normally, I don't rave about Italian food because it's not a rarity to find good Italian, but I came here for restaurant week for lunch on the first day and definitely enjoyed it.
Firstly, the hostess and service is on point. They are friendly, polite, and just all around helpful. They don't make rude comments or seem overly informal/formal. For the day we came - MLK day, it was a packed house.
I ordered the ravioli with butter sauce (incredible), spaghetti (too much salt in my opinion), and the chocolate "pudding" cake (delicious) with a bottle of prosecco and fresh bread. It was all good.
Definitely try this spot. Conveniently located in the middle of the city - Madison Square Park area. -
Review from Lauren W.
1/27/2012
Just came back from a work lunch here and I'm still too full/tipsy to do work so I'll review.
We came in a big group and all had the restaurant week lunch menu. Everyone loved their meal - it was delicious! I had the ravioli appetizer (i would have had another order and been content for the day. the brown butter was out of this world), the porchetta (good, but a bit too salty) and the bread pudding for dessert. We also got little homemade marshmallows to sample. They were amazing. The whole office is raving about them.
And the cocktails were delicious - a little too delicious. PERFECT for a work lunch/dinner. Service was great. -
Review from Kathy G.
Manhattan, NY
4/3/2012
Restaurant was horrible.. service took over an hour just to get the order in and the food delivered. Went with a client party of 6, and everyone complained this restaurant they will never go to again. The strange thing is the one in Midtown is fantastic. Also sad for this restaurant considering we are across the street and we take clients out at least 4 times a week. The usual spot is SD26, but we thought we would try something different... never ever again will they see us again.
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Review from Davide P.
2/11/2012
Amazing homemade breadsticks at the bar with my cocktail to start, very nice presentation of the dishes, but not memorable taste, however, overall still good. Great ambiance and very friendly staff at lunch time. Positive experience.
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Review from Jen L.
2/2/2012
Stumbled in last night after fourteen thousand glasses of champagne. Ordered two more glasses of wine, just because I like to torture myself. Was starving, but was really too blind to read the menu. I was eventually able to stop and focus; my eyes landed on 'gnocchi' so that's what I got. These little pillows of deliciousness were filled with gorgonzola and walnuts, topped with a few thin slices of granny smith apple. Very, very good. Nice ambiance too. I feel like ass today but it was v.v worth it.
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Review from Lizzie T.
West Village, Manhattan, NY
2/5/2012
Decor, Scallops, Venison, fresh arugula and Server Kevin was one of the best servers we've encountered in NYC. Delightful experience! Incredible wine.
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Review from C B.
Jersey City, NJ
1/17/2012
I went to this restaurant during restaurant week, I was very suprised to see
the restaurant exceed my expections. I'm not big on Italian food but I'm definately becoming a fan of this place
Pros:
The host (s)/ service were excellent
the food is what you should expect when you are paying top dollars.
the pork, the fish and the pasta are delicious, the italians would say "la carne di maiale, il pesce e la pasta sono deliziosi!"
(Bad translation provided by Google Translate).
Cons:
the only thing I can say is the portion is veryy small that's when you know you are
getting great quality of foods.
If a Voice in your head is telling to try some good Italian food....listen to it..Trust A Voce -
Review from S. M. S.
Boston, MA
2/16/2012
The kind of NYC restaurant that makes NYC what it is: Distinguished and slightly overpriced. The food was quite good, the hostess was wonderfully attentive, the waiters were professional and the crowd was nice looking. Given the small number of upscale restaurants around Madison Park, you should definitely consider...
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Review from Lavender D.
New York, NY
2/22/2012
I love dining at A Voce.
Although the portions are small the food is fantastic!
One of the best dish I had was their ravioli. I can't explain it but the mixture of all the seasoning & spices were incredible. The lady who was dining next to our table also shared her love for A Voce's ravioli dish and she said that she dreams about it at night.
The service is probably the one of best in the city. The staff are very friendly, professional, and just so pleasant to dine here. Unlike other restaurants you don't have to wave, yell, or wait to get staff's attention. -
Review from Maya F.
8/4/2011
I stopped in here on a whim for a drink at the bar; the young barman with perfectly tousled hair was hospitable and engaging. The cocktail list is really nothing special, but there are two infused cocktails, which is pretty cool. I had the one with pepper infused tequila, Solerno, and lime juice. Yummy, spicy and tiny. The "Luna" was with moonshine whiskey, cucumber and basil. Tasty, but not so whisk-y. Cocktails are $13 and somewhat petite.
The space is pretty; there's outside seating. As I sipped my miniature margarita I perused the wine list, which is awesome (award-winning, in fact), albeit rife with typos. The charming sommelier approached me at the bar as I flipped through the volume; I asked him where to find the large format bottles, explaining that I wished to enjoy several liters by myself. He played along. (They do have a solid reserve list, as well as half-bottles and large format options: a double magnum of Veuve Clicquot la Grande Dame goes for a mere $1800!)
I would loved to have had a nosh but the kitchen closes at 10:00PM during the week. Guess I'll have to come back earlier some evening for a light bite and a large bottle of wine. Or you know, a glass that costs a couple zeroes less. -
Review from Lucy Z.
Manhattan, NY
2/7/2012
The décor of this restaurant is very masculine and seems very fitting for a business lunch. Service was very friendly and one of the best experiences I have had in the city. All the servers are very attentive and the pace of the dishes between courses was great. I would definitely put the service here on par with SHO and Café Boulud. All the dishes are renamed and the servers really work well together.
I had the potato ravioli: pasta was cooked nicely, creamy center, and buttery sauce. I liked the added crunch given by the walnuts. Next I had the porchetta, which was essentially a rolled log of pork that is then sliced and that disk is then seared off to be nice and crispy. I guess you could say it's like eating a thick disk of pancetta. Underneath the porchetta is a small amount of polenta and on top of the porchetta is some sort of green fennel/ herb emulsion. For dessert, I had the panna cotta. This was definitely the most delicate panna cotta I've ever had. I like to taste all the components of my dish separately before combining them together; this dish was a perfect example of a melding of flavors. At the bottom of the panna cotta is a bitter syrup that tasted very unpleasant (it tastes like campari) but combined with the panna cotta and grapefruit granite was perfect, it was perfectly balanced and well thought out. -
Review from Sandy C.
11/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
I came for a business lunch with a party of 6 so we got to sample almost all the antipasti. I forget a few of the dishes as they're menu changes seasonally.
Maybe because it was a rainy day and it wasn't crowded as usual but we had impeccable service*. I didn't know this was a Michelin star restaurant. I've heard of the name before, they were at Grand Central selling off their baked goodies for the last Bake Sale charity. So I'd previously tried their hazelnut brownies.
Here's a few of the dishes I got to try:
The fresh Ricotta - Yum. I slathered this on way too many bread slices.
Terrina di polpo - Thin slices of octopus, light and refreshing and perfectly cooked
Funghi al forno - Assorted mushrooms, pretty good for mushrooms
My main course was a pasta that was midly spicy with lobster. It was delicious and I didn't get the name of it. I chose the smaller appetizer portion. I like that they offer 2 portion sizes for lunch. It just makes sense as I don't intend to go back to the office overloaded on carbs and trying to stay awake.
Bomboloni alla Toscana - Fried donut like holes with chocolate dipping sauce. Nuff said.
Torta di nocciola (chocolate hazelnut tart, orange caramel, coffee gelato) - This was rich with hazelnut and chocolate. It was the perfect combo and I couldn't stop eating it.
Tre piani (crispy chocolate crepes, mint gelato, chocolate torta) - Chocolate crispy cake, a mess to eat but it was light and chocolaty.
I'd come back again to try more of their dishes.
*They took my wet umbrella & coat away and even gave me towels to wipe off my wet heels. -
Review from Steve M.
Aubrey, TX
11/4/2011
I had dinner here earlier this year while in NYC on business. I started with a light and citrus infused octopus dish which was fantastic and had a sea bass entree which was grilled and had a nice combo of onions clams and potatoes with it. I then finished off the dinner with a frozen espresso dessert they called a "granite" and a couple of glasses of lemoncello.
The place was quiet for being full and the prices were very reasonable. -
Review from Tracy M.
8/9/2011
Came here for lunch and was delighted with the attentive service. Also, liked how they have a very spacious outdoor seating area. We were lucky enough to have a gorgeous day out.
Started with the burrata: creamy pugliese mozzarella,
roasted beets, black pepper, orange. Very yum. The mozzarella was very tender and melted in your mouth like a goat cheese. The orange balanced out the tartness of the beets. Then came the branzino. LOVE branzino in the summer! The skin was nice and crispy and the fish was grilled and seasoned well. The clams provided some nice texture to the dish but I wish the potatoes were cooked a little more. I know they were going for a soft/hard texture balance but they were a little too hard IMO.
Would return to again! -
Review from Rohit S.
Edison, NJ
2/9/2012
The initial atmosphere was nice, the layout was good. My coworkers and I decided to try it for Restaurant Week, having read good things. Admittedly, my view of the restaurant is limited, being vegetarian. There was one vegetarian appetizer and entree on their fixed menu, a ravioli and a spaghetti dish. Prior to the start of the meal, we had asked the waiter how long a lunch usually took, specifically today (as it was busy). He told us around 40 minutes, which we thought was great.
The first poor mark was that with a fixed menu, the appetizer alone took 15-20 minutes to arrive.The entree took 15-20 minutes to arrive after we had our plates cleared, and desert another 15-20 minutes after the entree plates were cleared. In total, we ended up there for an hour and 20 minutes. It was hard to get a staff member when we needed something, and though we spoke to the manager, when he first came up to us, he laid flattering comments onto the only female at our table, apparently in hopes to appease us. We told him how the meal took much longer then expected, and he apologized, saying if our boss was upset, to have him come by at the end of the day for a drink on him (the manager). He didn't give us a card, a name, anything to indicate we had ever even spoken to him.
On top of that, the vegetarian entree was a tough spaghetti in a tomato sauce slightly spicier then normal and with oil. The appetizer was quite good, and the dessert as well, but the service along with the entree ruined the experience.
I fully understand they were busy, but the waiter should have known it too, and not told us the meal would take the usual amount of time. The entree was something I could pick up at a corner Italian place for a third the cost and thrice the amount of food. And the manager didn't seem sincere in his apology at all, just interested in getting us out of there.
I went with two other people, and only one of them loved their meal as a whole (though was also set off by the experience), and the other was also disappointed in their entree (both got the hake). Maybe the experience is good when they're not busy, or if you eat meat, so take what I say with a grain of salt, but in all, its not an experience I (or my coworkers) care to repeat. -
Review from Martina R.
New York, NY
6/23/2011
Came here only for wine at the bar. They had both in and outdoor seating for drinks which was great for the summer. The staff was very professional and friendly and made us feel at home. Even the clientel here was very friendly and open. The interior design of the restaurant is phenomenal - with the tables for the servers in the middle of the restaurant - creating a very open, homey feeling.
I'm usually a red wine drinker - but had a few glasses of an amazing white that was recommended. I regret not having taken note of its name.
I cannot speak for the food, but for an upscale glass of wine just off Madison Square park, this place is a great bet. -
Review from Sascha M.
5/13/2011
Dating diaries lunchtime edition. Went on a lunch date here with a guy I was eh about. We decided to sit outside since it was such a beautiful day. Sparkling water and I had asked for a glass of very light white wine but he insisted on getting a bottle even though I said I wouldn't be able to finish it with him.
As for food, the bread with olive oil to start was pretty yummy. We started with the Cassoncini Con Prosciutto Di Parma . Fried little pocket of cheese and swiss chard that you wrap in prosciutto- this was super yummy and the prosciutto was paper thin. I then had the Linguine with crab and breadcrumbs which was super delicious. He had some sort of pasta as well.
Definitely a nice place to have a nice leisurely lunch. -
Review from Henry T.
New York, NY
7/30/2011
A Voce serves many fine dishes, but nothing reached the heights of originality and flavor. The octupus appetizer was bland. I had fish for dinner which did have a nice crust. My friend had the lamb was seemed better. The sides of green peas and potatoes was mediocre and uninspired, I could have duplicated it with a can of peas and box of mashed potatoes.
I hope the review isn't too negative. It's not a bad place for dinner if you happen to walk by, but I wouldn't go out of my way to get there. -
Review from Rhea U.
Washington, DC
8/3/2011
The food is outstanding, the service is attentive, the atmosphere is classy, and the drinks are tasty. Sold.
I have had multiple delicious experiences at A Voce, and am longing to go back. -
Review from Mark K.
Port Chester, NY
1/14/2012
Reasonably priced and delicious. Came here on a Thursday night - the place was full. Service was good, the only complaint was busboys trying to grab plates while we were still eating (wonder why restaurants don't discourage that). The pastas are tasty and unique. The hangar steak was wonderful. I will be back!
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Review from Liz F.
Long Island City, NY
1/7/2012
I was wondering when I'd find my first five star restaurant and A Voce is it! From the beautiful, warm and inviting room to the excellent service and food this place was perfect from top to bottom.
The sommelier, Cynthia, was wonderful and brought us perfectly matched (reasonably priced!) bottles of wine that paired well with our food and tastes - she couldn't have been more delightful or gracious throughout the entire evening.
Our server, Michael, was the same with good insight on the food and great recommendations. I started with a dish that was crescent shaped "pillow" stuffed with Swiss chard and cheese with prosciutto on the side. Yummy! My friend shared a bit of her arugula salad and it was flavorful without being overpowering. For my entree, I tried the the trout for a change of pace and it was filleted with no bones, and drizzled with a light anchovy vinaigrette. Dessert was a cream stuffed pastry with a chocolate sauce and Cynthia brought us a hard cider to go with it that was fabulous.
I CAN'T wait to go back here - it's wonderful!!!! -
Review from Tim W.
4/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
This on is for my gurl V. You know who you are!! Here we go...so so so! but no so so by any means. I've been wanting to come to A Voce since I USED to live in the 'hood, but you know how it is...restaurants come and go and there is JUST so many calories and bling I can spend in the day trying all the favs. But since my man is BFF with the maitre'd here, well it was a no brainer.
Showed up at 8:15 to a smiling face both at the reception (points!!) and to my friend T. I was a little late as I was probably the LAST to leave work (of course) but upon sitting down was again greeted with a gorgeous rose wine bursting with summer! Despite my bikeride to A Voce reqjuiring a scarf hat and winter jacket...ahhh...winter release your grip on my city! I'm sick of you!! i banish you to the neither-regions of Nunavit
After a nice refreshing splash of summer, a round of bordeaux came blissfully to the table and while you may not like my description my dinner date Y and I BOTH describe our palates in wine as follows:
"we want to tase like we have been chewing on our grandfathers leather Louis Vuitton..." that usually gives the sommelier a good idea of what we are looking for and T with his graceful and delicate palate KNEW in advance...how DOES he do it? Such the delicate flower he is.
The food oh the food. What to order, so many precious little pastas, so many delicate little fish. Thank goodness my man was present so i could close the menu and splash more leathery oaky goodness back and not worry about a thing, knowing I'll be WELL taken care of...thank goodness for the folks at my fingertips knowing my preferences and taking care of me weather in my town or my OTHER town...ahem...miss V!!!
I averted my ears and eyes as L ordered our meal. Im not told what we were entitled to but to expect a lavish reception of tasty bites. And tasty bites they were...what arrived at our table was pure spring bliss...despite the trees bending sideways outside! The Funghi al forno arrived with gusto and like I said slid into my fork with delicate texture and dissolved but not before the "trumpet" sounded the mushrooms arrival into my awaiting starving stomach! But next to the dish of pure goodness from the woods, was pure excellence of what slithers, nay, slimes through the woods. Those of you who turn your noses to snails havent opened your palate to the wonder of periwinkle snails. Tender kernels of snails doused in the god of spring (the ramp) and a bit of polenta made for a mouthwatering...i know...snails mouthwatering? Yes, ahhh please sir I want some more?!!
Yes, more is coming was the response. And what arrived was tender bites of gnocci, a bit large but pillowy none-the-less, just when i was opening my eyes after the exxxtacy of sauce covering my gnocci was there a slice of the moon placed in front of me...filled pasta the size of a silver dollar. What? only one? you need only one was the response...I'll be the judge...slow motion, fork the side of the ravioli and what gushed out was life giving, moreover, life saving, smile producing cheese glorious cheese not just glorious cheese but tallegio stinky you say? no i say, just plain heaven. can i PLEASE have my plate back i want to lick the plate....the bus boy nearly had to rip the plate from my hands before i relinqished my grip...fear not I was told there are more items on the way...not to mention a final "entree" eeee ghasp! you know i can deal
The house made pasta was to die for. A rarely seen Pici pasta. Like I know what that is...i said...its basically thick spaghetti...i'm thinking...hmmm...thick spaghetti? thick spaghettii? when it arrived...it was yes, thick spaghetti but OH SO MUCH more that is like saying a firemans hose is a big garden hose...but I digress...it was perfectly al dente with spring peas full of springtime...curse the wind on the window...but back to the table another pasta...cavatelli with brussels sprouts...i thought brussels were done for the season but no like coco chanel the chef brought them back in style.
Ok Ok so we'll have the chicken? the chicken? who eats out and orders chicken...really? trust me says T...ooook! and glad i did because it was so tender so moist so juicy...i think i know the secret!
Finished? yes, thank you...quite comfortable! not so fast. dessert... a dessert for the table...A DESSERT A DESSERT? not A dessert but THE dessertS all of them...on the menu showed up on our table. In brilliance...the lemon mousse, the bombolini, oh the bombolini (we managed to squeeze another serving of those...dont forget the sorbet oh and the espresso chocolate crunch. Ok ok i'm in a coma...well only minutes later i wake up with some muscat in front of me...need a DD 72oz coffee to get home.
this meal was a marathon and like a marathon its SO about the journey and the pain at the finish? well its requited by the love of what I went through to get there. GO!! -
Review from Emily R.
Union City, NJ
5/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
My boyfriend took me here for my birthday and we had a great time! We had a table in a strange spot near the servers station, high traffic but at least it was more intimate than one of the two tops all in a row around the edges of the dinning room.
We started with some cocktails and they were both delicious. His had moonshine and cucumber, mine vodka and white cranberry juice. For appetizers we shared the Mollecche (fried soft shell crab) and Cassoncini con prosciutto di parma (spinach filled pastries with thin slices of prosciutto). Both were good but the crab was my favorite. There was something sickly poetic about a birthday girl eating a creature who molted his shell so that he might grow a new one as he aged another year.
Next course Linguine with lobster, tomatoes and finely ground sausage. It was good but I wish there was more lobster, then again, I always wish there was more lobster. The pasta was perfectly to the tooth.
Next course Porchetta, roasted pork belly with polenta and fennel. We also ordered a side of Verza piccola, roasted Brussels sprouts. By that time I was a few cocktails deep and forgot that the dish came with fennel. I like fennel but from a distance I thought the thin white slices were onions, which I like only in moderation. We had a good laugh at my silliness and the fennel was a nice complement to the pork. My first bite was a little fatty and a few bites were a little dry but the polenta balanced it out. The sprouts were nice, not mushy but firm.
Dessert. I never order dessert, but hey, it was my birthday. We shared the Bomboloni alla Toscana, little doughnuts with bittersweet chocolate sauce. The waiter brought it out with a little plate with a candle on it and I was happy they made the gesture without making it a spectacle. The doughnuts were soft and a little creamy on the inside. Bittersweet chocolate was perfect for a girl with a mild sweet tooth. Espresso with a little lemon rind and I was a happy little princess. -
Review from Kathleen M.
Allentown, PA
12/8/2011
Went for lunch with some business associates and everyone enjoyed their meals. I, personally, loved mine! The hosts were incredibly kind and accommodating in squeezing us in even though we didn't have a reservation and they had a busy lunch ahead. I enjoyed the ricotta appetizer, and the trout entree. The trout, with bitter greens and an anchovy vinaigrette was amazing! It was heavy handed on the anchovy, which I think they did intentionally because I told them the more anchovy the better. I love attentive servers!
Speaking of servers, ours was wonderful. He was helpful, pleasant and perfect throughout the entire lunch. Everything about our lunch was outstanding. I would highly recommend if you are in the area. -
Review from Peggy P.
Queens, NY
5/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
I was very disappointed with my experience here. It was an impromptu dinner but I've read reviews of the one at Columbus Circle so was expecting a lot more at this one.
So many things went wrong:
My boyfriend's drink order was wrong even after he told the waiter three times very slowly what he would like.
They placed the wrong appetizer on our table and it took forever to flag them down to tell them.
And then my entree never came out! It was a good thing we ordered 3 appetizers [hah, yeah, we're a bit crazy with our food] to hold us over. And, we're not a couple to ever complain to our waiter but it took THAT long. By the time my Lobster Linguine came out it was cold. That's never happened to me before at a restaurant so I was taken aback. We sent it back and the waiter apologized but by the time it came back out I wasn't hungry anymore.... -
Review from Sofia C.
Bronx, NY
12/13/2011
This restaurant is so easy to rate: EXCELLENT!!!! The service was amazing, every single one of the people working at this place is so polite and nice, it was truly a pleasure to dine there. The food? Oh my God!! I thought I was in food heaven!! From the appetizers to the main course to the dessert everything was delicious! I went there with 2 friends and we were just looking at each other in disbelief...how can everything be so darn good??!!! You can almost order with your eyes closed, whatever you order it's great! At this point, I am honestly just looking for any excuse to go back there as soon as possible.
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Review from Helen B.
2/26/2011
Review for Lunch:
Went here for lunch the other day and had the dorade which was good and shared the side of brussels sprouts and cauliflower. The cauliflower was really really delicious and highly recommend it! I am not a huge pasta fan and the menu has quite a bit of pasta and meat.
Will be back in the future to try a few more items, but the menu doesn't seem that amazing if you are not a big pasta fan or craving it.. Service was great. -
Review from Jackie K.
Manhattan, NY
3/1/2011 4 photos
The ambiance is beautiful, the front host/greeter was so nice and friendly, but the food did not stand out as amazing.
Here is the breakdown:
Ricotta appetizer - I was expecting it to be like the one at Locanda Verde, but was sadly disappointed.
Funghi appetizer - Tasty.
Quadratti - Generous with the truffle shavings. Pretty good, but wasn't blown away.
Ravioli - Again, tasty but not fabulous.
I usually always order dessert (sometimes even 2), but none of them stood out and screamed my name. So after dinner, we headed over to Max Brenner and waited 45 minutes to get seated, and ended up ordering 3 desserts for the 2 of us :)
Ultimately, I'm glad I tried the food, as it was a good dinner, but I probably wouldn't go back. -
Review from Des D.
Corte Madera, CA
3/24/2011
Nice looking restaurant.
Service and food was just okay and for the bill it would be hard to warrant more than a 3.
There's a theme here.. The appetizers including the ricotta were okay nothing overly memorable. Pasta they comp'd i thought was plain nasty. My main the ossobuco ($34) again was okay. And the desserts just kay
The wine list is impressive as are the high prices (mark-up) per bottle.
So many better restaurants, to be had on a smaller budget. -
Review from Jennifer P.
Jackson Heights, NY
1/26/2011
Restaurant Week Review.
We (Group of 11 co-workers with a reservation) dined here today. Our reservation was for 1pm. We ordered promptly, however our appetizers didn't arrive till 1:50pm. They took our drink order and never delivered. Requests for more bread were ignored till it was too late to matter, Time between courses was abominable. We kept getting apologies but no change in service level. '
Honestly, the food could have been the best ever but I wouldn't want to go back. The food was ok, bordering on good, but not worth the time.
I'm pretty certain we were treated differently because we were all ordering from the Restaurant Week menu. Other tables were given much better service.
One of our party expressed displeasure with the service and in exchange they took off a $15 bottle of wine charge and a diet coke.
I'm sure it's "wonderful"if you're not going for Restaurant Week..., but I'll pass. :) -
Review from David S.
I don't usually write reviews after only having the restaurant week menu, but this was a fantastic meal that deserves the stars. Unlike many restaurant week menus, this was not striped down food, full flavor, good products. I sat at the bar, very nice calm service, friendly bartender. The olive oil served to dip the crusty bread in was memorable, very floral, deep olive flavor, fantastic oil. For my appetizer I had the Ravioli (Potato filled pasta, walnuts, smoked ricotta, brown butter). Delicious, perfect size, not too heavy but deep flavors. good dish but upstaged by the amazing entree, Porchetta (roasted pork, creamy polenta, salsa verde). Perfect texture and flavor. Soft and delicate on the inside, a nice crisp sear on the outside, this was just awesome. Loved the polenta and salsa verde, nice contribution to the dish. The desert was perfect for me, as it was not overly sweet, chocolate bread pudding. The limoncello marshmallows complements of the kitchen were great and not to much alcohol flavor. Excellent value, strong flavors, well cooked food. Loved this meal, looking forward to returning soon.
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Review from Anna A.
Upper East Side, Manhattan, NY
10/10/2011
I went for Valentine's Day with my boyfriend. Food was great but I was so turned off by the service that I would probably never go back again.
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Review from Mona E.
Manhattan, NY
11/20/2011
Dear friends treated me to A Voce (Madison Ave location). It was wonderful! From the expertise of the bartenders (we had cocktails prior to dinner); to the exceptional service of our server Walter (who knew the menu inside and out); to our wine steward who helped us pick the PERFECT white; to again Walter who helped us select three incredible antipastis; to Chef Robbins who came tableside to hand shave fresh truffels for our pasta; to the flavorful sea bass, trout and lamb entrees that we selected; and to close out our evening with two "to die for" desserts (Figs with Black Pepper Gelato and Cripsy Chocolate Crepes with Mint Gelato)!! My advice.....GO and ENJOY and then GO BACK AGAIN and AGAIN! That's what I am going to do :)
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Review from Vinotaine e.
Greenwich, CT
2/2/2011
Had the following during the Restaurant Week
* Mezzaluna - rich & delicious
* Veal & pork meatball in broth - delicious & a bit heavy/fatty
* Semifredo - rich & chocolaty. I wish it had some fresh berry or lemon sorbet to cut through the richness & fat.
I wanted to give it a 3.5 star, but Steve, the day-time bartender, made the dining experience worth awhile -
Review from Ben R.
New York, NY
3/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great food, Service and Ambiance.
Awesome
By the way Tom is the greatest he took care of us as no other and made if more special
