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Alloro Restaurant and Bar
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian [Edit]
307 E 77th StNew York, NY 10075
Neighborhoods: Yorkville, Upper East Side
(212) 535-2866
- Nearest Transit:
-
77 St (4, 6, 6X)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Fri-Sat 5:30 pm - 11:30 pm
Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Street
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
46 reviews for Alloro Restaurant and Bar
Review Highlights
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"...off with the eggplant parmesan, which was absolutely..." In 9 reviews -
"...berries; and 4) ricotta gnocchi with green pea puree." In 5 reviews -
"For dessert she had beer ice cream in a peach puree." In 6 reviews
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45 reviews in English
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Review from Uri B.
New York, NY
3/19/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Elegant, upscale Italian dining in a nice, cozy setting.
The food is sensational and the wait staff is great!
The sweetbreads are delightful! And make sure you get biscotti and a glass of Vin Santo to dip them in for dessert!
Not your typical Italian; so, so much better!
4 1/2 stars! A bit on the pricey side and, after all, this is NYC! 5 stars anywhere else! ;-) -
Review from Meredith M.
San Francisco, CA
2/3/2012
Very good, very, very good. I so badly want to give them the full 5 stars, but the bar tender was very stuffy and unaccommodating when we walked in. The boyfriend asked for a glass of wine and said "I usually like California Cabs" and he sharply replied, "Ha, well everything here is Italian soo...". Um,...hello? Isn't it your job to suggest something similar? WTF
Beyond that, our experience was just lovely. Very intimate (aka small) and romantic setting, it feels like you really are in Italy. The wine list is spectacular, very much Italian as the bar tender stated. The food served in small, manageable portions. We left feels extremely pleased and satisfied, not fat and uncomfortable like most American-Italian places tend to make you feel.
This is how they do it in Italy folks; smaller sized portions, excellent quality food and snotty service. I think everyone has come accustomed to what Jersey calls Italian, also known as over-stuffing your family and friends. -
Review from George S.
Manhattan, NY
5/14/2012
Our group of 6 went there on Mother's Day. The manager forgot the number of persons we had. The back room was poorly ventilated. The air conditioner in that section of the restaurant was not running. Most of the dishes are fish and are creatively presented. The only dish which really stood out was the Fettuccini Veal Ragu. That was delicious. The rest of the dishes were mediocre at best. The waiter appeared to be dis-interested in any of our simple requests such as an additional round of their very good Italian beer. UVA is by far a better and cozier establishment and is only several blocks away.
-
Review from Catherine J.
New York, NY
9/7/2011 3 photos
Lovely little place, romantic and detailed. Inventive dishes, but not too out-of-the-box. The server (co-owner?) offered as many menu details as we could ask for; her rubber bands and hemp bracelets casually made no sound but to let me know I shouldn't worry if I accidentally used the wrong fork.
Eggplant parm two ways: good, though the traditional styling was by far superior, especially on the blustery, rainy night we went.
Yelpers said (and our server agreed) that pastas are the star here, so we skipped big protein dishes and shared two pastas.
Gnoccheti: This dish was the kind of delicious that requires you close your eyes for a moment and focus on what's going on in your mouth and olfactories. Teeny little cheesy gnoccheti sat in a short bath of peaceful, minty pea puree, topped with big crunchy peppercorns, a welcome foil to the softness of the rest of the dish. Good to share--It was excellent, but I would have gotten sick of a whole bowl of the stuff. But that first bite, Jesus. Good.
Fettucine with rabbit ragu: Perfect housemade pasta. Chewy and light, but substantial. Perfect with the tangy ragu and pulled rabbit pieces. Topped with forgettable chunks of buffalo mozzarella, but I appreciated the touch.
Topped with a striped pink candle was the mascarpone cloud, a little hazelnut-crusted white island floating in a cherry coulis pond. Light as a feather, and reminiscent of a specific childhood flavor I've yet to identify. It paired nicely with the grappa I sipped, pretending to enjoy. (I really wish I loved grappa, but I just don't. But I keep ordering it. What's wrong with me?)
I was glad there wasn't any music playing, and that we had occasional moments alone in the back room to say inappropriately suggestive things to one another.
Happy birthday to me. :) -
Review from Jackie A.
6/10/2011
I came here with my father and some family friends for their "Summer Menu Kickoff and Wine Dinner" event - $75 for 9 tasting courses with wine pairings. I was incredibly impressed with the food, the staff, and the atmosphere. I'm really not sure where all the negative comments about the decor are from - it's tastefully decorated; while not modern it's certainly not out of the 1960's. The dinner was supposed to start at 7:30 but they waited for everyone to arrive so we didn't get started until around 8PM - yes, it can be frustrating to wait for people you do not know but it's also understandable when a random thunderstorm breaks out at 7:15 that people might be late...and our waiter certainly did not wait to start pouring the wine.
Courses were as follows:
-Buffalo Mozzarella Medley: fried, raw, liquid & Italian ice, chopped tomatoes & drizzled basil
-Tuna carpaccio with Tuscan tomato pap, avocado purée, black olive crisp
-Salvatore's Salad: 10, 20, 30 maybe more among them fruit, herbs, greens, seeds & other
-Homemade ravioli stuffed with pea purée, over fresh tomatoes, garnished with mint & pecorino
-Risotto with oysters, parmesan, lemon zest, silver leaf, licorice powder
-Homemade fettuccine, rabbit ragù, buffalo mozzarella, black truffle
-Roasted cod filet, lemon gelatin, smoked potatoes, string beans, candied cherry tomatoes, citrus olive oil
-Veal loin served with eggplant mousse, red onion marmalade masala sauce
-Homemade lemon sorbet
We had MAJOR debates at my table over which was the best but we did agree that we really liked all of them. My personal favorites were the rabbit ragu and the veal loin. The ragu was so delicious and flavorful and the rabbit was not gamey at all. The veal was perfectly cooked - honestly the best I've had in a long time.
It was really nice that Sal came out of the kitchen and took time to speak with each table. Gina also came around and you could tell there were regulars as well who she knew by name. It's refreshing to see this kind of authentic warmth from staff which seems so unusual and contrived these days.
I will definitely come back to Alloro when I'm in the mood for something besides your basic baked ziti =). -
Review from Chris L.
4/15/2011
I passed by this place a bunch of times over the last year or so before finally walking in and checking it out. The prices always struck me as a bit high. I made the mistake of coming here hungry. I had the pappardelle with mushrooms, which came presented as a tiny little cake of compressed pasta, looking lonely in a giant dish. Tasty, but not mind-blowingly good enough to be worth $22. My girlfriend had the appetizer of salmon, shrimp, asparagus, some other random items, and wasabi gelato. Weird, but good.
For dessert, we split the mascarpone cloud with cherry coulis and hazelnuts. The fact that they had the audacity to charge $10 for what was essentially a tiny puff of mediocre whipped cream, a half-handful of crushed hazelnuts, and a melted cherry Jolly Rancher was enough to ruin it for me. Until I got the check. I'd rather spend the same money at Sojourn, get more interesting food and a sexier atmosphere, and leave feeling something other than ripped off and hungry.
The wine list was decent, though it wouldn't kill them to include at least a token option or two that isn't from Italy. -
Review from Kailyn G.
San Francisco, CA
6/8/2011
I came to Alloro with my sister and her boyfriend while visiting New York for work. She really liked the place and suggested we go. First off, when they say "creative italian", they mean it. It's definitely not your ordinary Italian food. I'm giving it only three stars because while everything was good - only dessert really wow'd me and I don't know if I would come back.
To start, we got the cheese/meat platter (we chose 2 meats and 1 cheese). It was so good. And portion-wise, pretty large. I would highly recommend it.
My sister then got the salad with 10, 20, 30 different things. I tried a bite and it really was a good salad.
As entrees I got the ravioli over beet puree. My sister got the John Dory, and her boyfriend got the filet mignon. The ravioli was good - the beet puree being different but pretty tasty. I did not really like the John Dory - too much olive for me I think. The only part of her boyfriend's meal I tried was a bite of tomato gelatin - which was totally weird.
For dessert we got gelato (vanilla, chocolate, and pistachio) and the ricotta cheesecake in peach soup with beer ice cream. Both were amazing. Gelato was super creamy. I don't even really like ricotta cheesecake, but the peach sauce and ice cream made it so much better. First time I've had beer ice cream - it really does taste like beer!
Environment: Seemed like a small place, but nice decor. Not loud, not dark.
Service: So friendly. Our waitress was awesome at answering all our questions - plus she gets major points for suggesting the dessert to us. -
Review from Lee S.
New York, NY
8/22/2011
Have been here a few times, and have really enjoyed it each time. Food is good, service is very friendly. The owners are prominent and clearly care about their customers. They are very accommodating to kids, but it's still a nice looking place.
Every time we come, we wonder why we don't come more often. The only reason I can think of (beyond that we've got little kids so we don't get out much) is that the food is not "everyday Italian". EG - I got the salad with 10-20-30 ingredients and it was fun trying to figure out all of them. It's more complex than that, so it's not the kind of thing you automatically think of in the basic categories. But still great nevertheless. We just need to keep reminding ourselves about this place next time we get into the "so what do you want to get for dinner THIS time?" -
Review from alistair w.
New York, NY
12/7/2011
This place deserves a shot. There are a few negative reviews of this place but they may not apply to the management that is currently in place nor the chef. I walked in one night to fine the place virtually empty. Spidey senses began to tingle. I almost left but decide to stick it out thinking I might miss something.
The food is innovative, the service was great. We didn't have a problem with the heat of our food and the pasta was no where near crunchy.
If you live up here or thereabouts, give this small business a thought. I had a lovely experience.Comment from Gina R. of Alloro Restaurant and Bar 12/7/2011
We are glad you enjoyed Alloro! For the record, we are the… More » -
Review from Mike K.
Cherry Hill, NJ
12/5/2011
Are you kidding me??!! This place was awful. We made a reservation for 7 people at 6pm on Saturday figuring it would be before the typical late New York dinner hour. Our dinner was so rushed that just as we put down our forks, they brought over our coats!
The food was mediocre at best...cold, bland, overpriced and the pasta was so hard that we needed a knife to cut it. Yuk! There is a VERY limited menu as well.
I get it when there is an automatic 20% gratuity placed on the check for parties of 6 or more....but does that mean just because you already know what the tip will be that you still don't have to work for it? Terrible UNFRIENDLY staff.
There was no reason for this as there are many other restaurants near by. -
Review from Andria O.
Manhattan, NY
2/5/2010
** This review is based off of the Restaurant Week menu **
I have some friends who live in the upper regions of Manhattan. They'd never tried a place for Restaurant Week, so I decided on Alloro, and we went. The RW menu had a lot of variety and looked very tempting.
And, I admit, I was intrigued by the 60's-style all-green interior. (And by "all-green" I mean the color green, not eco-friendly.)
Some guests were very well-dressed, but I didn't feel like a slack in a sweater-dress and leggings. We were seated in the back dining room, a small space but well-laid out. The tables are organized well, and I never felt like we had other guests right on top of us.
Service was very friendly and accommodating.
My meal:
The Appetizer: Eggplant parmesan. On the right side of the plate, they went with the classic parm, with a delicious homemade marinara sauce. On the left was eggplant parm deconstructed, with an eggplant puree on the bottom, a layer of chopped tomatoes, and cream on top. Both were absolutely wonderful. I wish I could have this again today. Yummy!
The Main Dish: Tonnarelli pasta and pecorino cheese / black pepper, with lime-marinated shrimp. I wasn't a fan of this dish. The presentation was lovely, with the pasta delivered underneath a wine glass, which was removed by the server. But the flavors weren't well-distributed. Too cheesy to start, too peppery at the end. And the texture of the shrimp was off to me.
The Dessert: Deconstructed tira misu. Made up for the main dish 200 times over. The left side of the dish was a spoon holding a scoop of espresso ice cream. The right side was cream and triangle chocolate chips. All three put together were amazing. Just delicious, and a perfect end to the meal.
So, a little torn on the rating. Two great dishes, one subpar. Great service, odd decor.
Three stars for now, and I'll plan to try it again. The service and the quality of most of the meal makes it worth another chance. -
Review from Mark N.
6/29/2010
I gave Alloro a visit about two weeks ago. Just a few doors in from the corner of East 77th and 2nd is this distinctively emerald green accented restaurant. Once there, I started off with the eggplant parmesan, which was absolutely amazing. I highly recommend that the owners move this to the entree menu!
Being that my family is from Istria, Croatia and northeastern Italy (Trieste), the cuisine at Alloro was a very big change of pace from what I am used to...and that's not a bad thing, of course. I had the red mullet, which I had to ask about since I had never heard of a fish called a mullet before, accompanied with a glass of Pecorino. The red mullet was very similar to snapper, and prepared very distinctively with tomatoes, black olives and burrata.
I also had the chance to try the sauteed soft shelled crab, which was tasty but not an entree I would personally order for myself (I never liked crab as an entree, but more of an accessory).
After dinner, I tried the "Nero d'Avola, La Lumia Nikao" (fig/cherry hinted dessert wine) - their selection of dessert wines was a nice change of pace.
Overall, this is an interesting restaurant with very distinct flavors. They change menus seasonally and I'd be interested to see what else they have to offer. -
Review from Masumi T.
New York, NY
10/9/2008
I completely agree with Lauren's feedback on the decor of Alloro. It is very green and cheesy. It looks nothing like the photos on the website. I considered going to a different restaurant when I saw it but it was almost 10pm so we walked in.
I ordered a glass of Rieseling which tasted fine. For an appetizer, we ordered the 3 cured meats - mortadella, soppressata, and prosciutto. We were also served bread which was soft on the inside with a tough crust. It came with olive oil, tiny meatballs and tomato sauce. When the waiter brought the meats, he didn't even bother to tell us which was which. I was not impressed by the service so far. The prosciutto was delicious. It practically melted in my mouth. Mortadella was good too but it reminded me of a less salty bologna. The soppressata was too salty for me.
I was pretty much full after eating all the meats and bread but the pasta dishes weren't very big so we managed to finish everything. I ordered a handmade pasta with sausage and broccoli rabe which was really good but a bit salty. I love fresh pasta. It had that unevenly cut look. This is minor but I liked the fact that they constantly refilled my water without asking for it.
Overall, the service and food were mediocre. I had a good experience but I won't be coming back. -
Review from Nina C.
TriBeCa, Manhattan, NY
12/2/2009
The food here is so delicious and innovative and altogether fabulous. The speck was, as my dining companion said, "like eating a baby's bum." A bit graphic, but I think it goes a long way to demonstrate the quality of the food at this restaurant.
Dude, to hell with "decor." Theirs is unusual, but this place is unusual and the ambiance (I hope) allows them d'épater les bourgeois. I personally prefer not to eat next to a bunch of old fogies, though this did occur once.
I like to pride myself in being one of their earliest customers--long before Zagat got there. At one point, they had a ricotta and orange dessert that had a direct impact on my decision to return to the US (France's version of cheese and fruit just wasn't doing it for me).
I'm kind of disappointed Jay-Z didn't mention this in his song. -
Review from Marshall H.
New York, NY
6/15/2010 Seated via OpenTable
Alloro is not your run-of-the-mill Italian restaurant. Don't be scared off by the mostly older (40/50+) crowd here... the menu is quite interesting and the vibe is relaxed & inviting. I just don't think I'll be running back here soon. More on that later.
First off, the food was certainly good. Great? Not quite, but we all walked away satisfied. I'd absolutely recommend the eggplant parmesan appetizer (served 2 ways), which was a great recommendation by our waiter. We all had pasta main dishes... 1) fettuccine with veal ragu; 2) homemade artichoke ravioli; 3) risotto with parmesan, pineapple & juniper berries; and 4) ricotta gnocchi with green pea puree. The fettuccine with veal ragu sure was delicious -- I was just disappointed that for $19 the portion wasn't larger. The artichoke ravioli were damn good as well, and definitely a new variety of ravioli for me.
Good service was another positive. We were taken care of despite a busy dinner crowd on this particular Friday evening. Gina was a lovely host who didn't flip out when my dinner guests were 10-15 minutes late and she sought to accommodate us however possible, even offering multiple table options. Case in point: with warm weather they open up the front of the restaurant, and as much as I wanted that table up front right at the sidewalk, Gina reminded me that the older group there had been sitting with drinks for an hour already after paying their bill -- we opted for a table in the 'cozy' back of the restaurant. For a fairly small place, it was great that we weren't dining right on top of the other tables.
What else sticks out in my mind? Lots of reviews mention the creativity of the dishes here -- I'd agree with that. It's not a "red sauce" Italian place at all, especially with its seasonally-changing menu, and that's really the draw here. The staff has personality, just like the green decor, which was... different. Unique? Sure. The place is small, so I'd call this a "quaint" restaurant, with the green chairs, floor and accents in mind.
I'm glad we utilized a Blackboard Eats deal for a free bottle of wine (Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, pretty decent actually) because after tax & tip we each spent just under $40 on pasta dishes -- only one of which had a protein -- and two apps split between the four of us. Sure, dinner here wasn't over-the-top expensive, but pasta dishes at $18-$20? Come on now... the portions did not warrant those prices. And with protein-based entrees at $26-$28, I just can't see this becoming a go-to spot for me.
Overall impression: dinner was pretty solid at Alloro, and the interesting, seasonal Italian menu combined with the homey atmosphere make this a charming restaurant, but with questionable portion sizes dinner here is just a little bit pricier than it deserves to be so this is probably a better place for simply a drink and an app. -
Review from Daniel F.
San Marino, CA
7/3/2010
I did not know that Open Table screen reviews. I am a bit upset that they did not post my review on Alloro. So here it is:
I picked this restaurant because it has high ratings from Opentable reviews and close to the museums we were visiting that day. I also talked to a lady who lived in the neighbourhood who loves Alloro. Well it was a disappointment for me. First, the inside dining room was as hot as a sauna. The truffle cheese has no truffle smell. The tempura softshell crab was a horror. Prociutto ham was tasteless. I don't like whole wheat pasta but the shrimps were perfectly cooked and tasty. I don't understand pairing gnocchi with cold pea puree so requested gnocchi with veal ragu instead and that was the best dish of the night. Salad and eggplant both good. Red mullets had soggy skins and the veal nuggets were raw inside. Good choices of wine by glasses. -
Review from Lauren P.
New York, NY
9/25/2010
I've been meaning to try Alloro for almost a year since I live around the corner. I finally tried it out with my mom when she came to the city to visit. We each had prosecco, but mine had raspberry puree in it and something else. It was delicious.
I had cannelloni with ricotta and other cheeses with a cream saucec and hazelnuts. It was very good. Different since I'm not used to hazelnuts with my pasta. My mom had a pasta with red sauce and said it was delicious as well. For dessert she had beer ice cream in a peach puree. Odd, but delightful. I had a great cappuccino after dinner.
I would definitely go back again and I like that their menu changes seasonally so there's always something new. -
Review from Christina R.
Ozone Park, NY
7/27/2010
I went to Alloro during restaurant week.... and what a pleasant surprise! They defiantly got me hooked!
Everything from the food to the service is top class at this place.
Every plate was presented beautifully. And the food was prepared with such care. The eggplant was one of the best dishes I have had in a while. the pasta was cooked to perfection, and the desert....... omg!
Not your average italian restaurant, but this is what makes it so special.
I cant wait to go back and try some new things ! yummmmmmm... :) -
Review from Geert D.
New York, NY
2/2/2010
We went there for my sons birthday last sunday. First surprise was the 'antique' interior, very much '60s. Not appealing at all.
Since we were dining with the kids, we expected some simple pasta dishes as well, but found a very 'original' menu to our surprise. That made it quite difficult to order, but we managed.
Food was certainly OK, I liked my Ricotta ravioli with meatballs, that came with a lovely sauce. But the chef could have omitted the meatballs, no added value from them! The other dishes were mediocre at best.
So, to finish: it was OK but will not return I am afraid. There's much better to be found in the vicinity on UES!Comment from Gina R. of Alloro Restaurant and Bar 2/9/2010
Salvatore and I are OK with the fact that not everyone… More » -
Review from Penny H.
New York, NY
2/7/2010
Came here for RW and had the eggplant parmesan for the appetizer, tonnarellio tossed in pecorino cheese & black pepper with lime-marinated white shrimp for the entree, and panna cotta gelatin for dessert.
The appetizer was amazing. The combination of the eggplant and cheese was so delicate and smooth. The pasta was a bit too oily and thick for my taste, but made a good combo with their fresh bread. The sorbet and vanilla gelatin for dessert were tasty, but I wish I had ordered their "deconstructed tiramisu" that my friend ordered. It comes with a scoop of espresso icecream on the side, and two chunks of chocolate with cream in the middle on the other side of the dish.
Overall, our three course lunch at this quaint little restaurant with a cute interior was a delight. Oh, and the waitress was very friendly and nice. -
Review from solopiano s.
New York, NY
7/22/2010
Recently a friend suggested having dinner at Alloro, a gem of a restaurant in my neighborhood I knew nothing about. We both chose from the Restaurant Week menu. He and I had the Eggplant Parmesan as starter, which comes in a pair of constructions: in its traditional form, as well as "in a cold 'deconstructed' preparation," as the waiter put it. For me the traditional preparation won hands down; but the cold version was not bad at all. Very nicely presented.
My friend continued with a penne dish, which he pronounced "perfectly cooked." (He is Italian, he should know.) I had Veal Milanese that consisted of two squares of rather thick tender veal pieces (probably they came from the shoulder rather than the leg), cooked just right, accompanied by verdant spinach and gratiné plum tomatoes. Once again, both dishes were created with a great deal of imagination. Our choice of wine, by the way, was a glass of Chianti for him and Pinot Noir for me.
I had panna cotta for dessert, laced with a sauce of passion fruit, topped with ice cream. My dinner companion had orange sorbet with a foam of bitter chocolates. Except for some loud dining neighbors, a positive experience all around. -
Review from Lisa D.
Manhattan, NY
8/12/2011
I wish I could give 4 and a half stars! There is really no reason for me not giving it 5 other than the fact that no where is perfect!
I went here with my Mum and Grandparents who were visiting from England (in May) and who are used to very refined service and polite attentive waitstaff, we were not disappointed! We were greeted by the owner and introduced to the chef and were really treated like old friends. We were given a large round table (as requested) and then the real magic happened - the food.
I can't go into all the details (too much wine that night!) but we ended up going back the very next day for another dinner - I had the pea soup with tempura oysters and coconut foam - to DIE for. I tried almost everyone's meals (those without meat) and everything was absolutely delicious. Typical Italian with a creative twist - I absolutely recommend. Their menu changes based on the seasons (love this) and it is my goal to go once per season. -
Review from S M.
Jamaica, NY
2/21/2011
I've been there twice already, once for lunch and once for dinner. My lunch was good. Started off with a salad (I know, sounds boring but it was not). At first bite I got the taste, smell and essence of fresh mint and on the second bite the glorious taste of fresh rosemary and pear.
The Eggplant Parmigiana appetizer was light and smooth (I know, wouldn't think eggplant parmigiana was smooth but it was). As an entree I had the Risotto with baby peas and mussels (a little under cooked for my taste but very good tasting). For dessert! Fluffy, creamy Mascarpone with crushed hazelnuts swimming in a luscious cherry lime concoction that complimented the mascarpone cheese and lifted me to a heavenly state of being and made my week in the process. Went there for Dinner on Friday. I had the Eggplant appetizer which was served differently for dinner, i preferred the lunch serving better. As an entree I had the chicken leg with foie gras which was excellent and the mascarpone dessert which was also a little different than the lunch serving (i enjoyed the lunch serving more). I had pinot noir for dinner, it was good, not great and although the restaurant is small, the service for dinner was very slow despite the number of waiters in the restaurant. I may go again for lunch but not for dinner. -
Review from Matt S.
Hog Island, NY
2/15/2010
This is Hands down one of the best and most creative Italian meals I have eaten in NYC in a long time. Food is Super flavorful without being too rich. The staff Is super friendly and the Owners are gracious and make you feel as if you are in their Home.
As the menu Changes Seasonally I will leave my recommended dishes out only saying that everything I tried was better than the first. One standout for me was the Beef tartare, I did not want it to ever end. WOW.
Love it and recommend this Neighborhood gem to anyone who loves Good Food! -
Review from Neha S.
6/22/2010
Tried this place because of a Blackboard Eat Special which gets you a free bottle of vino with dinner. The bottle of wine we got - a full bodied white was absolutely gross - tasted like watered down wine. I know you can't expect a lot for a free bottle of wine, but they actually have it on their menu for $36 which is insane! We ordered the artichoke raviolio in a parmesan sauce with a hint of ginger and lime and also the gnocci on a chilled pea puree. Although both dishes were different and well prepared, the portions were small and neither one was very good. We ordered the tiramusi ice cream for dessert, which I didn't realize was an ice cream til after the fact. Wasn't a big fan of that either. Service was very good, but the food was definitely disappointing. Wouldn't recommend.
Comment from Gina R. of Alloro Restaurant and Bar 6/22/2010
We are sorry Neha didn't enjoy the wine chosen, but there… More » -
Review from Akilesh A.
New York, NY
7/9/2008
I was excited to try Alloro, the new green-clad Italian restaurant in the Upper East Side, because I love Cacio e Pepe, its older sibling in the East Village, so much. Alloro is currently hidden behind a little construction, but forgiven that flaw, I was greeted with a snazzy green interior, replete with ruined-decadence chandeliers. The chairs are green, the floor is green, the walls are green. Even the proprietress's necklace is green.
This snazzy interior held a lot of great food. The bread was quite reminiscent of CeP. It's a little tough and heavy on the crust, while the interior softness seems all too insubstantial. It's kind of addictive. It came with a nice sundried tomato dipping sauce, nice and oily.
For appetizers, we ordered an spinach salad with toasted almonds and an immaculate balsamic vinegar. We also had an eggplant Parmesan, "traditional and revisited." This interesting dish consisted on one side of an eggplant Parmesan complete with heavy red sauce, eggplant tenderly cooked and the cheesiness just right. On the other side, a delectably chewy fried mozzarella was topped with a creamed eggplant a little suggestive of a baba ganouj, but somehow fluffier. It was topped by a small delicious Parmesan cracker.
Second courses consisted of a fusilli and a cannelloni. The chewy and fresh fusilli came in an arugula pesto that hit just the right notes of bitter and salty, and lay under a cloud of parmesan emulsion. The cannelloni (supposedly crispy, but actually unfortunately not so crispy) ensconced ricotta and mozzarella and lay in red sauce. Both dishes were moderately creative, in ways that enhanced rather than detracted from the flavor and texture of their dishes.
Dessert was a watermelon ice topped with a white chocolate mousse, and a bavarian cream. The mousse had a consistency a little bit like mascarpone, interrupted with chunks of white chocolate. The bavarian cream was colored dark and flavored of blueberries. It sat in a little pool of stark red wild berries and a berry sauce, and was topped with a lemon liqueur foam. Both desserts hit the mark really well.
The service was reasonable, and the price is right. Overall, the dinner was superb. In terms of craveability, my most important criterion, this is my favorite Italian in New York City right now.
The Vegetarian New Yorker: http://vegny.blogspot.... -
Review from Catherine B.
Manhattan, NY
10/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
Alloro has absolutely delicious Italian food with a decent although small wine list. The pasta is clearly homemade and was definitely the highlight. They also let us do half portions so we could try more things, so that was nice. Highly, highly recommend this as a person who doesn't enjoy just run-of-the-mill Italian food and appreciates high quality food and service.
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Review from Mathew V.
San Francisco, CA
9/14/2011
I always have an amazing meal every time we go to Alloro. Now that we have moved to San Francisco I compare everything to Alloro and nothing it close. I always stop by for a meal every time I am back in NYC. Defiantly worth checking out.
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Review from lauren r.
New York, NY
7/12/2008
I took my husband here based on the buzz of Scarpetta. We had not been to that restaurant (Strike 1, I know) but on the recommendations of that eatery from friends we decided to try this place out.
When we got to the restaurant we both were unsure about eating there due to its unusual storefront/decor. It seems as if they renovated an old Chinese food space/clothing storefront, which accounts for the large glass windows that run from the floor to the top of the space.
The interior while in pictures looks cute in a shabby chic kind of manner on the internet, (Strike 2, picking a restaurant on photos of decor), it looks garish and cheap in person. Still we trudged on and decided to give the food ago.
Our server gave us a semi frozen bottle of Pelligrino and didn't offer to exchange it until it became quite clear that it was not going to melt. The wine I ordered was atrocious for the price, and I was shocked due to the price as well as the variety of the wine. After it opened a bit it was drinkable, and I know I maybe should have said something but I didn't think another bottle would fix the problem.
Now for the food. Apparently the chef has designed the menu with the thought in mind that for 2 you should order 2 appetizers, 2 mains, and one pasta in order to be full. Now I am not one to scoff at small portions as that is the riga ma roll for fine dining, but this was certainly a bit ludicrous. The food however was tasty if maybe not worth the price.
Strike 3 for this place was the fact that the chef kept coming out and serving food as well as just sizing up the dining room. This made me really uncomfortable as I do not enjoy being analyzed as I ate.
Furthermore, they seemed to be a bit put off by my husband and I's ages. We are a young couple, which I would think would be vital to a restaurant's success. This establishment, however, seems to enjoy catering to the geriatric set, and this is by no means an exaggeration. They were literally fawning all over every elderly woman in the restaurant.
I will not be returning as I feel I could have a better meal and time at Pinocchio, where I think my money would be better well spent. -
Review from Danielle G.
Buchanan, NY
9/29/2011
I was here earlier in the summer, so I have not yet tasted the autumn menu. Nevertheless, my summer experience was quite good!
I started with the eggplant parmesan two ways. It was basically two small servings of eggplant parmesan, one made the traditional way, and the other a more modern interpretation. The traditional was delicious, and reminded me of how my grandma makes eggplant. The more modern interpretation was okay, but I was not expecting it to be served cold, and it threw me off a bit. The flavors were good though, and the presentation was very cool.
For my dinner I had a ravioli with a plain cheese filling, served with a pea puree sauce. The raviolis were obviously homemade, as they were light and airy, and had just the right amount of filling. The sauce was good but it was a flavor I had never really tasted- sort of like eating peas, but with an extremely concentrated flavor. Overall, it was yummy but I probably wouldn't order it again.
For dessert I had the chocolate and strawberries three ways. One was a small truffle, which was good but nothing amazing, one was a chocolate mousse and strawberry topping- that was my favorite, and finally there was some sort of strawberry drink. It looked pretty, but after one sip, I realized it was better off in its glass. It was a very pungent flavor that was not exactly the sort of end to the meal I was looking for.
Overall, I enjoyed my dinner, and I excited to check out the latest seasonal choices! -
Review from Franny A.
1/13/2009
Mangia e parla en Italiano at this once a month class held at Alloro Restaurant. The class is $60 and includes some conversation, a three course meal plus a glass of red wine. The amount of language was minimal as Italian is my second language, I want to speak more. The crowd we sat next to was fun, the hosts were super nice and the food was very good.
First course was a mulit layer flat bread over an artichoke salad with BACON gelato on the side- the salad and flatbread was yummy and the balance of bacon gelato was interesting, an aquired taste. I had chocolate gnocchi with wild boar ragu for course #2 and it was a rich mix of flavors. My friend's entree of super al dente risotto with saffron was a homerun for me. Desert of homemade lemony ricotta cheesecake with cinnamon ice-cream and quince paste was also a winner.
The courses are held once a month a feature a beginner night on Monday and an intermediate night on Tuesday. -
Review from Alex G.
Broward, FL
10/10/2009
Not sure what to expect, we entered the funky, dimly lit place and were seated at a front table, facing an open window on the street - great table, perfect for people watching. The menu is very creative, with a number of dishes we wanted to try! We settled on the scallops, pistachio crusted (on top) with a candied caper sauce - wow! I'd never had candied capers, and what a treat. The scallops were perfect, and the nut crust was super tasty. For main courses we shared the beet pasta - deep, red color and a rich, creamy flavor! Absolutely heaven. The other pasta was in a quail ragu (yum!) with earthy mushrooms. Some of the best pasta I've ever had in NYC (and I've been to Babbo). We had the panna cotta for desert, served with current sorbet and a prosecco gelatin square. Super creative cuisine, and it all worked. I definitely will be back!
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Review from m g.
Manhattan, NY
1/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
very nice local Italian place. recommended.
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Review from J T.
New York, NY
2/5/2011
I read about this spot in the Restaurant week listings and it sounded so good, we decided to go on the non-RW night.
It lived up to our expectations with delicious creative dishes that weren't too big or heavy. They'll split the pasta primi so you can order a half-order and get an entree, which was a great way to try the dishes and not be too stuffed.
It was quiet when we arrived and we weren't rushed at all. The staff were very attentive and our dishes came quickly upon ordering.
Gina and Salvatore were active and busy throughout the night and friendly and interactive with the diners.
The gorgonzola creme brulee was an awesome starter to share and the rustic Italian bread served at all tables was fresh and came with a selection of olives, EVOO and sundried tomato spread.
Our dishes were all fantastic blends of flavors--my sole with pumpkin/amaretto crust and anchovy vinegar sauce was a sweet and savory balance. And my ricotta ravioli had a wonderful smoky eggplant sauce. My husband's risotto was excellent and al dente.
And the desserts were just the right amount--thumbs up for the poached pear and the zuppa di cacao.
We finished each dish with nary a drop left.
And they were so hospitable and kind, we'll look forward to returning to this comfortable neighborhood spot that exceeds the standard for usual Italian restaurant fare.
It's relatively cozy but can accommodate groups of 6-8 well and probably a bit pricey for dining with kids. -
Review from Ginger S.
New York, NY
12/17/2010
I tried the Eggplant Parmesan which was very good but they were not able to make the chicken entree without the foie gras since I don't eat duck which was disappointing.
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Review from vivian c.
New York, NY
2/7/2009
Came here with a bunch of friends for RW. Having had many dinners the past couple of nights, I wasn't terribly hungry and nothing on the menu, besides the salad, inspired me. I wouldn't really call myself a picky eater, but I guess I stick to certain foods. I normally love Italian, but the menu was just too innovative for me, I think. So while I didn't love the menu, I was able to find a dish off the regular menu that I thoroughly enjoyed - the pasta. My friends enjoyed their RW items and especially loved the desserts they ordered. I might come back if I'm feeling a bit incongruent and adventurous.
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Review from Meghan A.
Manhattan, NY
2/7/2011
I was here for an early dinner during Restaurant Week. This is definitely more of a romantic spot. Cute and quiet. The servers were nice but not attentive enough compared to the numbers of patrons. I think I would try it again a bit later, when there would be more of a crowd to add some ambiance. Overall, the food was good and it was a nice experience.
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Review from A. K.
New York, NY
Updated - 1/30/2011
Alloro restaurant commented on my review. There are untruths in her comments. I was not annoyed she would not take a further discount. As a matter of fact, she was gracious and gave a discount on my husband's dinner. I asked the waiter if the portions were the same for Restaurant Week and for the regular menu. He said they were. My comments on their relatives writing their reviews was tongue-in check. The eggplant was soggy. The gnocchi was tasteless. The chicken wasn't worth $28-- a small portion. The bread was stale. The service was rushed. The cocktails, though, we prepared well. The front room has a bar, but when the place is crowded, the new customers are on top of you. The back room is like being in a closet. The dessert was written as poached pears with a chocolate mouse. I got a half a pear.My comments on the food and service still stand.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/29/2011
Who is writing their reviews? Their relatives? The eggplant was soggy. The gnocchi was tasteless.… Read more »
Comment from Gina R. of Alloro Restaurant and Bar 1/31/2011
Dear Customers, As a restaurant owner I am most frustrated… More » -
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Review from THE JEDI FOODI E.
New York, NY
10/29/2008 1 photo
I had dined and enjoyed Chef Salvatore Corea's Cacio e Pepe downtown. So when I heard about he and wife Gina's new place Alloro located on the UES I had to try it. Chef Salvatore was born in Albi, a small town of about 800 habitants, in the province of Catanzaro in the Calabria region of Italy. Calabria is known for its homegrown vegetables, fruits and especially for its homemade olive oil and wine. Having grown up on freshly harvested foods all his life and surrounded by women who harvested and cooked delicious, labor-intensive food, Chef Corea discovered his passion for traditional homestyle Italian cooking.This evening, Chef Salvatore was nice enough to accomodate our request to bring our dishes out one at a time in tasting menu fashion. Our first dish of shrimp in cocoa sauce was a bit weak. The shrimp were too small and I really didn't taste any hint of cocoa in the sauce at all. Our second dish was the eggplant served two ways, one traditionally as a timbale and the second as a mousse..very tasty..a clever dish. If you have just one dish at Alloro get the paccheri (jumbo rigatoni) in a white ragù of quail, porcine mushrooms, blueberries and black truffles. It is absolutely divine! We devoured every morsel and sopped up the sauce with the rest of the bread. The breast of duck served over polenta pie and wine-flavored bread in a vin santo sauce was satisfying. The ducked was cooked just right, but the polenta was a bit stiff and underseasoned for my taste. For dessert we shared the very tasty espresso mousse filled cannoli with English cream and sambuca "gelatin" square which came from the Ferran Adria molecular gastronomy playbook. Dinner for two with wine, tax and tip was $150.00.
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Review from Charlyn G.
Queens, NY
9/4/2010
I went to Alloro with a group of 4 for Restaurant Week and loved it. The salad ("Insalata di Salvatore") is the best salad I've ever eaten ever. The risotto was also very well-done. I also really loved the decor, traditional look in a modern green color theme.
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