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Asellina
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian [Edit]
420 Park Ave S(between 28th St & 29th St)
New York, NY 10016
Neighborhoods: Midtown East, Flatiron
(212) 317-2908
- Nearest Transit:
-
28 St (4, 6, 6X)
33 St (4, 6, 6X)
28 St (N, R)
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- 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:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Liz D. said: "What an awesome place to have an event...! Not only is this place absolutely beautiful and super modern, the staff is seriously awesome, super welcoming and accommodating... you put down a glass, boom it's disappeared off your table…" read more »
93 reviews for Asellina
Review Highlights
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"Citrus Panna Cotta and candied pistacchios." In 3 reviews -
"...pizza, ahi tune, calamari, meatballs and truffle fries." In 3 reviews -
"The stuffed olives and tuna tartare were to die for." In 5 reviews
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93 reviews in English
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Review from Krista D.
WALL STREET, NY
5/22/2012
I love this place - from the brick exposure to their wood tables to their see through stair case
perfect to grab some drinks or to go out to dinner
Get the buffalo mozzarella - melts in your mouth
Veal meatballs - so unique and so good!
The raviolis are so fresh and have so much flavor!
The waiters are constantly checking in - I even came here for a company party and the bartenders were attentive
Excellent food and service -
Review from eve a.
4/25/2012
Been there couple times and Loved it and after reading 1 star reviews Love it even more. So many people were treated so badly and I was treated like a Queen of Rome. why Rome? cuz Asellina rhymes with Messalina. google her,she is quite cool.
yes its a bit pretentious, yes its a bit plastic and they might not have souls ( neither do I) but they have a class. ;) Hostess all smiles, manager is a very serious and observant, waitresses- petite promiscuious angels.
First time we had a reservation and were seated immediately even though the place was jam packed and Aselina has a bad reputation for not keeping the reservations. probably they smelt the trouble cuz when Im hungry Im capable of causing some serious damage. second time- no reservation, place is almost packed, we got a table., score
Service- professional yet hip, friendy and very cheerful. I like the girls who work there, they joke around a bit, tell the specials and make you feel welcome.
Food- tuna tartar is well seasoned and fresh, pizzettes with wild mushrooms are firm and tasty, black ink tagliateni was decent, but lack some spice to bring out the full flavor. so far Plein Sud has the best black ink pasta in town.
one of the few nice and hip places in that area before diving into a curry hill -
Review from Paul C.
4/1/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I took a big party to Asellina recently and I was summarily impressed.
The meal was served family style and they brought out each course speedily with a good amount of food.
The mozzarella and tomatoes appetizer was very nice. The pizzas were solid if nothing extraordinary.
When it came to the main courses they started to catch fire in a good way. The branzino was perfectly cooked and seasoned. Their asparagus and broccolini may have a had a touch too much oil but a lot of flavor. Everyone at my table seemed to love the skirt steak--the only dish that got mixed reviews was their noodle and shrimp meal. The "soba" noodles were more like extra thick lo mein and was just too chewy--though I did appreciate that they were made from scratch.
The drinks were varied and all tasty, and the desserts nice as well--particularly the chocolate cake, yum. -
Review from Meredith M.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 3/24/2012
One of my favorite places in my neighborhood. The Gansevoort alone has given PAS such a facelift. I am so pleased to find that Asellina has continually impressed me and religiously provided excellent food and service. Every time I've dined here, I always find hospitable hosts, amusing and knowledgable waitstaff and a happy-to-please manager.
A new-ish dish on the menu, the goat cheese & spinach stuffed tenderloin is to die for. The food here is definitely of quality, along with the environment and service, and you won't break the bank. Of course, some of my go-to favorites are the veal meatballs and the homemade square spaghetti. Their pasta here is good for a reason; it's fresh and made in house.
I also love their pesto gnocchi...mmmm pastttaaa....Listed in: Murray Hill Favorites, Flatiron Dining, Clients will be Impressed, Oh You So Trendy!, Porches, Decks and Patios
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/4/2011
I love Asellina, and when I say love I mean more like LUST. The atmosphere, the service, the… Read more »
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Review from Amanda T.
New York, NY
4/28/2012
Best antipasto plate in the city. Delicious burrata.
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Review from Tammy T.
New York, NY
2/2/2012
I came here for dinner here with a friend. She mentioned that she had heard that the restaurant had a peculiar trend of sitting minorities in a corner where people could not see them from the entrance. I did not believe her at first, but the entire night they kept sitting minorities of various races in the same corner with us. The rest of the restaurant was all white.
I understand that the seating could have happened by random chance, but I think the probability of it happening is very very low. If you are against racism and think that this didn't happen by chance, I would avoid Asellina. If you still go, please note in your review if you noticed any weird trends in the seating. -
Review from Patty L.
New York, NY
2/4/2012
I'm so happy to finally be able to give a place 5 stars.
As soon as you get into the restaurant, you're instantly met with a trendy yet warm, cozy and intimate setting. I was seated right away and when my server Rommel came over, I was instantly in love. His friendly, warm demeanor is so refreshing in NY's cult-like food scene. From the manager to the bussers, the entire staff is beyond excellent with impeccable service.
And the food... ohh.... so memorable. The calamari is light and tender. The pastas fresh and perfectly cooked. And the desserts beautifully presented and worth every last calorie. -
Review from Caroline B.
Manhattan, NY
1/22/2012
'Just got home from a Sunday night early dinner at Asellina with my sister. The service was impeccable, the room was gorgeous and the food was just fabulous. My sister had the herb French fries and a salad with grilled chicken, which she said were delicious. I had the goat cheese ravioli which was perfectly cooked and had pine nuts and eggplant on top to add some additional flavor. It was wonderful.
Accademia di Vino is closing and has been my favorite Italian place for a while, but Asellina is capable of filling its very large shoes. -
Review from Jackie S.
Manhattan, NY
5/11/2012
Let's sum it up. The food is not going to knock you off your feet, but it is very good. The menu is extremely appealing. It was actually hard to make a decision. I had the veal meatball small plate and then the lamb burger. Yeah, seems a little redundant but I made a game time decision and didn't really think it through. Both were great. The lamb burger is a modern low carb presentation - love the no bun, but rather flatbread it comes with. There is a hint of shaved blue cheese, nice touch. My friend had the tuna tartar which was very nice. I really think they deliver and when you consider the price in relation to the food quality and the very acceptable scene ( not too over the top but still feels like you went out) it all works. The wine list is pretty good, not over the top interesting but fine.
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Review from Nina S.
2/3/2012
I came here for RW dinner. The decor is nice & seems to have a hopping after-work bar scene on Thursday nights. But I didn't think the food itself was all that great. I started with the veal meatballs, which was definitely my favorite dish of the three. Then my friend and I order the spaghetti and the beef to share. Neither were anything special. I liked the sauce on the pasta, but it tastes really similar to the one I make at home. For dessert I had the molten chocolate cake. It was good but not quite as good as the one I make.
I think the only way I would come back is for one of the outdoor tables during the summer to have a glass of wine and share an appetizer with a friend. -
Review from Miss M.
New York, NY
2/1/2012
I have spent some time at the bar here but I never paid much attention to the actual restaurant. Since I work in the area, I made a reservation here for my brother's birthday.
We were seated fairly promptly after about a ten minute wait at the bar. The server knew it was my brother's birthday and brought out a round of complimentary prosecco. Nice touch.
I knew it was restaurant week and noticed we didn't get restaurant week menus. I had to ask for them. I dislike.
The boy ordered off the regular menu and got some type of not memorable pasta and the burrata, which he enjoyed. My brother and I both ordered off the restaurant week menu. He started with the veal meatballs, which he enjoyed. I had the calamari which was just okay. We both had the spaghetti which was awesome. I think it could compete with Scarpetta for awesome simple spaghetti. We both finished with the chocolate cake which was equally as good.
Dinner for the 3 of us was around $300, even with restaurant week. Drinks were expensive. Over all, food was good, service was good, I wouldn't go out of my way to make another reservation there but I wouldn't turn down another dinner there. -
Review from Amir S.
Manhattan, NY
1/26/2012
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The venue
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Absolutely perfect date venue. The tables aren't too close so it does't feel like you're listening to your neighbors (or rather, they're listening to you).
The lighting and furniture is elegant, simple, and really quite stunning
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The food
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I was actually a little bit disappointed with the food. It was good in its own right, but it was really eclipsed by the setting of the room.
Since it was restaurant week, my friend and I each ordered the 3-course meal (and different things, to try the most stuff).
Appetizers
- She got the veal & cheese balls, and loved them. This was actually my favorite dish of the whole night. Perfectly cooked, well flavored - and realy just a delight
- I got the calamari, which was phenomenal. Lightly breaded (which I prefer & love) and wasn't too heavy
Entrees
- She got the grilled beef - which was good as far as I'm concerned - but far too over-cooked. Also, the portioning was a little strange for an italian venue. Coming to an italian venue, I expect to get overloaded with portion sizes. This was more like italian flavors with french portions. She had four pieces of meat (roughly medallion sized) with some grilled veggies.
- I got the 'square spaghetti' - why it's called square spaghetti is still beyond me. I had trouble finishing it (which was not a result of being too hungry)
Deserts
- She got the Chocolate Cake & Vanilla Ice cream - I thought it was very well made. The middle of the chocolate cake had melted chocolate - which was pretty much heavenly as far as I'm concerned
- I got the coffee gelato, which was, eh...
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Overall
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I'm glad I came here for restaurant week. While the spot is ultra cute, the food just isn't on par, unfortunately. At least not for my experience there. I'd probably come back to try again, but I'd be very skeptical the whole time. -
Review from Athena C.
12/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
My Company had our holiday party here in their private party room. It was spacious and had a fireplace. We had an open bar package and also some pass-around finger foods.
Our waitresses came around quite often and the finger foods were delicious. They include sirloin, lox with cream cheese, shrimp with melon, etc. We had a great time celebrating our holiday party here. -
Review from Chris X.
Manhattan, NY
12/17/2011
I live in the 'hood and my GF and I decided to try this place after walking past it a couple of times and thinking it looked nice, we gave it a shot.
As others have pointed out, this place is definitely a scene. Having only been there once, I can't put my finger on why reviews of this place seem to be so spotty, but I think the time of day may have had something to do with it. We got there at 730 before it swung into full-out lounge mode (ie the DJ didn't show up until dessert) and filled up. Perhaps as a result, service was excellent - attentive and friendly - vs overwhelmed. I usually find hotel restaurants get the service right because it's so close to the core business, so hopefully this will become more consistent over time.
Prices are definitely a little steep, but given ambiance you have to think about it as a fair exchange for the 'experience'; as this is truly an elegant space.
Menu is more traditional vs modern Italian and offers some room for creativity. You can go with standard appetizer + entree or mix it up with a pizza or pasta course. I award points anytime I see a calamari steak entree (don't see this nearly as much) and was pleased with the simple grilling technique and favors. She got the veal chop which was both enormous and tasty. Wine list is 90pct Italian and features some hard-to-find ones.
Come here if you want a solid meal and a fun experience in a single sitting. -
Review from Kevin H.
Vienna, VA
Updated - 3/2/2012
Here are the facts (have paperwork to document). This restaurant overcharged me $1,200 (!!) for a single tab by charging four different large amounts on the same day. I called the manager to try to straighten this out and was put off for over a week ("He's too busy," "Can I take a message?") etc. When I finally reach him, he takes the info, blames the CC company and then disappears. A week later, still can't get him on the phone. He finally surfaces and says that he "mixed up the dates and will look into it." Again. Meanwhile, they've had my money for 60 days and counting! Just how rude does a restaurant have to be before Yelp will allow a customer to post a documented story about that appalling behavior? Serious advice: Watch your credit card charges to make sure no duplicates are recorded.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/7/2012
Warning: This restaurant appears to be in the business of attempting to steal from you by… Read more »
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Review from Robert F.
Manhattan, NY
5/2/2012
Went for dinner the other night to catch up with friends. Really good pizza and pasta. Not a big fan of the swordfish carpaccio, but everything else was delicious. Great wine list. The somm recommended a great Pinot Bianco that we ended up drinking 3 bottles of. Service was flawless too. Great neighborhood feel with a trendy vibe.
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Review from Amy F.
Portland, OR
1/25/2012
My sweet mother-in-law won a weekend getaway at the Gansevoort Hotel, and kindly invited me along. Some of our meals were included at Asellina, the restaurant attached to the hotel. The space is incredibly beautiful and elegant, with flickering candles, concrete aplenty, minimalist clean lines, and suave folks dressed in black enjoying themselves here, there, and everywhere. We got there around 7:30 on a Friday evening, and it was LOUD with chatter--not the ideal time of day to arrive if you don't like shouting. My ears were actually ringing a little bit after we left! We did not have reservations, but they were able to seat us at a bar alongside the main dining room, which turned out to be a good vantage-point for the excellent people watching available here.
Our gorgeous waitress was sweet, and patiently explained to us what a "Quartino" of wine is (was it turns out, it's the rough equivalent of a glass-and-a half).
The red-haired hostess had on such a beautiful velvet dress that I could not stop staring!
The food comes on very large, elongated white ceramic plates, and it is all arranged in a gorgeous and appetizing manner. I ordered the squid-ink pasta (black) with calamari. It was very good, and despite looking like a small portion initially, turned out to be quite filling. Felt like I was chewing forever. My mother-in-law ordered a beef tenderloin, which, based upon the bite that she offered me, was really tender and tasty.
The next night we dined at 6 PM and we were the first and only people in the dining room! Our waiter was very sweet, and graciously answered our questions. I ordered the goat-cheese ravioli, which, while good enough, was not very filling. The garnish of pine nuts was entrancing, however...Mmmm, pine nuts.
Great atmosphere, good food, fantastic place to scope out stylish peeps out on the town. -
Review from Senada D.
Staten Island, NY
3/16/2012
Went for a birthday dinner with 14 friends. The mandated a fixed price menu which was $85 person, we were begging for more food. Very very very small portions!! We were still hungry when we left!! To top it off!!! It was $400 per couple! Never again!!! Beware, highway robbery!!!
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Review from Amanda H.
New York, NY
10/31/2011
This place is total overkill. They had a aDJ - a DJ - at this Italian restaurant. Pretty young things in slutty cocktail dresses with too much jewelry and makeup, all seated with older, bloated gentleman knocking back glass after glass of red wine.
The lighting and decor was cool, however, especially the wooden tables.
In terms of service, very pushy, almost unprofessional. They begin the up-sell of drinks and appetizers right away, and as soon as you order they disappear. It took us about fifteen minutes to get bread and water.
We started with the carpaccio, which, for the price they charge, was an extremely small portion.
I then had the fish special that night, herb-crusted sea bass, which came out soggy and overcooked. I couldn't even finish it. Of course, I couldn't even complain or send it back, as our server had disappeared. No check in during the meal to ask how it was going, no refills on water, nothing. So I just sat with this plate of fish in front of me, a little miffed and a little hungry. Then, when they came to clear the plates, again, no questions about how we enjoyed the food, not even after he offered to wrap up my dish for take away and I declined.
We ended the night with coffee and tiramisu, both of which were excellent. Some of the best dessert in the city.
Spent about $200 without alcohol, way too much for my taste, especially given the mediocre dishes. So, won't be going back, but if you are looking for a clubby spot to take someone, maybe to impress a non-foodie on a third date, going here will most likely seal the deal.
For me, though, I need a little more substance in the restaurants I frequent. -
Review from Lily L.
11/9/2011
This review is just for drinks/appetizers. Was here for a dinner with coworkers (about 8 of us total) after a training and had a bunch of wines and appetizers/flatbreads. I didn't stay for dinner but I did hear that it was decent.
The environment is super energetic, and calls for some fantastic people watching. Located in the Gansevoort Park hotel, the decor of the restaurant follows the same theme of modern decor. One of us was a hotel guest, which is why we found ourselves there. However, despite that fact, we received service from a waiter who had clearly checked out on providing service the second he saw a large party/set gratuity. He had a bit of an attitude when we were asking questions about the wines, and getting him to fill our water was like pulling teeth.
However, the food and wines were pretty nice!
Recommended are the following to share:
-Wood-fired meatballs with cannellini beans and fontina - ah-mazing. Rather small dish, we got two of these to share. The cheese plate was also pretty solid.
We also opted for several orders of the more basic pizzas to please everyone's tastes...the Mozzarella di Bufala and Wild Mushrooms. Decent but didn't exactly blow us away.
All of the dishes are pretty small, so not the best place to go if you're starving. Go for the environment and trend factor, -
Review from debra g.
Manhattan, NY
4/25/2012
Terrible, ate there once so early in the evening so no problems. Second time waitied and waitied and waited for a table. Manager was RUDE!! I work in this industy and and know it's about making the customer happy, well Asellina isn't. At 11PM we still weren't seated and had a reservation at 9:30. It would be okay if they at least showed us some respect. do NOT recommend based on rude management. plently of other places in NYC that are good and have nice service.
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Review from Jamie D.
Manhattan, NY
2/1/2012
Went on a Tuesday night with a friend to try out the Restaurant Week menu. AMAZING. The decor and space is fantastic. Industrial yet modern with extremely high ceilings. The service was spectacular. We walked in at 645 for a reservation and we were seated immediately and had a wonderful waitress, I think her name was Joselina? The restaurant was packed within a half hour of sitting down, but the service didn't slow. The cocktails were perfectly made and delicious...try the Squillo. It was my first time doing restaurant week and this place set the bar high. The portions were perfect and delicious. I had the veal meatballs served super hot in a skillet with sauce and melted cheese, the Branzino with seafood lentil salad, and a chocolate souffle for dessert.
Perfect spot for a date, to meet up with friends, or for a business dinner. I noticed a huge table in the back for private parties.
I will be back! -
Review from Jennifer A.
New York, NY
1/19/2012
This place is a disaster! Just talking about the food, the portions are excruciatingly small. Don't go here if you know, have an appetite and want any sort of value for the money.
Then, the service was what really preempted me to write this review. After asking our waiter what deserts were safe for me to eat as I have a serious, DEADLY nut allergy, he went into all sorts of long-winded explanations around the ingredients of the different options which made me think: "Wow, this guy knows his stuff. awesome."
So then I picked something he said was fine and after taking a few bites I come to find that it actually has WHOLE nuts in it. Like serious nuts that I picked out and put in my napkin. When I called him over he was unapologetic and blamed me. When I called the manager over he too was unapologetic and also blamed me. He said "You asked if the ingredients had nuts, not the garnish". WHAT is he talking about?? What part of, "I'm allergic to nuts" do they not understand? And even if his statement made any sense at all, I pulled the nuts straight from the cake & gelato; I hadn't even touched the garnish.
What kind of pitiful high end NYC establishment takes no responsibility for their mistake and blames the guest instead? THIS IS THE WORST SERVICE I HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED IN MY LIFE. I had to run out of there and run home to get my medicine. The manager even refused to get me a taxi home. HORRIBLE. I highly recommend you avoid this place at all costs. And I also recommend they FIRE the manager on duty. His name is Fernando Laris and he is an awful manager/awful human being. The waiter sucked too but he disappeared as soon as I complained so I didn't get his name. Nice, stand up human beings they've got there. -
Review from Sarah P.
San Jose, CA
8/29/2011
We started with cocktails in a very cool looking lounge and were enjoying ourselves. When it came time to eat we looked for the hostess and nobody was to be found. We finally ended up having a bartender page someone from the restaurant. The restaurant is beautiful but the food was cold and un-impressive. The waiter also forgot our appetizers. It was a long dinner. The waiter seemed more into himself than the meal. After our waiter disappeared for a few minutes we found him in the back of the restaurant making out with a guest.
Overall the facility is the only reason to eat here. The room is beautiful, there is a ton of modernized decor and space, but another management team, menu, and staff need to move in. -
Review from Marisa L.
Manhattan, NY
4/22/2012
Dear Asellina,
Came to NYC for a weekend away with my girlfriends. We planned in advance and only wanted the best NYC had to offer. After finding out your restaurant was associated with the Gansevoort, we thought it was a no brainer. We thought Gansevoort was the upscale place we expected it to be; a place that was accomodating, expecting customer service to be 5 star. We made a reservation, but apparently that means nothing at this restaurant. You had us waiting over an hour with no status update. We had to confront your host 3 times in which she responded , "We're taking care of you." Apparently that means " Please sit in our holding room until you possibly can't take it anymore." Asellina, currently we are all sitting in another restaurant, The Hurricane Club, eating better food with a staff that cares. After telling The Hurricane Club about our poor experience with you, they sat us right away.Probably would of had a better experience at White Castle.
From,
A dissatisfied patron
P.S. After speaking to other patrons, we weren't the only ones that felt this way. -
Review from Asta S.
Manhattan, NY
2/20/2012
Whenever you have the chance to go to a restaurant and try a dish that includes cantaloupe, beets, mache, and air-dried ricotta... I'm the type that says go for it! I'm so glad I decided to dine here. Somehow, the pictures on the website made me think it would be smaller and more intimate, so I was surprised by the walk when we were led to our table. The meal was delicious and the staff was attentive and made good wine suggestions. I noticed that the later in the night it got, the more crowded it became. Would definitely come back for a romantic dinner or to celebrate with friends.
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Review from Jeff M.
1/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
Beautiful setting on Park Avenue at the base of the Gansevoort Park Avenue hotel. Good dishes, such as the calamari fritti (with caroline sauce and fresh marjoram) or the beef burger with wild mushroom and fontina cheese. But that's the problem. No dishes that jumped out at me on the menu and of the ones I ordered there was no wow factor. All compounded by prices that seem more than you can justify. I wanted to be wowed. I wanted to see something more creative. There's potential. But right now it falls short.
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Review from Patricia B.
PORTER RANCH, CA
9/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place was buzzing like bees in a beehive, I like that vibe!
Perfect place for the perfect date night! The décor is amazing, sleek lines, warm earth-tone colors & candle lit tables to set the mood. My husband and I came here on a Friday night with 10:30 reservations (we made last min.). Our server was very attentive, explained the menu well and had a way of making every special sound like it was "a must try".
We ordered the truffle fries to share, they were a little on t he salty side so we ended up not eating too many of them. I got the Pappardelle pasta w/homemade sausage and porcini mushrooms. The sauce was very flavorful, loved the mushrooms and the sausage was also very tasty. The only thing I did not like was the pappardelle pasta, the noodles are way too thick. I ended up trading my meal for my husbands (what a gentlemen!).
My husband ordered the sea bass special; it was cooked to perfection and bursting with flavor! It was crispy on the outer layer and moist on the inside, topped with shitake mushrooms and was served with a side of asparagus that were perfectly seasoned.
We also ordered a bottle of Pinot Grigio but I can't remember the brand = (. Either way it was good!
Cheers to a lovely place, Asellina! -
Review from Stephanie R.
Bronx, NY
2/19/2012
Completely in love with this restaurant! The food is delicious and the music was great! Definitely a really good vibe and the waiter was very nice. Definitely one of my favorite top 5 restaurants. This explains why Kim Kardashian was always there eating while taping her show. Lol
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Review from Christina C.
New York, NY
10/10/2011
Came here for brunch with a Rue La La certificate for two - coffee or juice, entree, and a bottle of prosecco with fresh squeezed juices to add in for bellinis for $48.
There was live music, great service, fun ambiance, and the food was pretty good - just not a lot of it.
I would order the poached eggs with fontina and black truffle oil versus the italian toast (their version of french toast) if I went back, but can't say it was compelling enough for a repeat visit (for brunch at least). The mushroom and cheese flatbread pizza was also good, just REALLY cheesy if you're into that kind of thing (and I am).
Extra star for putting our forgotten coffee into to-go cups.
See ya for dinner sometime, maybe? -
Review from Ari A.
8/16/2011
Never again will I wander aimlessly in Murray hill/Flatiron with my father and just happen to walk in to a place for dinner again.
The service was horrendous. It took forever for the waiter to come to our table, he never checked up on us, gave us water, etc. The menu pretty much only has pasta and pizza on the menu, but everything is $35+ and thin stick models are walking in... i mean what can they eat here?
I understand the "European" dining experience and small portions, but I was there with my European family who thought their steak was way too small. I'd say there was about 3oz served to them and 2 oz were not burned, even the plates were tiny. I got the salmon carpaccio special with asparagus which was lacking. It had no flavor.
Lastly, I went to the bathroom and took 2 mints from the bowl. The bathroom attendant stated TIP? I turned to her, nodded and was heading out the door.... until she stopped me and said NO, unless you tip you cannot take those mints. Really, they're freaking lifesavers?
Pros:
-see skinny witches
-stare at 45 yr old women who think they're MILF's and dress like they're in HS.
-free wifi
-pretty inside
-outdoor seating
Cons:
-Expensive
-bad service
-not enough food
-unfriendly -
Review from Clemens W.
New York, NY
This place exudes class and baller-ness, but in order to reach that level, you'll definitely have to pay for it. What do you expect from a restaurant right next to Ganservort? When I came here at 10PM on a Saturday night, the open area near the cool fireplace was completely empty. It gave me and my friends a great place to grab a $14 cocktail and chat in a quiet setting. I kept on seeing really skinny tall girls walk by, which was a nice distraction. I don't really know how they get that skinny - I'm pretty sure I could have fit touched my finger tips if I put my hands around their waist. It's not really my type of girl, but kudos to their strict diets and work out routines.
Even though we already had dinner, there was one item on the list that stood out. Truffle fries. We indulged. It was worth it. Truffles are amazing. I think these were some of the best fries I've ever had with the mix of truffle oil and lightly grated Parmesan cheese on top. Yummy $9 fries. I was impressed by the decor and overall quite happy with the service. I would come here again for exactly the same thing - just a pre-party drink and a nice chat. If the truffle fries are any indication of the quality of food, I will definitely come here to try a full meal... once I can afford it. -
Review from Jess R.
Flushing, NY
2/2/2012
I work in the Area, and have come here for many buisness lunches. The staff is very nice, and the food is delicious. I especially love the homemade pasta. They also have an array of delicious appetizers. I will be going back.. probably more than once.
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Review from Anna - Jess M.
FOREST HILLS, NY
10/28/2011
Recently had dinner here with my family and had the most wonderful time! Staff was friendly and efficient, food was exceptional, and the bathrooms were clean :) The ingredients on our pizza and pasta was so fresh and delicious, in addition to the Stuffed Cerignola Olives which are a MUST TRY (and we ordered three of!) ... They practically melt in your mouth!
I noticed they hold a Brunch here every Sunday so I'm planning to come by one of these next upcoming weekends. Looking forward to coming back! -
Review from Christine M.
New York, NY
5/1/2011
I usually never give a horrible review unless its godawful bad. This place was a trifecta of terribles- food, service, atmostphere. First of all- I got there at 8:30pm for my 8:15pm reservation. My friend wasn't there yet so the hostess told me to wait by the bar and then proceeded to warn me that I might lose my table if my friend didnt show up within 10 minutes. Meanwhile, the place was empty. So I took my seat at the bar anyway and waited for my friend who ended up being 20 min late. I thought we definitely lost our reservation but when I visited the hostess (a different one was there this time) she sat us no problem.
We started off with the Tuna Tartare and meatballs for appetizers. The Tuna Tartare showed up on a ridiculously large and long plate. On one side of the plate, there was old looking tuna that was chopped up into small pieces and shaped as a cone. The other end of the plate had a dollop of goat cheese. It was not appetizing and definitely not worth the $17. The meatballs weren't bad but not amazing. Our server the whole time was impossible to get a hold of. He was running around like a chicken with his head cut off and almost forgot about taking our order.
the entrees weren't interesting- I got the uni and butternut squash pasta special which came in the spiny uni shell (completely unnecessary garnish). It was overly sweet and bland. Needed to dump a whole lotta salt and hot chili flakes to bring out some flavor.
Meanwhile, the crowd looked like the reunion of the real housewives of Jersey and Atlanta.
I wouldnt recommend spending good money there. Rather go grocery shopping and cooking at home. -
Review from Amanda J.
6/10/2011
I went here with my boyfriend and 5 other friends last night and I have to say I am a fan.
The service was amazing and we had two rounds of their special: watermelon martini and it tasted great! We spent around 2 hours there and it was loads of fun. I got the grilled calamari, not the recommended dish, though i enjoyed it; i won't get it next time. Everyone seemed to enjoy their dishes. My boyfriend got their special truffle pasta costing 60ish... and i thought that was a little steep. We got 3 deserts on the house, a tiramisu, a cheesecake and chocolate souffle and we rated the chocolate souffle as the best desert. Overall, great dinner! -
Review from Linda W.
New York, NY
7/7/2011
Went on a Saturday night, and the ppl were dressed to go out. I know its in the Gansevort, but there's nothing around!
Space is beautiful, and tons of groups of over dressed women in platforms carrying their designer bags/clutches.
Food was good, though not enough to warrant the price, though the interior prob makes up for the food.
Service was great, my steak came out medium well the first time, and I only had to wave the waiter over, and he knew what the problem was.
And I guess the upside is that if you eat here, you get a shorter line if you want to go up to the rooftop bar. Be sure to enter from the restaurant, or else you'll be waiting in line. -
Review from Lisa R.
2/5/2012
I have been on the One Group's mailing list for awhile now, so I felt like it was time to finally check out Asellina. I have to say, I was a bit apprehensive. The One Group has a plethora of restaurants in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, on top of Kim Kardashian being an Asellina regular (she lived upstairs in the Gansevoort when she was married for 72 days), so I assumed the restaurant lacked some hipster cred. However, I was immediately proven wrong when I entered the main dining room. The décor was definitely industrial chic. The music was industrial, too. I felt like I was transported to Berlin while still being in the middle of midtown Manhattan. I want to start off by saying that the service was IMPECCABLE (definitely 5 stars). Raefelle was our main server, but the bus boys were extremely efficient, as well. We also had the best seat in the house; a corner booth in the middle of the action. There was a definite scene where people put their best foot forward without looking like they were trying too hard. I would give our food three stars. The square spaghetti pomodoro was fantastic. I always hear about the pomodoro at Scarpetta, so I would like to try it at Scarpetta and compare the two entrees. However, our two appetizers, tuna tartare and salmon carpaccio, were mediocre. The tuna was PAPER thin and the salmon was not seasoned at all. On top of the salmon being tasteless, they only included three small crackers to go along with it. Overall, I would recommend Asellina due to its lively atmosphere and wonderful service. The food is a little "hit-or-miss," but hopefully you will be lucky enough to score a "hit" rather than a "miss." The menu is a little trial and error for me at this point, but I definitely plan to return, especially during the summer months when there is outside seating.
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Review from Sascha M.
3/1/2011
Trendy Italian food pretty much sums this up. The lounge area is a cute place to grab some after work drinks. They play pretty good music and it is definitely a cute place to start off the evening.
As for food, my favorite thing was the baked eggplant tortino, I love eggplant anything but this is definitely delish. The flatbread appetizer is decent but not anything special.Listed in: Italian Food and Pizza
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Review from Nicole L.
New York, NY
2/24/2011
If you want a scene, go to Asellina. Immediately. It's crazy. And HUGE. The space is literally endless. Walking to our table, which was in the back of the restaurant and down the stairs took a good 3 minutes.
The food isn't spectacular, but I don't think that's why people eat here. They eat here to "see and be seen" and if that's your motive, then you'll be quite happy to visit Asellina.
The best dish on the menu is the Baked Eggplant Tortino with fresh ricotta cheese. It's cheesy, creamy, soft, and infused with silky tomato sauce. Definitely try it. The calamari is a tad underseasoned and right on the cusp of being overdone. It's a good bet, though. The Branzino entree with fresh tomatoes, capers and olives is perfectly cooked and has a puttanesca-like flavor. Another winner is the Saffron Strozzapreti with shrimp, zucchini and a brandy sauce. The pasta is very thick, which I happen to prefer. You might not like it if angel hair is your thing. The shrimp is tender and well cooked and the brandy sauce is subtle and unassuming but still filled with a warm depth that makes it interesting.
Desserts fall a bit short but are still highly appetizing. The citrus panna cotta is the best bet with its creamy softness and zingy citrus flavor. The cannoli are also fairly acceptable but don't taste like much. The warm chocolate cake is a molten cake and can appease anyone with a sweet tooth, but tastes too much like a dessert you can get at a chain restaurant.
The worst part about Asellina, though, the part that will keep me from coming back, is the extremely ridiculous amount of time it takes to get service. My dinner there shouuld not have lasted 3 hours; trying to get the waiter's attention was nearly impossible. In addition, they didn't seem to value serving dishes at the same time; some entrees came almost 10 minutes after others.
To see what the hype is about, a trip to Asellina will definitely be enjoyable. The food is perfectly acceptable, just not worthy of raving praise. If the service improves, eating here will be a much smoother experience. Just seeing the huge space alone might be a good reason to stop by. Just bring ear plugs. It can get loud with all those people.Listed in: Flatiron
