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Aurora
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian [Edit]
70 Grand St(between Kent Ave & Wythe Ave)
Brooklyn, NY 11211
Neighborhoods: Williamsburg - South Side, Williamsburg - North Side
(718) 388-5100
- Nearest Transit:
-
Bedford Av (L)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 12 pm - 3:30 pm
Mon-Thu 6 pm - 11 pm
Fri-Sat 6 pm - 12 am
Sat-Sun 11 am - 3:30 pm
Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
193 reviews for Aurora
Review Highlights
193 reviews in English
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Review from Jill H.
5/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
Aurora was wonderful. The experience was great start to finish. I went for a friend's birthday in a large party (I think 14 people) which is normally my nightmare. But somehow it ended up working out great at Aurora.
We sat in the back outdoor area but it had been raining so there was plastic up. The way they had the lights set up it wasn't tacky at all. It was actually really cute and romantic. I think it would be a great place to have a date.
Since there were so many of us we ordered a lot of food
To start -
Cheese plate - the amount of each type of cheese was a bit lacking (we did 3 kinds at $13/plate) , but the cheese themselves were delicious and it is served with honey, almonds and fig marmelade
Bruschetta ($12)- so good. the topping wasn't your typical chopped tomato mixture, but rather marinated buffalo mozzarella. It was seriously great.
Croquettes ($6) - very yummy filled with blue cheese and I think cauliflower (but it escapes me)
Calamari ($13) - really good. It was unique because it was prepared seared vs friend, which is my preference in general. The capers on the plate were really big and delicious.
Beet salad - I just had one beet, but it was perfect.
Main dishes-
I ordered a special risotto with lobster, scallop and pea greens. The scallop was literally the best I've ever had in my life. I don't even know what it was that made it so amazing, but it was fantastic.
I also tried a bite of the chick pea and ricotta gnocchi (my 2nd choice of dishes) and it was really great also.
Definitely go here. -
Review from Ava E.
5/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
Dine in Brooklyn week is usually when I take the opportunity to try some of my bookmarked restaurants. As you know, Williamsburg has some really good spots to eat off of Bedford Avenue, but today I'm heading over to the quieter side off of Wythe Ave to Aurora for good food, good ambiance, good service and a super friendly owner who takes the time to meet and greet her customers. That is definitely rare this day and age.
Who doesn't start a meal without good bread and olive oil? I ordered the bruschetta app with buffalo mozzarella, meyer lemon and basil. I was a little disappointed to find the same bread I started with was the same bread the bruschetta was on. The flavors were good so I was cool with it. I had the fish special for my entree. I don't quite remember what fish it was but I do remember the rocky tables and slightly uncomfortable chairs. However, I definitely remembered the vanilla panna cotta. -
Review from Geoffroy D.
New York, NY
4/29/2012
Very nice place with a great quiet outdoor seating.
I was not a fan of their mimosa, too much OJ ;)
I loved the duck cassolette. It did have a good amount of duck in there and the potatoes were very well cooked and the greens added a nice touch. I am a fan.
The salmon omelet was delicious as well although they refused to change the goat cheese for some other cheese... that was almost rude. I understand the no substitution rule but I feel like flexibility should be be king and since the substitution was not unreasonable... or at least offer to make me pay an extra $1-2... not even.
Anyway, it would get 4.5/5 stars otherwise. -
Review from Tamara P.
Brooklyn, NY
5/13/2012
I first came to this place for brunch, was incredibly impressed! A few months later decided to give dinner a try here and was totally blown away! This place has a lovely ambiance and great service. The food is exceptional!! Literally EVERYTHING is good. I would come back here again for sure!
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Review from Dana P.
Ridgewood, NY
Updated - 4/27/2012
I've been here now at least a 1/2 dozen times and every meal has been highly anticipated and enjoyed.
Last night was my favorite combination of food, wine, and service at Aurora yet. I've had the same waiter, Zach (hope I'm spelling that right) for the last 3 visits and he's my perfect waiter, extremely informal but absolutely attentive and thoroughly knowledgeable about both the food AND wine. Apparently he's relatively new to the restaurant which makes this all the more amazing.
I've started going through the 1/2 bottles of wine they stock (sadly only 4) and the Barbaresco we had the previous visit and the Amarone we had last night were both sublime, especially the Amarone which was so open and approachable despite its intense flavors (2003, Zach and Damien explained, the best vintage for Amarone in the last 15 years because it was so hot in Italy).
We paired the Amarone with their wild boar and veal steaks (barely cooked au jus with prosciutto on top and served with mashed potatoes and (awesomely) fiddleheads. We started with the fascinating carrots, almost Asian-fusion with (I believe) wasabi, ginger dressing, almonds, brussel sprout leaves, goat cheese, and herbs which challenge my notion that this is standard Italian. And before that the soup (minestrone, again meeting the high expectation built up over previous soups like the fantastic cold corn "chowder" with goat cheese and pea leaves which we loved last time). The food was uniformly satisfying and excellent.
Another thing I didn't really mention in my original review was the desserts. The desserts are amazing! Every single dessert I've tried, and I think I'm up to 4 now, has been one of, if not the best dish of the evening. And that's saying a lot considering how full I am by that point in the meal. And then there's the dessert wines. I ask for a recommendation and Damien or Zach brings something out and I love it every time. Last night we had red dessert wine that Zach described as a "not really" Passimento from the heel of the boot made of Primitivo grapes (if I remember correctly, "not really" because the grapes were allowed to dry on the vine rather than being picked and then dried).
And the wine was so dope! Somehow it was neither too sweet nor too alcoholic and was absolutely delicious. And it paired wonderfully with the lemon tart with strawberries and whipped cream that was possibly the 2nd best thing I've eaten this year (after the kasane black ramen with an egg and 1/2 the spicy ball added at Ippudo- I've thought about that ramen every single day since). I really can't put into words how good this dessert and wine were. Seriously. I just zone out every time I start thinking about it. It was completely blissful and that was at the end of nearly 3 hour meal where we stuffing bread and olives into our mouths between every course and basically licking every plate clean.
The last thing I want to mention is the outdoor room. It's essentially a greenhouse that is entirely transparent and since we went early yesterday at 6 instead of our normal 7:45 and because it's staying light out longer with Spring and all, we really got a chance to enjoy the space. The room is surrounded by a wall of ivy and small trees on either side with small actual outdoor patios on either end. It looks like they basically kept all of the plants that were outside alive when they built the room so between the main restaurant and this room there is an exterior brick wall complete with open window with various rose bushes and other shrubbery and plants growing towards the ceiling. And they are already starting to respond to the extra and more intense light so by Summer they'll have to prune stuff back and the room with be thick with leaves (I can't wait)!
Again, nothing is perfect. A few new (and some old) small complaints. On a previous visit, we had a waitress for a few minutes (luckily they had to move our table and we got a different waitress for the rest of our meal) that actually rolled her eyes at us when we asked her to bring the dishes out individually and if she wouldn't mind asking Damien to come over to make a wine recommendation. Now maybe I was just overly sensitive (hungry) at that moment but I just got a different vibe from her than from the rest of the staff- the unpleasant hipster restaurant vibe that says, "I'm doing you a favor bub." I haven't seen her since so maybe she's gone?
Also, there have been a few more misses for me with the food here and there. We got a seafood risotto on a previous visit that I thought was both under-cooked and under-sauced. My wife loved it so that may be personal preference. But both of us have fallen out of love with the beet salad (and I looove beets). It's just too difficult to construct the proper bite with bits of cheese, citrus, herbs, and beet to get the proper balance. The beet chunks are maybe too large. And the citrus pieces often have fiber-y sections.
And those rocky tables and uncomfy chairs!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/31/2012
Last night I went here for the 4th time and had perhaps my best dining out experience of the last 5… Read more »
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Review from Neil B.
4/14/2012
Last night we traveled to Williamsburg to try the steak at St. Anselm. Little did we know that the wait at 8 pm for two people would be almost two hours. We talked to two men who had also been waiting and they recommended we try Aurora. We walked there and were told that we could wait an hour for a table for two or eat in the outdoor garden. Although it was chilly, we opted to sit. We were the only two customers sitting outside when Rebekah, our server and guardian angel, appeared! Realizing it was pretty cold to eat outside, she had the restaurant move our table to an open area inside the restaurant. We could not have asked for better service or a nicer server.
The restaurant itself is nicely decorated and romantic. The food, however, while well made, did not blow us away. I had the chicken and my girlfriend had the pasta with eggplant which she found a bit too spicy. Because it was still Passover, I could not try the pasta and bread but my friend gave high marks to both. So thank you Aurora for being there when we needed you!
* Do be advised that this restaurant does not accept credit cards -
Review from Meghan P.
4/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
I went to Aurora this past Friday night, and there were some hiccups (plus it's CASH ONLY??), but the food and ambiance pushed it into 4 star territory.
I arrived about 15 minutes early for the reservation, so I decided to have a drink at the bar. There were a total of 6 people at the bar, and one bartender, and he seriously ignored me for 10 minutes. He was well-mannered, but it's not acceptable to let 10 minutes go by before giving a patron a drink menu. They had specialty cocktails, but I chose a glass of the Suave white wine. Their drink menu is small and only Italian, with 4 whites, 4 reds, 1 prosecco, and 1 rosé. The hostess was very sweet, and allowed us to sit 3 people out of our party when 2 were running late.
The ambiance is really fantastic here. It's cozy and elegant, with exposed brick, interior arched windows, greenery, and twinkling lights. There is the main room, and also a greenhouse room on the side. Finally, there is outdoor seating for nice weather.
On to the food! We started with some olives, which were dusted with herbs. For an appetizer, I had the Pizzetta, which was a flatbread with fontina, potatoes, and speck. This. Was. Amazing. The flavors were so delicious and the flatbread was thin and crispy. For my main course, I had the agnolotti, which was filled with cheese and porcini mushrooms. It was served in a lemon butter sauce with sliced asparagus. Again, this was absolutely delicious. The addition of lemon really brightened up the dish and made it interesting. So I really loved my dining experience here and hopefully I'll come back here or to their SoHo location soon. -
Review from Heidi J.
New York, NY
4/14/2012
The absolute BEST place for outdoor williamsburg brunch !!!
You are neither crammed into a tiny 3 square foot plot of bedford ave sidewalk, nor are you forced to wait 1.5 hours for a table, but rather, put in a spacious indoor garden with light streaming in from all angles and fresh air flowing in from the open doors. There is a smaller outdoor patio as well with small canopied tables if you are lucky enough to snag one.
In addition to a happily sunlit setting, you get a wide array of menu items to choose from, all of which looked so good that my indecision left me debating between 5 different entrees. I finally decided on the fish special - a fluke dish with beets, orange, and pesto, which was SO GOOD. The fish was well-seasoned and paired very nicely with the beets and orange. We tried the eggs benedict, which was pretty good despite the fact that they for some reason subbed the prosciutto with regular ham...sad, but the delicious and fluffy focaccia made up for it a bit. I ordered a orange thyme blossom cocktail made with gin, which I would recommend. Tried the bloody mary which was good, but nothing to write home about.
The only negative is that it's a wee bit of a trek from the Bedford stop, but it is completely worth it on a fine spring/summer day. -
Review from Elliott L.
Oceanside, NY
3/27/2012
Went for Brooklyn Restaurant Week and the food was amazing. Appetizer was a huge portion of sausage and the bore main entre was a bit small but absolutely delicious. And dessert was also splendid. My only comments, slightly more comfortable seating outside (cushions wouldn'd hurt) and if the customer asks for tap water, maybe include some ice as well (bottle of water was still cloudy from the tap when we got it...would some ice and a slice of fruit have killed you).
Overall a great restaurant and one I would return to again. -
Review from Laura K.
3/1/2012
I never give Aurora enough credit -- they do a very good dinner and a great brunch. Recently went for brunch on a Sunday and had spectacular service (not sure how our order beat all the tables around us, but we'll take it!) and the food was great. In true Williamsburg fashion, this place is not healthy as the food is "italian comfort," but boy is it good!
Staff is well trained, personable. The ambiance is super cute -- very date appropriate.
Will try to remember to put this one higher on my list of neighborhood places to go. They haven't disappointed us yet! -
Review from Claudia S.
Woodside, NY
5/1/2012
Great place with great service! I went there numerous time and always was happy, although my friend complained that portions are rather small and cash only! Food is good, wine is good. Last time we sat at the bar, ate some appertizers and salad with wine, it was saturday night and the place was packed. Definatelly make a reservation!
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Review from Jim T.
ASTORIA, NY
5/1/2012
Nicely done! A very nice decor and friendly staff welcome you to Aurora on the south side of Willy-B. Good wine selection and nice choices on the menu. Had a pasta ragu with meat sauce...excellent! The portions weren't great, but the price tag was pretty good. I would definitely be going back...
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Review from Ann D.
Manhattan, NY
1/13/2012
A cute restaurant with a charming outdoor patio space - it's covered and heated during the winter, but the intermittent on/off of the heating can be a little irritating depending on where you're seated. There was no wait when we stopped by on a Wednesday night, but I don't believe that's a statement about the quality of the food at all. Aurora's about a 10 minute walk from the Bedford L stop, but worth the foot-stomping for those that are in the mood for great Italian and a chance to get away from city chaos.
We ordered an excellent '08 Chianti to accompany the following dishes:
-Warm savory greens tart with burrata and truffle oil
-Kale salad with pine nuts and winter squash
-Gnocchi vongole (with clams) accompanied by artichokes and porcini mushrooms
-Oxtail special on creamy polenta and brussel sprouts
-Flourless chocolate cake
I will absolutely re-order the tart and salad next time I'm at Aurora, and the gnocchi was to die for. It had a perfect finish of lemon at the end of each bite of gnocchi that perfectly complimented the other flavors in the dish. We weren't crazy about the preparation of the oxtail and would probably forego it next time.
When you feel like having an adventure and have a little time on your hands, Aurora should be a consideration. I plan on stopping by again this summer to enjoy some wine and good food outdoors. -
Review from Carmela F.
Brooklyn, NY
Updated - 3/27/2012
Addendum: I went there for a Dine in Brooklyn lunch there, only to learn that they were only offering the $20.12 lunch on weekdays. No problem -- I had the $15 brunch.
What can I say?
*Great bread with delicious olive oil to dip into.
*A bottomless cup of GREAT coffee -- not the current trend of "it''s too bitter but I have to like it to show I'm cool," but genuinely delicious.
*Delicious Bloody Mary, nice and peppery with a great garnish of pickled things.
*The most amazing egg yolks I've ever tasted. The only thing that comes close are the eggs I had in Chincoteague VA that were 6 hours old.
*The egg preparation was also delicious -- perfectly cooked "Benedict" style eggs , GREAT hollandaise sauce, light but still with body and in no way reminiscent of runny eggs. Nicely cooked spinach, and all on top of really tasty focaccia.
WOW! My entire family is going to go next week.
Oh, and the owner (or someone with an Italian accent in the management) couldn't have been nicer about explaining their Dine in Broolkyn participation.
Oh, oh -- and the waitress couldn't have been nicer or more agreeable.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/22/2012
This restaurant is restoring my faith (damaged after a terrible meal at Diner) that Williamsburg is… Read more »
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Review from Kristina B.
Los Angeles, CA
10/22/2011
I love this place so much I decided to have my birthday dinner here in May...it was amazing and delicious as always. While I was sitting there having a beautiful night, it occurred to me that it was a perfect spot to get married...2 months later I'm engaged and I know where I'm having my wedding. Ellen is the event coordinator and your new best friend, super personable and easy to talk too! Helped us plan every aspect and calmed our frazzled nerves. Day of wedding, I felt like the food was better than EVER! Nobody could stop ohhhing and ahhhing about the food, yum! Staff is excellent and super attentive...and oh so sweet! The manager that night was so super sweet and helpful...all around, I couldn't have been happier!!
Thank you Aurora!!! -
Review from William B.
Brooklyn, NY
10/19/2011
I'm seeing a variation in reviews here, from five stars down to one. While it seems the biggest complaints were inattentive service, I honestly can't say that happened to me. We went earlier in the evening, and the restaurant wasn't all too packed yet, which could be part of it.
Decent prices, better food. The servers were excellent, and very helpful in recommending meals that might cater better to our personal tastes. For instance, I had the pork shoulder (belly) appetizer, and he suggested a lighter entree to offset such a heavy starter. The drinks are top-notch and the food is amazing.
Don't skip out on dessert. -
Review from G O.
Brooklyn, NY
11/4/2011 6 Check-ins Here
I think Aurora is an excellent restaurant for Williamsburg. The back garden area is a lovely place for a group or an intimate date. The food is well thought out Italian, nothing too fancy yet, the food is delicious.
The front bar always is a good place for a drink whilst waiting for dinner. The service is excellent and the wine list is deserving of the prices paid.
Great lighting, service, and a friendly staff. Get a reservation and enjoy the space. We had a pea risotto, an amazing grilled octopus, and a wonderful flat bread pizza.
Enjoy... -
Review from Damani H.
Brooklyn, NY
9/4/2011 13 Check-ins Here
I love Aurora. Plain and simple!
I love it for lunch or dinner, but i particularly like stopping by for a nice glass of wine and conversation with familiar faces!
I probably shouldn't be telling you all this because I like that there is always a seat at the bar with Latzo!
Tell them I sent you!
Cheers! -
Review from katie s.
Brooklyn, NY
Updated - 5/7/2011
What happened to this place! It used to be such a pretentious, expensive treat with a good yard. Now it is a pretentious, expensive waste of money with a good yard.
First of all what did they do to the bloody mary recipe. Aurora used to have an amazing, booze-filled bloody. You could get brunch here with a dire hangover, and walk out with a pleasant buzz. Now, it tastes like murky pizza sauce, with no hint of vodka (but maybe the $9 was for artisanal basil?). Not even any olives!
Second of all, partner in crime's egg's norweigan (which clocks in at $16) was average. Very difficult to completely screw up this dish, but average is really not acceptable for this kind of money. I can do average at home, for a quarter of the cost if I'm shopping at Whole Foods.
Third, I order a salad described as "arugula, pulled goat cheese, mullet, breadcrumbs", expecting basically a salad with some cheese and fish involved. Color me surprised when what I get is about four leaves of arugula, a hunk of pulled cheese, and 5-10 orange flakes, which upon further inspection, must be the fish. WTF waitress? Is this some kind of joke to you? I can totally understand if you're swamped not being attentive in any way to the people you are serving, but if we are going to have 2 interactions--once when I order, and once when I pay the bill--please, speak up if what I'm ordering is dolled up peasant's cheese completely inappropriate for a human adult to consume as a meal.
Basically, this went from a reliable, if a tad pricey, brunch standby to utter fail, pissing me off on a gorgeous saturday.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/28/2008
Went here for brunch. The bloody mary was exceptional. The eggs were also exceptional. I got the… Read more »
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Review from Sean S.
7/31/2011
Here is where you get your drink on in the early afternoon time when you probably should be doing more constructive things.
With a completely enclosed garden to the side of the restaurant, a tall wall lined with ivy, and nice large umbrellas for shade, I ordered up my Negroni to start the day out right. I love the little twist of orange rind this drink always comes with, and it sure did hit the spot.
Beware of windy days, the umbrellas have a tendency to fall over! -
Review from Jenifer H.
Brooklyn, NY
9/5/2011
I met a friend here for cheese, wine, and dessert. I was impressed by the atmosphere immediately. It was a quiet romantic spot with ample outdoor seating. The fireplace in the corner outside added to the decor although it was not lit on a warm summer's eve.
The waiter was helpful in selecting a wine that satisfied my palate, and the three cheese plate was delicious. Each cheese came with a dipping sauce, and my friend and I quickly chose our favorites. Unfortunately I don't remember what they were called.
The deserts were flavorful and not too rich. The tiramisu is delightfully creamy and not too rich. I highly recommend it. -
Review from Heather M.
Brooklyn, NY
4/7/2011
Eh. A lot of hubbub for an out-of-the-way restaurant with inattentive service, a pricey menu, and a broken ATM machine (it's cash-only). I would probably rate it more favorably if it didn't come on like the prom queen and then act like the bratty kid sister. It's a tease.
The menu is inventive Italian which delivers, but, I promise, does not astound. The unusual combinations -- for example, roasted beets, yogurt sauce, pistachios, mint, horseradish and citrus -- are tasty but still manage to be only so-so. But perhaps I would not be so judgmental if I hadn't waited 10 minutes for someone to even approach our table to welcome us. I think our server felt a little bad for making us wait and then proceeded to sort of blunder through the dinner service and never really connect with us.
Again, all this, including the frustratingly broken ATM (not labeled as broken) that I struggled with for 5 minutes, would not be judged so harshly if the prices and the attitude didn't scream -- we are special!
Not so special. In fact, pretty mediocre. The best part of the night -- the $6 house wine which was darn drinkable. -
Review from Steven M.
New York, NY
2/18/2011
I want to like this place so bad!!
Pros:
-pretty waitstaff
-amazing ambiance
-great wine
Cons:
-if you don't get up and get someone's attention you will starve or die of thirst
-$24 pesce special was as fishy as low tide on east river--sent it back and got a murky soup of I don't know what--almost as bad but really bad nevertheless
-$15 pasta dish called Ragu was definitely Hamburger Helper--terrible!
-no toilet paper in bathroom-WTF!
In summary no reason for us to go back. I really hope it was an off night. -
Review from Dan R.
Woodside, NY
8/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is my favorite Italian restaurant. Menu always has a great variety. Waitstaff is always friendly and on-point. Ain't really much else I can say about the joint. Good food = good review.
*EDIT* Last time I went to Aurora, it was less than stellar. I will leave it at 5 stars, however, because that's only one out of a dozen times. -
Review from Stina I.
Brooklyn, NY
7/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is one of my favorite restaurants in the neighborhood. Great italian food. We recently went to Italy and thought about how Aurora has food just as good if not better in some instances. (It's that good)
We always get the watermelon salad. Delicious. Also, the pasta dishes are phenomenal. We always LIKE the meat dishes, but it's all about the pasta here.
Servers are also very knowledgable and don't push stuff at you. We thoroughly enjoyed out dinner. -
Review from Kayla P.
Manhattan, NY
8/16/2011
I love this place. My boyfriend and I go there almost every weekend for brunch. I always ordered same thing but never got sick of it.
Really great place to spend your Saturday morning. -
Review from anthony r.
8/5/2011
Look, there's a reason why they have three restaurants now. It's because it's really really good.
I'm getting bored of the same old thing on menus in NYC, hanger steak here, truffle marcaroni there....
If you want a taste of delightfully creative Italian food, look no further.
The bill is not the issue if surroundings are flawless ( open spaces, and charming patio), the food is thoughtful, and the cocktails inquisitive...
Unfortuanly I could not give it 5, because of the slightly disinterested waitress, who seemed more confused about the menu than I was.
We are in Brooklyn though, so service is almost allowed to go amiss, and having been brought up in London, these days I'm just glad to be given a napkin. -
Review from Luke C.
Brooklyn, NY
6/22/2011
Just what I would expect from Williamsburg... Cai Bella!
Aurora had great ambiance, great service and the food was exceptional. I had the skirt steak (med-rare) and the arugula salad. It was refreshing going to this quaint little place! My new friends (The Lynch's) had the seafood choices and quoted "fantastico!"
Washing down this meal with an ice cold "Moretti" (Italian beer) was the best way to top this meal off on a hot summer's day.
The potions were a little small for me but hey... I am a big guy.Listed in: Brooklyn
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Review from Ming C.
Palos Verdes Estates, CA
3/15/2011
prix-fixe lunch on pation and this is what we had:
Arugula salad, pasta bougonese, roasted pork belly sandwich, and panna cotta dessert; paired with house white wine
Cash only.
Food was great, just a bit attitude on the service. But that's part of NYC experience. -
Review from Catherine C.
Washington, DC
6/26/2011
The highlight here is the pretty courtyard. Too bad it outshines the food.
The brunch dishes are best. The brioche french toast with mascarpone and candied hazelnuts is tasty. Beware the brunch cocktails though. They're quite weak. Better to just get a fresh juice.
The other dishes disappointed. The agnolotti came with a plain tomato sauce, not the promised cherry tomato, yellow squash, zuchinni and ricotta salata advertised on the menu. Why didn't the server just tell us the sauce wasn't available? Nothing like being brought a poor substitute for what you ordered.
The place has potential. Better execution of dishes and communication by servers/cooks would go long way here. CASH ONLY. -
Review from Natalie E.
Queens Village, NY
3/25/2011
A little restaurant with good food and good prices. How can we go wrong.
We came here for BK Dine in Week and had their pre-fixe menu. It was actually quite good. I had the calamari w/ the parsley, capers and breadcrumbs served in a cast iron sizzling pan YUM!!! My fav out of the 3 courses I must add.
For the entree I had the soft polenta with homemade ragu and sausage. It was also good but needed a little more flavor. Perhaps a pinch of salt will suffice.
And for the finale I had the pannacotta w/ caramel sauce. Decent not the best for all for only $25 was not a bad deal.
Small tight seating, staff took a little long to wait on us but overall A-OK -
Review from Grace A.
Brooklyn, NY
2/8/2011
How does this place only have three and a half stars? I just got back and loved it!
I had a Blackboard Eats coupon which I thankfully got to use two days before it expired, because I probably never would have thought to come here without it. My sister was running late, so I sat at the bar and ordered a glass of the house wine (which we drank with dinner also because it was inexpensive and very good), and maybe I looked sad next to the couple making out next to me because the bartender gave me a free plate of cheese and olives. Awesome.
The inside was really nice and cozy, but we sat out on the enclosed patio which was pleasantly warm even though it's, like, 15 degrees outside. It's probably really nice in the spring and summer when it opens to the outside.
The service was great, with bus boys bringing us bread and refilling our water, and the waitress didn't rush us with our order at all. Usually I get coupons to go to places I can't quite afford, but Aurora is actually very affordable. I got the lemon fettucini plate with almonds which was really, really good for $14, and the mini carafes of house wine which fill two glasses were only $8. They even gave us the pannacotta dessert on the house after we paid our check.
It's a little bit of a hike from the Bedford L stop, but well worth it once you get there. I would definitely come back any time. -
Review from James G.
Howard Beach, NY
7/5/2011
Awesome..great location, great food, great prices..
From the apps to desserts and everything in between.. the food was awesome..we had 6 people all ordered different apps/entre's and desserts..we shared everything and nothing was left to spare..delicious..
Couldn't recommend it more... -
Review from Christina S.
New York, NY
1/22/2011
I love Aurora! I like the cozy, romantic atmosphere...
I love their brunches. The meals here aren't too heavy and the plating is beautiful.
For dinner, the pastas and pizzas are delish.
The bread pudding for dessert is yummy. -
Review from Sarah F.
Brooklyn, NY
9/14/2010 2 photos
Service can be a little slow but I love coming here for brunch! $15 gets you Eggs Florentine (or Benedict), coffee and a breakfast cocktail (get the bloody mary or the watermelon sangria). It's the perfect amount of food and the price is good. French toast is also delicious but on the small side. I love the garden dining area too.
Cash Only -
Review from Thomas S.
Brooklyn, NY
9/19/2010
I RARELY give any restaurant 5 stars.
Aurora is one of our all time favorites, especially for brunch.
Go there for truly amazing and inspired Italian.
FOOD: Consistently tasty, inspired, and authentic Italian cuisine.
ATMOSPHERE: a wonderful oasis in an industrial area of Williamsburg.
SERVICE: always friendly, attentive, and helpful. Plus they love kids. Sit at the bar, and ask Latso about the specials. -
Review from nycsep n.
New York, NY
11/21/2010
This might have been an off night - except that my boyfriend has eaten here 3 other times. Each time, his opinion of Aurora has gone from good to terrible.
I read good reviews for this restaurant so I thought I'd have a great experience.
From the moment we walked in with an early dinner reservation, we got a weird reception at the check-in. We were met with a black hair Donatella Versace type. Seriously, she was weird and seemed to act as though we didn't have reservations. They found them and we were seat.
They sat us in the garden area. They had the heat on to keep it warm. Seemed to make sense, except that the heat wasn't from heat lamps. The air came in through air ducts at the top of the garden. In other words, it blew directly into my face. Ultimately, making my contacts stick to my eyes.
Our waitress was a fairly absent and spacey girl. She explained the specials, sort of. My bf was about to order a drink but she disappeared. Finally he ordered a drink and, again, we sat there. The wait was just too long for a simple drink order.
I tried to ignore the heat but had to ask a bus boy to ask if it could be turned down. What appeared to be a senior waiter/server, came over and nicely stated that there was nothing that can be done. He kindly brought us into the main room. I like this area much better
Ambiance is great in the main room. Cozy with wood tables and brick wall. Much more intimate. More of an adult dinner group. The new waitress saved the night. She knew about the specials, explained them and helped suggest wine.
Menu is fairly standard Italian fare. I had the Halibut special and it was bad. It did have crunchy skin on the outside but it slid off immediately. The fish was way too "fishy" (I don't know how else to describe it). Too salty, tomatoes were tasteless. It looked great bit really tasted bland. I don't know how you can accomplish a bland dish with too much salt. I had about 4 bites and left it.
Slowly, Aurora managed to go from a 3-star to a 2-star to a 1-star in a matter of an hour.
We decided to leave without coffee and dessert. We live for the coffee and dessert finish to any meal.
We left immediately after we ate and went out to get pizza. I'm not kidding. I've never done that in my entire life.
God, I hope this was just a bad night. My bf really wants to like this place and now just cannot go back.
I won't be returning to Aurora. -
Review from Kate T.
Manhattan, NY
12/1/2011
Went to this place for my bday nite and had an amazing excellent food and atmosphere- couldn't be better. I'll definitely come back soon.
-
Review from ciprian t.
Long Island City, NY
this is a very good place, great ambiance and nice dishes
great wine list with many Italian finds -
Review from db m.
Brooklyn, NY
2/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Went here on a Blackboard Eats special. Better than the Aurora Pizza place in LES.
The Staff was sweet knowledgeable attentive and efficient. excellent breads to start off.
I started with le Barbabietole, beets with nuts olives horseradish and mint. Beets are my fave veg and the preparation was excellent. the mint and horseradish added wonderful flavor. The house red Cabernet added nicely.
The Orcchietta pasta was next with pork sausage and rabe. The sausage texture left a bit to be desired when eaten, though the pork flavor that permeated the dish made the dish (I can't explain why the sausage was soso but final sauce was good, mysteries of the universe)
Ultra clean and we sat in a beautiful glassed in second room that seats plenty (good for a party i bet). The tables were set with plenty of space between them making for a nice quiet dining experience.
