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23rd St-Broadway (R, W)
23rd St-Park Ave S (6)
23rd St-6th Ave (F, V)
"I came here for my roommate's birthday and it blew me away. First, the place is underground, which I always think is cool. Inside, it is…" read more »
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My first yelp (probably out of soon to be many) certainly deserves my first perfect score. 5 stars to me means awesome food, comfortable atmosphere, no pretense, decent price... and totally crave-inducing.
Bar Stuzz is 100% italian comfort food... tapas-style.
Sit at the stuzz bar to be a part of the action.
With your quartino of vino, order the mozz, prosciutto, arancini (rice balls), ricotta/saffron honey crostini, and carciofi (flash-fried artichokes).
Then move onto splitting the awesome polpette (oversized veal meatballs) and maccheroni (pistachio and lemon pasta.)
Killer... and worth a monthly trip.
It's not that it was BAD.
If it were not in NYC, I probably would have been much happier than I was. But, as another reviewer said, "best small plates"? Are you kidding, NY Magazine? Having been recently to Salumeria Rosi and Boqueria, and being a diehard Hagi fan, I can't believe Stuzzichini would rate as even within the same league.
The atmosphere is cheesy faux-brasserie, and the restaurant is much larger than it probably needs to be. We got there at 8pm on a Tuesday and it was basically empty. Maybe we should have turned around...
Started with a delish grilled fresh sardine (is it possible to fuck that up? Don't know, but they didn't), some pretty good fried artichokes (companion thought they were dried out; I thought they were artichokes) and a very heavy slice of fried smoked mozzarella. We ordered crostini with chickpea puree, but they thought we asked for chickpea fritters, which was okay because they were nicely fried, oily but light, crisp and hot.
The bitter greens salad with anchovy dressing was good but a bit overdressed, and the pasta with pistachio-lemon sauce was waaaay gloppy. I felt my arteries harden, and not in a good way. Now, I did like the flavor the pistachios added to the sauce and would like to try this in my own home cooking, but would I go to Stuzzichini and order it again? Hell no. It was like nasty fettuccine alfredo with the (nice) addition of the pistachio flavor.
For all this, the food and drinks were very expensive. We spent significantly less for more and better food + drinks at Boqueria, and about the same at Rosi for a much more delightful dining experience. I just don't get how a place like this can compete at this level in Manhattan.
Service: Our table was "crumbed" numerous times, and our silverware changed with each course, but my drink sat empty for half the meal. Hm. Also, my guy asked for a "glass" of beer (like, as opposed to a "pint" or a "bucket") during the meal, and the waiter did not mention that there were two sizes available, and simply brought (& charged for) the large half-liter of beer. Which is, of course, very expensive. Not a huge deal, but kinda lame.
I mean, the food was okay. But at this price and in Manhattan, I don't go for "okay."
Came here for lunch with a friend from college and their prix fixe menu was not bad at all. For under 20 bucks, you get an entree and two small appetizers. Rice ball was eh but their meatball was really good. So was their deep fried artichoke.
I definitely thought it was worth it and I wouldn't mind coming here again. Oh. Unlike other places, you have lots to choose from which was a huge plus. (Maybe not since it took me forever to decide what I wanted).
I once read an article authored by a former hostess at a club which illuminated the club's policy to seat unattractive people in the far corners of the club and literally turn the lights down on them so as not to draw attention to them.
When my colleagues and I (all ladies, I might add) arrived at Bar Stuzzichini on a Tuesday night the place, which is enormous, was fairly empty and yet the hostess took our group to the very back of the restaurant to seat us. What was it about us, I wondered, that they didn't want people to see?
Well, after a plate of the mixed crostini, the chickpea fritters, the rice balls, the fried artichokes, an entree each and 7.5 bottles of wine (among 6 of us) later, I realized they'd made a very wise decision indeed. We were loud, boisterous and flat out drunk but wonderfully sated by the very tasty food.
I will say, though, that the chickpea fritters were a flop. No one liked them. Most people thought the fried artichokes were divine, though.
Final Note: The mixed crostini platter comes with one that looks like it has shaved parmesan on top. All you cheese lovers out there beware: it is NOT cheese. It is cured fat. Yes. Fat. It's called lardo. And that's what you will be if you eat too many of them.
We were not sure what to expect based on the mixed reviews, but have heard from friends that the food is consistently good so we gave Bar Stuzzichini a try. It was a nice meal, with prompt attentive service, and we enjoyed sitting outside in the sidewalk cafe. The crostini sampler was delicious, my pasta with cauliflour and breadcrumbs was tasty (if a bit too cheesy for my taste), and my husband's veal meatballs were outstanding. I would say though that it is more of a place for a weeknight dinner out if you are in the neighborhood, and is definitely not a destination meal. It is solid, good food but not memorable.
Came here for Restaurant Week. Love that they give a complimentary small plate with drinks during happy hour.
Love the small plates and dark rustic atmosphere. A great romantic date place.
from my website which is why i refer to "we"...
Even before we reached media mogul/baller status here at Immaculate Infatuation, Bar Stuzzichini has always welcomed us with VIP treatment. While we like to believe that this is a direct result of our indelible charm and a general awareness that we would soon be making it rain, we will concede that the place is usually half empty. That said, I personally have had experiences visiting a restaurant on a slow night and being treated like a Swine Flu patient (see Shang), and also to be fair, the dining room at Bar Stuzz is pretty large. What really makes Bar Stuzzichini a staple though are a few superstar dishes, a well priced wine list, and a varied menu that has both small plates and entree size portions with something for everyone at the table. Put it all together and you've got the perfect spot for a large group meal, or just to stop in and feel like you own the joint.
it gets wordy. the rest is at http://www.immaculatei...
This is a great spot for a drink or apps at the bar. I've eaten in the resto itself and while it's very good, there are better sit down Italians near by. The outside dining is nice if you like the sidewalk cafe thing. Stick to the bar and you'll be happy!
I was intrigued by the name of this place because it's almost as ethnic and hard to pronounce as my own last name. LOL. I also like the location and the outside of it. So we gave it a try. Why the heck not, right? I went for happy hour with a girlfriend. We caught the end of the time period and sat at the bar. I liked how you got a small food item (tapa-sized) with a drink. The rice balls were very good and a plate of Italian meats (e.g. salami) is never a bad thing.
It is kind of pricey, otherwise, so I'll have to try it for dinner and see if it's worth it. But if you'd like somewhere a bit different for happy hour, catch this place at the beginning of the HH time period and be willing to throw down a little more money than usual -- it's not a cheap eats -- but have fun. There is outdoor seating too, which is nice in the warmer weather months we have coming upon us...
:)
Tapas were not meant to be cheap in NYC. The only thing you hope for is that they somehow meet the standards you set for it upon looking at the prices in the menu. Based on the recommendations by fellow Yelpers, we ordered the Stuzzichini Misti for two people for $29 and topped it off with a bowl of pasta. Total bill was just over $50. While we did not hit a homerun on all of our choices, it was a very good deal for a chic tapas bar in NYC.
Memorable: Capocollo (pork shoulder dipped in olive oil and black pepper); Prosciuitto; Ceci (chickpea puree served on bruschetta); Orecchiette con Cavolfiore (little ears pasta with cauliflower and breadcrumbs)
Forgettable: Involtini (Stuffed Eggplant (with ricotta cheese), meatballs (4 pieces)
The eggplant was too heavy with the cheese and the meatballs were bland. So while our choices weren't perfect, the menu has quite the variety to choose from. The table next to me ordered the burger that comes in a sesame bun and chips, which looked very tasty. Next time...
EXPENSIVE bar...and the place felt like TGI-Fridays. Let's start there.
Waiting for our party we had a draft beer and glass of white at the bar. Total: $28. WTF??? Really? They charged me $12 for a draft beer! And $14 for a glass of wine. Great way to welcome your diners by pissing them off.
About Stuzzichini: nice place, pleasant waitstaff, greeters and people behind the bar. The music was all over the place though...blues, classic rock, which made me feel like I was at TGI Fridays!
The food was pretty good...gnocchi, eggplant parmesian and brasciole were all very tasty. The entress are not very big though so know that before you sit down. Couples, I would suggest an appetizer, then splitting a pasta dish and each of you getting a meat/secondi piatti dish. Desserts were tasty too, especially the zeppole.
Overall, a nice place and I would go back but would not go out of my way to do so. I'm still pissed off about the $12 beer.
My friend and I went to this restaurant for Italian tonight. I thought everything was scrumptious.
Was a fan of the arancin, fried rice balls. I also liked one of the cheeze appetiters (form of mozzarella, but slightly different).
We split a bowl of the gnocchi, which we learned is made in the restaurant. It was delicious and hit the spot.
I loved our waitress, who was very helpful with suggestions. Would definitely go back for more.
A really solid brunch. I have been here two weeks in a row now, which is unusual for me. The brunch is just so delicious that I can't stop myself. Delicious poached eggs, a mind blowing crepe with mushroom ragu, ice cold Peroni on tap. And DON'T MISS the burrata, which is this beautiful creation made with mozzarella and cream and served with little toasts. The outdoor seating is perfect and sunny. A great neighborhood place.
I really like places like this: no pretense, no BS, just pretty great food.
My girlfriend and I have gone here twice and have never ordered pasta (carbs are bad) and we've had a nice experience each time.
Lamb is great, meatballs are great, the small dishes are just delectable.
You really can't loose here and for the haters: seriously c'mon! You want a walk-in place to get a sweet meal and try lots of different flavors for a VERY MODERATE PRICE then Stuzzichini is the place.
Being a lover of Italian tapas, I was excited to try Bar Stuzzichini. My friend and I ordered the 5 small plates for $29 since we were craving a chocolatey dessert from Max Brenners and wanted to save some room. Here is the breakdown:
The meatballs: salty and tender, in a flavorful marinara sauce. I only wished the sauce was a little thicker so it would stick to the meat better.
The arancini: the best thing we ordered. The risotto was impossibly creamy and bathed in cheese, and there was a background hint of garlic. When I first saw that there was no sauce to dip them in I was a little dismayed, but I soon realized they didn't need it.
The stuffed eggplant: cold, which was unexpected. The thin slice of eggplant wrapped around a creamy cheese filling would have been much improved served hot.
The chick pea fritters: salty, crispy, and delicious. They tasted like fried dough with a little layer of hummus inside.
The cacciatorini: chewy, spicy, and satisfying salami.
Since these plates are very small, we ordered two additional things: the potato croquettes and the tomato soup. The potato croquettes were basically mashed potatoes that were breaded and fried. Nothing wrong with that! My tomato soup was nice, although I expected it to be a little thicker since it's called "Minestra tomate pane," or tomato-bread soup. It was very flavorful though, and perfect for dipping their crusty bread in.
We were in the mood for a nice warm, spicy red wine to accompany our meal, but apparently so was everyone else that weekend (they were out of all wines of that type). However, the waiter was nice enough to allow us to taste two types of wine that were the closest to what we were looking for and to choose our favorite.
The atmosphere was perfect for a warm dinner on a cold winter night- dark, cozy, and quiet. Our waiter was knowledgeable, efficient, and allowed us to lounge around without being bothered until our wine glasses were emptied, when he promptly arrived with the check.
Their appetizers paired with a good wine and the outdoor seating make for a very enjoyable meal when the weather is right.
Like others have mentioned before the grilled octopus is done perfectly.
Staff are super friendly especially when making suggestions for food choices and wine alike.
It can get a bit pricey but is a nice place to come with a date if you can afford it, or with a group of friends.
This place is GREAT! Good food and nice and attentive service.
I underestimated this place. I didn't think it would be this good and fun.
The sampling of the apps was tasty (all the fried stuff was great). But, it was the 2 pastas that were the hit. We had the pistachio one and also the orrechiete (how do you spell this word? I am too lazy to look it up).
And the short rib entree was flavorful and good.
I liked this place a lot and thinks it's perfect to share smaller type plates with friends. Makes it enjoyable and fun.
Oh, how could I forget? The desserts were good too (we had the cannoli and the donut fritters). Very solid overall.
I highly recommend this place.
Bar Stuzzichini disappointed.
The Arancini really struck me as something you'd get at TGI Fridays. Fried balls of rice and cheese, very low-end chain restaurant kind of thing. The wine was served in tumblers, I really expect better in New York City. The wine was served a bit cold. The experience was rather disappointing, there are so many better restaurants and some that are not only better but better and less expensive.
This is a great place to stop in for a drink and bar snacks or get a table with a group. I've been a few times, most recently Saturday after the movies. We sat at the bar - which was shockingly empty - and started with some drinks. A quartino of rose wine for me and a Peroni for my friend. For food we got a plate of three stuzzichini ($18): the peconorino, the fried chickpea fritters, and the eggplant with ricotta. All very tasty, but the chickpea fritters are pretty greasy.
We shared the Orecchiette, which was delicious. Paste cooked perfectly al dente, and the breadcrumbs were yummy. Not exactly sure where the cauliflower was, but I didn't care.
After my friend had another Peroni (small this time), the bill came to $65. No bargain, but not breaking the bank either, and a really tasty, quick, hassle-free meal.
Went here with a few people that have been before. All saying how good it is.
In my opinion, pretty good. Debating whether it deserved 3 or 4 stars. The appetizers were so-so. Over fried to the crispy state baby artichokes. Or were they supposed to be like that? My translation if that is so...why over fry? You lose the flavor! The prawns were really good and nice and spicy! Prosciutto was good, nothing to brag about.
The entree however, won the extra star. Pistachio nuts, lemon peel, cheese and fresh pasta. Can I say "Yum!"?
Good espresso too.
Also like the decor. It feels like you step into Italy and leave Manhattan behind.
If you want some fresh pasta, a feel of Italy and enough options on a menu to come back for more after a first try...this is the place.
I kind of LOVE this place. Went with a friend for dinner and we started with the 5 appetizers: Ceci (chickpea puree), Mozzarella Di Bufala , Arancini (rice balls), Vongole (steamed clams) and Capocollo (pork shoulder). Everything we ate was better then the next. The Mozzarella was perfect, the rice balls were cheesy heaven and they all just blended very well together.
For an entree we split the: Paccheri Alla Napoletane (ragù of short rib and ricotta di bufala )and it was quite possibly one of the best pastas I've had in the city which is saying a lot because I've eaten out many, many times in my 25 years.
2.5ish...
Went last night - saw someone mention lambrusco here...and well...'nuff said!
Ordered the fried meatballs, rice balls, fried artichoke as small bites, my friend had the linguine w/spicy sauce and conch and I ordered the arugla salad with ricotta salata & the tomato bread soup.
Break down of the food.
fried meatballs were like hard, tiny hockey pucks (which is a bad thing in my book)
the rice balls were gooey, cheesy bites of goodness
the fried artichokes - eh, they were there
lambrusco - was pretty good, happy with it ($35/bottle, which is pretty standard)
Salad was fine, arugula was lightly bitter, peppery, the dressing a standard vinegarette and the cheese together was a nice flavor.
The tomato bread soup was a huge disappointment - I fell in love with this soup in Firenze and was really excited - in Italy it's a substantial soup, really more a meal, since they make it from really great tomatoes and yes, there are chunks of bread in it that really fill you up.
This soup? It was tomato cream soup blended with a nice drizzle of olive oil on top but (no bread? or perhaps it was blended in?) NOT what I wanted.
The pasta? I'm sorry, but I didn't even bother to try it or ask to try it, it looked like regular dried linguini with sauce poured on top and I guess my soup (and the meat balls) made me think it just wasn't worth it to steal a bite.
Service was very good, prompt, polite, even at times fun - at both the bar and the table, wait staff are all very attractive, so if you want eye candy, the guys and gals that work there are pretty (and I mean that as a compliment.)
The room is dark but has very cool chandeliers...
All of the above was $60/person with tax, tip, etc.
Wonderful Italian "tapas" and a fantastic wine list. Definitely try the wine Lacryma Christi - a delightful Neapolitan wine which is not common in the USA (to my knowledge). This is the first restaurant in New York that I've encountered that has it and the last time I had it was in Italy.
I've come here twice recently, hoping to make it a regular haunt of mine since I live in the area. I'm not sure though if there was enough here to keep my attention for long.
The first round; we had the ricotta honey crostata, arancini (fried risotto ball), and eggplant involtini. The ricotta/honey and arancini were damn good, the arancini being like an italian friend mac & cheese ball. I then split an order of the gnocci which was just bleh.
Second time round my party split 5 appetizers/tapas; the meatballs (tender and delicious), steamed clams (probably the best), octopus (forgettable), spicy salami (good), marinated eggplant (a waste). Then I had an order of the spaghetti with tuna roe, which was good, but almost tasted Japanese given the ingredients.
I would suggest if you go here you just make it a whole big meal of appetizers, that was the strong suit at this place. The entrees are good, but there's more values in their apps.
Hmmmm. Bar Stuzzichini. I really thought it was going to be a quaint cosy restaurant. Does look so from the outside. Who knew that it would extend all the way inside and turned out to actually be a rather large establishment. Suddenly I started to think of it as one of those Maggiano or the Palm restaurants... not my style.
Anyway, I have to admit that I was drawn to their Stuzzichini Misti menu which you get 5 items for $29 for 2-3 people. What a deal! However, beware... the portions are SMALL and the misti alone won't fill you up. We ordered a couple more appetizers as well as the linguine. The grilled octopus and gigantic prawns were good :) Even though the pasta was average, it filled me up and I enjoyed it.
We had a really nice waiter that committed several blunders on us. Not only did he forget to take our orders, he also forgot to serve one of us our drinks and missed out on one of our orders. OK he was cute and apologetic and redeemed himself with his charm ;p
Though the place was large, it did fill up in the course of the night. It was rather empty when we first arrived (7-ish after an afternoon of shopping). We were exhausted and famished. Let's just say that Bar Stuzzichini did the job of feeding us in a very comfortable environment to rest our tired feet.
Personally, I love this place. I used to live in Italy and I can tell you that not only the food, but the atmosphere as well is very quintessential Italian brasserie. I believe those who have eaten here are typical Americans who try to compare apples to oranges. Being what it is and what they are going for, they are right on the mark. The quality of the food as well as the palate is simple and flavorful. The service is a bit slow. However, have you ever eaten in Italy? This is Federal Express compared to how it is in the motherland. You could easily spend 2-3 hours dining over 3 courses.
Moving on, let's discuss the food. Being a veggie there are limited options though they are more than happy to make any accommodation as requested. I'm a huge fan of the Tagliolini con Pistacchio e Limone which is an absolute flavorful dish of pasta with a lemon cream sauce with a sprinkling of chopped nuts. I have no comment on how to make it any better. It's simply phenomenal. The thing that I like best is that unlike most americanized Italian restaurants, you get the proper portion which at first looks small, but once eaten, you're full for hours. Anymore and you'd just be ill. I also like any of their small plates which are very small, so no sharing. And they have a nice wine selection. If you order a Quartini, be sure to ask that they open a new bottle. On a couple of occasions I had wine that had been opened for too long.
The only downside of this place is that it is pricey. Being Manhattan, I understand rents and this place just does not do the volume that other restaurants do in the area. If it was about 30% cheaper I would probably be here weekly. Right now, I visit monthly.
And my last suggestion, just like in Italy, plan on a couple hours afterward to take a nap. I'm sleepy afterwards every time.
Typical of so much of Manhattan - all style and no substance, priced and decorated in a way to please a mid-to-high earning 40-something that likes Whole Foods and holidays in Croatia.
We were told to go here by exactly one of those people to try out the Italian-style tapas, and boy what a crock of shite it was. Four of us got 10 dishes and San Pellegrino for $70 with tip and we would've have eaten more of the same browsing for free samples at Whole Foods or any good Italian deli.
Sure, some dishes like the roasted artichokes came 50% to justifying their $5 to $15 price, but seriously - $8 for a golf-ball size ball of mozzarella or $10 for seven thin-as-paper, slices of Sopresatta?! Come on, we're not idiots.
If this is some misguided attempt to try and peddle the notion that Italy has tapas like Spain does, I guess we should've sat at the bar drinking wine, only ordered three and then went somewhere so much better, like back to Chinatown where our dim sum banquet had cost $10 less for literally 10 times as much good food.
So, who's up for starting an 'American-style tapas' bar down here in Flatiron? I reckon we could easily sell a single White Castle slyder on a white plate for $15 as long as it's in a joke of trap like this place.
Are You In? Send me your ideas for our business...
Italian small plates + pinot grigio on a hot summer day? Yay!
I liked Bar Stuzzichini - the small plates were really small portioned - but that allowed for more variety in the meal. For din, I tried out the fritatta, honey + cheese crostini, stuffed eggplant (super yum), octopus, and polpettes (meatballs). I would recommend it all ...
Food isnt all that pricey, but the final cost of the meal still adds up if you drink some fine wine (as per usual).
Also the service was fine ...
Had a friend visiting from Australia and while wandering the City, doing all those touristy things you do when you have friends from other country's who have only seen New York on television (don't judge, he wanted to see Times Square).
We made our way down to Chelsea where we stood outside Wined Up for several minutes discussing the merits of drinking wine on an empty stomach. Deciding food might be a good idea, we made our way over to Bar Stuzzichini and decided that a free small plate with our drink was just fine by us.
The drinks were decent, nothing special. My two friends both got Chili Martini's which they enjoyed. I got some kind of orange thing with Campari because the drink I originally ordered was from an old menu that was still hanging around the dining room.
The arancini (fried rice balls stuffed with mozzarella) were pretty tasty, as were the meatballs; the salted cod however, was a disappointment...or as much of a disappointment as free food can be.
They do get points though for being only the second place I've ever seen an old school black Berkel prosciutto slicer, with the hand crank.
My friends took me here for a belated birthday celebration last night. I've heard & read much about it but was never curious to try it out because I am not much of an Italian food gal. Needless to say, I am enamored with Italian men and Italian designers!
It's a big and long restaurant that has 2 bars, one in the front and the second in the back of the restaurant. There's nothing impressive about the decor of the place.
Our server was pleasant and checked in on us regularly. Basically, she did what was expected of her.
We ordered 10 different little Tapas style appetizer plates but I can't remember them all. I will list the plates that we found lovely:
Spicy Meatballs
Rice Balls
Grilled Octupus
Eggplant
We also ordered a plate of Gnocchi that was alright.
The desserts we had were Chocolate Hazelnut Cake & Donuts with Ice-cream. Both were yummy, especially the ice-cream that came with it.
Again, my review may be biased because I am not a fan of Italian food but I didn't find any plate to be earth shattering great. It's a casual place that's good for groups.
I went here with two friends after reading about it in NY Mag. We started with several appetizers - a few weeks later I'm still thinking about those meatballs - and shared two main courses. The pistachio pasta is a must! I was disappointed by the lemon chicken only because it was on the bone - personally not a fan. When a menu item reads crispy chicken my mind just thinks Milanese style.
I'm giving this 4 stars because I wish the waiter was more helpful with our fine selection considering we are (forever) amateurs!
NY Magazine, never have I ever been so angry with you. I've too long overlooked your questionable critics picks, but a "Best Small Plates" vote for Bar Stuzzichini is absurdity. Better small plates in the city: Alta, Boqueria, Stanton Social, Hagi, Oh Taisho, Casa Mono
This is one of my favorite spots in this neighborhood.
The Italian wine selection is great and they give a pretty good pour. The bartenders are friendly and generous.
I recommend sitting at the bar with a friend and sharing five of the 'stuzzichini' -- don't miss the ricotta crostini or the rice balls!
Came here last night, and judging from the reviews I read here and elsewhere, I was bracing myself for disappointing food and worse service. The food was overall quite good, especially for the price. The service was spotty and distracted but usually ended up in our favor.
We picked 5 plates for $25, the outstanding ones being the grilled octopus (one lovely, meaty, tentacle) and the scamorza alla brace (a thick slab of grilled, smoked mozzarella). Of course, we were amused by the fact that we never ordered the mozzarella, but after informing our waiter of that, he said it was on the house. So that was okay.
We had plowed through 4 of the 5 plates we ordered (we also were served grilled prawns which we never ordered - those were promptly taken back, and two crostini with ricotta and honey, which were mild and delicious and also not ordered by us), and then the staff came by to clear our plates and bread to make room for the pasta dishes. When we notified the waiter that dish #5, the prosciutto di parma, had never arrived, he seemd a bit surprised, went to check the computer, and then proceeded to bring us new plates and silverware. A moment later, our prosciutto.
Finally, the pasta. We ordered the orecchiette with cauliflower and breadcrumbs and the tagliolini with pistachio. The orecchiette were perfectly cooked, the cauliflower was so savory and delicious - the flavors were surprisingly strong for what we thought would be a milder dish. The tagliolini was the highlight, however. The sauce was made of pistachios, heavy cream, lemon, and a healthy dose of olive oil (FYI, everything we had came with a healthy dose of olive oil), and tasted completely perfect and amazing. They also make the tagliolini in-house, as well (the orecchiette is dry).
All in all, the service was kind of annoying (they kept bringing us the wrong thing, totally forgot one of our dishes) but tolerable (they let us eat most of the food they brought us by mistake), and the food was mostly great (especially the pasta and the octopus, although the crostini are forgettable, but the scarmoza was tasty). I was amused and satisfied. I'd return.
ONE OF THE BEST GNOCCHI IN NY!!
When you walk into this place you feel like you're walking into a casual but upscale bar/restaurant where even the lights on the chandelier are straight out of the old Italian festivals. Wooden accents and a beautiful bar that stretches much of the length of the front of the restaurant are enticing to even the lone traveler. High Ceilings and dim lighting add to the elegance of this casual eatery.
Let's just say the food here was soooo fresh and flavorful. Even the meatballs were so packed with flavor they seemed to burst in my mouth.
If you're in the neighborhood you won't be disappointed! It's definitely an Ital-i-holic's dream. Bustling upscale crowd in the evening, packed bar and dining room. Great crowd, seems to be a popular after work / neighborhood spot.
If you decide to come here you must try:
Gnocchi - with red sauce
Meatballs - don't even need sauce
Deep Fried Artichokes - the people next to me love this one
Stuffed Eggplant - also another neighbor's favorite
Honestly I don't think you can go wrong here, everything on the menu sounded amazing! Staff was friendly and accommodating and I met several foodies at the bar while tasting the day away.
Destination spot: Yep
Date Rating: 7
Pick up Scale: 6 (If you're interested in a more sophisticated after work crowd come around 5 or 6 pm)
Strong Suggestions: Great for groups but you'll probably want a reservation on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday night. This place looks like it gets super busy. Even if you come and wait at the bar it's a nice little scene so you won't be bored long.
I'm a total sucker for Lambrusco-- the fizzy, red, Italian wine that has been much maligned over the years, but is actually pretty tasty if you get a good bottle-- and Bar Stuzzichini is one of the few restaurants in New York that has it on its wine list.
The restaurant itself is warm and inviting, lots of mahogany and brick. My sister and I sat at the bar half-way in on the left and enjoyed sipping our wine and watching the cooks prepare the stuzzichini, which by the way, are delicious. We had the arancini (rice balls), pecorino, some salumi, and eggplant parm-- it was all delicious.
Definitely worth a stop if you are in the Flatiron area!
I went here with friends last week after reading about it in Cheap Eats and we were all very impressed. We got the stuzzichini sampler and were most blown away by the eggplant involtini. The eggplant was silky soft and the cheese was bursting with flavor.
For an entree I had the gnocchi, and it was the lightest gnocchi I have had outside of Italy. The sauce was spicy and tangy, but I imagine this gnocchi would have tasted great with no sauce, it was just that amazing.
To finish our meal we had the orange olive oil cake and it was positively the most delicious Italian dessert I have ever had.
This is a great place. I really enjoyed my dinner here - the food was very good and there is also a nice selection of appetizers. I particularly liked the fried artichokes and chickpea fritters. My eggplant entree was delicious and didn't have ricotta which I really liked as well (ricotta is not my favorite) and eggplant parm tends to be too cheesy for me - but not from here, it was perfect. The short ribs were also delicious (sauce was perfect for bread dipping)...
This is the type of place that would be great to have in your neighborhood with reasonable prices, small bites or entree sized plates and a few different wines by the glass. Definitely worth a visit.
Bar Stuzzichini is a capitol bar. Probably three times as deep as it is narrow, dark wood, red upholstering and heavy chandeliers commingle and turn from airy dining room to classic bar and finally, to a darker borough or lunchers and businesspeople. A college friend and I were escorted to the back by a swift, confident host and we shared a table for two whose bench clung to the wall. A gregarious waiter then greeted us and entreated us to drink the "city water" and in that single, ambiguous branding both boasted of and inveighed against tap water.
We perused the large but well organized menus and navigated its course of appetizers, lunch specials and various courses. As its name suggests, Bar Stuzzichini is an Italian restaurant and they attempt to represent the whole political map of Italy. My friend and I chose different regions entirely. She ordered a salad of cool asparagus topped with grated parmesian-reggiano and a bowl of gnocchi. I went south and ordered the entire seafood section of the appetizer menu and watched as the waiter praised my selection. I almost I finished my order with a salad as a main course, and I chose grilled chicory dressed over a blanched anchovy paste.
We gladly guzzled down two bottles of water before our dishes began to arrive, and we reminisced certain specious grades in college courses and the generally fogginess of those carefree, careless days. A discussion of tastes emerged. And the nuance of textures in regard to food was thrown across the table like dice. I was interested and very tolerant of textures: tough, flaky, slimy, viscous, cloying... The adjectives seasoned the table. My friend dismissed my happy pedantry and then, slowly the dishes arrived. I started with a single, grilled Portuguese sardine dressed with golden raisins, olive oil and pine nut. This quickly cleared my palate and established a base for the following: steamed clams, flayed sardines in oil, grilled octopus salad and a fire-roasted prawn. When I was pointing out the tentacles to my friend, her asparagus arrived and the heavy smell of Parmesean wafted through the reddish dim.
Of the dishes, the grilled octopus salad was the best. Celery and scallions laced the pinkish-purple flesh. There was an elasticity that quickly gave to the bite. The misfortunate creature had not been dead long. The asparagus, which I began to steal, were tenderly peeled and nicely presented; I enjoyed each pilfered spear.
The city water was clean and refreshing.
My grilled shrimp was almost fork-tender and curled into a pink ball of smoky, sweet meat that was moist once masticated. Our waiter delighted in each dish I received, he ignored my friend's order and he seemed eager to dine with us. Too eager, I supposed that either he or I was a fool. Or at least suspected of foolishness. As the plates began to clutter, my suspicions grew.
By the time my friend had finished with her promising gnocchi and I had cleaned the whole of my salad plate, Bar Stuzzichini had grown empty. There was no play of shadow that busyness had lent. I felt like a member of a sequestered jury. The gnocchi were tender, I thought, but the tomato sauce--as thin as a coulis--was ill conceived. The anchovy paste was bland, but the dark chicory had an earthy balance that needed little matching.
We walked out, past the looming bar and the temptation of collegiate tippling. It was a mild day in the city and one could enjoy the weather. Still thirsty, I walked into a store and grabbed a small San Pellegrino.
I was so utterly dissapointed. The place looked fun, but the service was bad, and the food worse.
My dining companion and I were literally served cold pasta. I got food poisoning. And the resto's poor attempt at being upscale/down-home is laughable. Upscale/down-home does not mean a surly host, poor presentation, meat balls that are as hard as rocks, or cold pasta.
Ugh. Try again. Spazzichini.
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