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Come to Bocca on Sunday and enjoy our amazing wine selection at this incredible offer.
Every bottle of wine is half price
23rd St-Park Ave S (6)
23rd St-Broadway (R, W)
Union Square (4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R, W)
Mon-Thu. 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Mon-Thu. 5:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Fri. 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Fri. 5:30 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.
Sat. 5:30 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.
Sun. 5:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Blu is offering a 10% discount off the entire bill (including alcoholic beverages) to all guests who mention that they saw us on Yelp!
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During Restaurant Week, I arrived to a ghost town of customers infiltrated by an army of employees, none of which sat me, not sure why. I thought they opened at 5 and yes I was waiting for someone else, but I thought the convention was to at least offer. Once seated, the service was superb and the food even better, but it was an olfactory blitz for both of us. Sure, we eventually (kind of) got accustomed to the scent after a while, but I had an undeniable essence of incense after leaving.
+6 for the house made pasta & other food, -2 for the lingering fragrance
Rating: 3.5 stars
Dined here with 7 others. I thought the quality of the food was good, but the portions were small for the price. Average pasta dishes were $18 and weren't very big. I think some of the guys in my group were still hungry after. The fish was well prepared and flavorful, but it came out a little cold, so we sent it back to be warmed up.
The place is cute and great for dates. Also good for groups. I wouldn't highly recommend this place, but overall a good spot.
hostess not so friendly... smile at least! and showed us to our table
service though was great... in a span of 20 mins i swear we had 5 people come to our table to check up on us including the mgr/owner multiple times... even tried to entertain us as we were waiting for our fourth member of the group...
bread first time around felt like leftover slices of stale bread from whole foods... but for some reason we asked for more bread but this time were given way better fresher ciabatta like bread straight from the oven... the marinara/olive oil concoction dipping sauce was perfectly salted!
food though had something to be desired. we went originally for restaurant week but decided to order off the menu... ends up being much cheaper in the end and we got to try more stuff... although that extra stuff we ordered was eh...
octopus - one tentacle... for 16 bucks?? holy crap... no tentacle no matter how well it was done can be worth 16 bucks jeez... just for that i might learn how to braise it myself and get the whole octopus from chinatown!!! wow...
pasta in a wheel... ok so they make the pasta, and then toss it in a huge romano wheel... sanitary? not so sure... pasta... didn't taste handmade... it was good but nothing special
duck/squash ravioli - shell was way too tough... the filling was not mushy enough or sweet enough... the duck was separated from the ravioli which i wish was infused in... didn't taste homemade either
cod dish - bland... without the olives dish was bland... cod was nicely cooked but bland
pork - best part of the meal... wish i didn't fling my crispy pork skin onto the floor tho =(... also wished there were more...
eh overall nice surprise to encounter real italians running this restaurant... but in terms of great homemade italian food... this place isn't it... =(
I came here on a Sunday night for Restaurant Week, and the food was honestly underwhelming compared to the decor and location. The inside is beautiful, nice balance of modern and cozy, big mirrors, chic pillows. Much more of a romantic vibe than a "big group" vibe, although I saw two parties of 6. The restaurant was half-full when we arrived, and we were seated immediately.
Service: The hostess' manner was so-so, but the servers were very attentive and friendly. Our main server was fairly soft-spoken which was problematic, but he knew his stuff. The guys that served the food seemed very dedicated; one of them put down a plate, turned it two inches counter-clockwise, picked it up again, moved my friend's drink from one side to another, then placed the plate down again. We were both mystified as to why, but I guess he was following some kind of schematic in his head. Both they and the main server were great about refilling water promptly.
Food: Sadly, this was rather disappointing. I had the octopus appetizer, the tonnarelli cacio e pepe, and the brioche pudding with five spice ice cream. The octopus was nicely flavored and very tender, but it came spread out thinly on the bottom of what appeared to be a soup bowl. Strange plating. The tonnarelli came out in the awesome cheese wheel, but they just plop it onto a plate. While the dish had incredibly strong flavors of pepper and cheese, it didn't have anything more complex than that. Besides which, it's hard to get excited about a lump of pale pasta flecked with pepper on a completely white plate... they may want to rethink that. The brioche pudding was pretty good; it would have been uninspiring on its own, but the five spice ice cream was nicely nuanced. We both had a drink with our meals, her a basil vodka gimlet thing and me a glass of wine the server recommended. Those were both pretty good.
Overall, it was pretty okay--the decor and service balance out the food to give this place 3 stars.
Went here for dinner during Restaurant Week with a friend and had a wonderful time. It has a very small store front so make sure to keep your eyes peeled. Don't be fooled though. It is quite roomy once you get inside.
The service was great. Our waiter was very helpful with wine recommendations (as the wine variety is quite vast) and also was attentive to our every need. I had the Capricci alla Norcina (off of the regular menu). It was delicious. The pasta was well done and the sausage ...ugh to die for!
My friend ordered from the RW menu so we shared her desert, the Cioccolato. It was also yummy, but a bit messy to eat as the ice cream had almost completely melted by the time the dish arrived to our table (my ONLY complaint).
Good atmosphere, good drinks, and good conversation!
Delicious food with excellent service! I was impressed. Although the food portions weren't large for the price... I thought the food tasted great along with the wonderful wine. They didn't rush our party at all, giving us ample time to enjoy the food and each others company. I would definitely recommend Bocca to all my friends.
Talk about a hidden gem! Had a wonderful dinner at this restaurant along with some of the best wine I've had in a restaurant, ever. (That's right, ever).
Stuck with just an entree - the pasta defined as cacio e pepe. This is their speciality that they bring out in a big cheese wheel that has been hollowed out a bit and is spooned onto your plate. This makes it very cheesy, and the pepe is whole peppercorns so it definitely packs a little punch. A really great dish.
My dad had the suckling pig with a side of spinach and mushrooms; didn't try the pig but the sides were great. My mom had the pasta with tomato sauce, also very good. Don't forget the wine though - we had a Pinot Nero from a vineyard that starts with a "T". Definitely get it, it was phenomenal.
Service was good and attentive, however they brought out the other entrees and then after 5 minutes brought out mine. Come on now, the easiest rule to remember is to bring all the table's dishes at once. So I shaved a star off for that. I'll be back for some lovely Italian food and even better wine soon!
Yummy yummy yummy! To think I almost missed the opportunity to try this restaurant. The same person invited me twice, the first time I couldn't make it the first time because of work. Second time I actually made it, and I am really glad that I did.
The place boasts a higher than average ceiling, which gives the place a airy look. I would have liked it better if the the light was a big dimmer (I thought the lighting was a bit harsh) but it didn't take a way too much from how nice the interior is.
The food is really good here. I especially love their veal meatballs with chick peas and this pasta that they serve from a huge block of cheese (look for Tonnarelli cacio e pepe). They serve it at your table and I guess the heat of the pasta melts the cheese... My mouth just started watering thinking about it.
Granted the place was not crowded, but the service was attentive without being intrusive. Price was okay (for Manhattan standard), considering the quality of the food offered.
My girlfriend and I had dinner here during Restaurant Week. All of the food was incredible. She had salmon, and I had a heavenly serving of spaghetti caccio e pepe, which was served tableside in a carved out wheel of cheese. It was like a party in my mouth! We each had drinks from the menu, and they were ok - kind of your typical $12 mixed drink. If there was anything better than the food, it was the service. The waitstaff was incredibly attentive throughout the meal. Some servers don't care about customers who are there just for the Restaurant Week menu, but the folks at Bocca weren't like that at all. The bathroom was clean (always important IMHO), and we weren't rushed out at the end of our meal. The atmosphere was quiet enough that we didn't have to shout over each other, even though almost every seat in the place was filled. I'm not sure I'd go back to Bacco for their full price menu, but I'll definitely keep it in mind when Restaurant Week returns.
This place has become one of my local go-to's. The house-made pasta is delicious and the wine selection is great. I love the warm atmosphere; while lively, it's still cozy and intimate. The service has always been fantastic. Bonus: They deliver!!
I had my final RW Summer 2009 meal here and it was delicious! First of all, the options are amazing. Instead of a meager 2-3 options, you get 4-5! And three of the entrees are pastas, making this the perfect place to carbo-load!
I don't remember what appetizer I had, but I ordered the tonnarelli pasta. It was nice and al dente, with a snappy peppery flavor. It's served tableside in a giant wheel of pecorino, yum! My cousin had the salmon. I usually eschew ordering fish (especially salmon) at restaurants, but it was perfect here! Nice and rare in the center (he didn't even ask for this) and perfectly seasoned. I had the crostatina for dessert, also yummy.
Service was great, food was great, I'd definitely return!
The waiters and staff were really nice. This is a very spacious restaurant, and when my friend and I sat down, there was literally no one else here. Looked like a good spot for dates.
Brief notes on the food:
Branzino - this fish was so amazingly fresh and mouth-watering. the potatoes on the side were ok and I might have pushed aside the bell peppers.....I definitely got this dish for the branzino not the other stuff
Fettuccine with scallops - scallops were good and the fettuccine was cooked perfectly, but I wasn't too big on the zucchini....the sauce was a little bit bland but that's ok...
We didn't stay for dessert since we were going somewhere else
This will sound like a shill, but it's not!
I have to admit that I had not heard about Bocca before going to dinner with work colleagues last night. With all of the terrific restaurants in this neighborhood, it is easy to miss this perfect Italian GEM!
When you walk in, you are hit by the beautiful decor. In fact, I was wondering what was here before Bocca, because in the main dining room, there are vaulted ceilings, reminiscent of a classic wine cellar.
The banquets could lose the pillows, but otherwise the setting was terrific.
But you really should go to Bocca for the food. Our waiter told us that the menu had just been updated that day, so there were no specials. But the food was special. I had the "Polipo brasato con insalata di cannellini e soppressata" (yes, I looked it up on their website!), otherwise known as "Olive oil braised portuguese wild octopus with cannellini beans and soppressata" as an appetizer. Cooked to perfection. Others with us had the "Wild rocket salad", roasted Beurré Bosc pear, toasted almonds and creamy gorgonzola and all seemed happy.
As for main courses, I went with the "Fettuccine con guancia di maiale brasata e funghi selvatici": House made fettuccine tossed with braised pork cheeks, wild mushrooms and pork jus (who knew there was pork "jus"?) Overall the dish was delicious. Not too heavy and the mushrooms and pork belly were excellent and well-balanced.
I saw others having the scallops and pork belly, the salmon and the branzino (that looked great!)
None of us had room for dessert, but the wine did flow and the list was appropriately priced.
The waiter was good (kept our wine glasses full) and had a good understanding of the menu.
It wasn't very crowded the night we were there, but I will be back and I highly recommend (as if you couldn't see that coming!) that you give Bocca a try.
Discovered this place on a Sunday when a friend wanted Italian and I wanted to take advantage of Restaurant Week. Great choice! Staff was very friendly and did not rush us at all. We stayed for about 35 minutes after finishing our meal and were not bothered at all. Would definitely go again for a nice relaxing time with friends.
The food was fantastic! I had veal meatballs with chickpeas, which was good, but could have used a touch more salt. The pasta with buffalo mozzarella and sausage was amazing. Couldn't get enough of it. Drinks were great, too and well-priced at $12 each. The sangria was really good. Finished it off with panna cotta, excellent flavor. Servings were plentiful and you left feeling satisfied, not stuffed.
3.5 stars. I found this restaurant through the YELP channel and decided to try it out, since the reviews satisfied what I was looking for - trendy, yet casual atmosphere, serving quality italian food that isn't too pricey.
It is easy to mistake Bocca for a lounge since the Iranian-ish decor reminds me of a classy hookah bar. I've been here several times on a Friday night and it has never been crowded.
I've recently been hooked on Sangria as my stable dinner drink, and I thought that the Sangria Bianca served at Bocca was rather unique- the rim of my glass was lined with sugar,pepper and salt---talk about spicing up a drink. I only wish they had added more fruit.
The portions at Bocca are well-sized. The baked eggplant appetizer that my friend and I ordered to share, could have been 2/3's of a meal on its own. For our entrees, I tried the oxtail ragout, whereas my friend, who was vegetarian settled for their simplest pasta dish- angel hair in a creamy sauce with pepper/parmesan.
All the dishes were traditionally prepared, and although I usually prefer "new italian" cuisine, I really enjoyed my meal on the whole. One highlight was the nutella tart with berry compote, which we shared for dessert. Bocca has a unique dessert selection- my sister, who is a dessert fanatic, loves their semi-freddo amaretto biscotti parfait. Expect the bill to amount to about $55 a person for a 3 course meal, with wine.
I would return to Bocca because not only is it conveniently located in the Flatiron area, but it is also a great place to go when you're in the mood for good italian food, wine or cocktails...but you just don't feel like getting dressed up and fancy to get it.
Came here on advice from other Yelpers for my birthday. Brought my discerning parents and family friend. Everyone left raving.
Shared a mushroom appetizer (one of the specials) as well as the Rucola w/ beet salad. Off to a great start.
I then had a pasta with seafood entree. It was delicious. My parents each had the rack of lamb and they definitely made the "clean plate club".
Drinks are delish too. I had a basil gimlet. Could have had that for the rest of the night and been quite satisfied.
Bottom line: I'll be back. (How many more times can I say delicious?!!)
I ate here with my parents and boyfriend.
Appetizer
We ordered the calamari and tuna appetizer. The calamari was unlike anything I had ever tasted. It was weird to look at and tasted even worse. The tuna had very little taste.
Main Course
Fetticini-Bay Scallops, zuchini, tomato and almost invisible crap. I didn't have much flavor. I was suprised because it sounded so good.
Dad had to artic Char which he said was very good. My mom had the Veal Shanks... they both enjoyed their meal.
Dessert
I had the Chocolate cake ....it was a tasteless wonder...
I usually find the reviews on yelp helpful. Needless to say, I was underwhelmed.
A charming little spot in Gramercy for quality Roman cuisine. Came with the 'rents on Friday at my sister's suggestion and it definitely didn't disappoint. Highlights included the vegetarian fritto appetizer (mmmmm....artichokes), the quality, not too pricey wine list - we went with a nice Vermentino from Sardinia: dry and lovely - and the coffee. Don't miss it!
My entree was very good if just shy of great. It was a popular choice among the group of us: a saffron fettuccine with scallops and crabmeat. It was a little too light on the saffron in my opinion, but tasty nonetheless. I had a bite of my dad's pesto fussili and concluded I should have ordered that.
Great service, decent prices, good food, cozy atmosphere with Roman themed movie postars (Roma, Roman Holiday, etc.), what's not to like?
Bocca.... oh Bocca! How I love you!
this place is not for the faint of heart!
Drinks: strong and delicious-- the specialty drinks are REALLY good, the mixologist who made them is quite a smartie!
Food: ABSOLUTELY GOOD. ive NEVER been dissapointed. The pasta, the fish, the everything! ive always been very happy with what ive ordered.
Decor: romantic, high ceilings and perfect for a date, drinks with friends before dinner, drinks with coworkers to try to hit that camraderie off
Wait staff: good looking people. oh yeah, and theyre attentitive and know their food
what to drink: gimlet or knickerbocker (theyre all good, but those two are REALLY good)
would i go again: heck! im a regular! ask Mike! (the bartender)
Plus: The bathroom is SPACIOUS and the toilet paper isnt that nose-ooil-blotting thin crap that other places in the neighborhood give you
For those of you who are experts in italian regional cuisine, this place specializes in rome. its a great place for lunch because its not at all crowded, service is attentive, and you can't beat the value of the lunch fixed menu. i find the food to be remarkably good. the sundried tomato dip is really excellent with bread. the salads are great. i like the calamari salad and the refreshing fennel salad. all the pastas are very good. if you like sardines, there is the sardines with pasta. also there is a very good eggplant pasta dish. the portions are large. the jazz they play is great.
The food was good but the traumatic event that happened near the end of the dinner was not.
Came here to dinner with two girlfriends who I haven't seen in ages about 3 years for one (Pearl) and 1 year for the other (Kim)
Near the end of the dinner, Pearl had her hair burned off...more than half and good thing she had long hair because if she had any shorter hair her whole head would've gone on fire. She just got a haircut a couple of days ago too, we left the restaurant knowing we were not going to come here again, who's freaking idea was it to put candles right behind the booths? whoever that person, calling them a retard is an understatement.
And after that happened, they didn't even offer to take a round of drinks or Pearl's meal off - the manager is an ass and will definitely need to go back to grand school on restaurant management if he wants to attract more business for Bocca especially since we will most likely not come back., and if we did, it would only be the case if they took the candles away from behind the booths.
The waiter Jimmy though was the most charming person there, and if it weren't for him, I'm sure Pearl would've decided to sue Bocca and then end up owning the place. Jimmy was the one that made the manager take off Pearl's entire meal and a round of drinks.
Honestly, you don't want to mess with any female when it comes to their hair especially when they're Asian, havoc can come if you know what I mean
Bocca= savior from the pre-monsoon weather last night and the ridiculous LONG wait at Pipa across the street.
scrumptious pesto/shrimp fussili. Slightly overpriced. (17 bucks and it didn't even come with a side salad or something!)
Deliciously overpriced nutella tart thing for desert. But I am fully content with anything nutella, so it was a joyous occasion.
Lovely server who had a great sense of humor. And an even better busboy who hit on my friend not once, but THREE times and then subsequently was rejected by her by the end of the night when he asked for her number. YEESH.
My lovely friend also got a free alcoholic libation from some guy... NICE.
My friend and I each had a pasta entree and she had 1 cocktail (that we paid for) and the nutella tart and it was 60 bucks with tip. Not too shabby for a chic Manhattan restaurant.
Worth what you'll spend? I would have paid double what I paid.
Good service? Hell yes.
Decent ambience? Yes. Very cozy.
Food/drinks tasty? OMG...
Free refills on soda? Not sure.
Bonus points for? Serving tasty pasta in a giant block of cheese.
I was in NYC on business in July '08. A friend of mine recommended this place and I met her there for dinner. We sat at a table right by the front entrance, which was fun. I felt like a VIP in a fishbowl. I ordered some sort of rigatoni thingy, and my friends each ordered a cheesy pasty something. All I know is that the food was yummy. We took our time eating and no one tried to kick us out. I think between the dinner, a couple drinks each, and dessert we paid about $175 total for 3 people. I'd go back in a second. Best Italian food ever!
It's 5am... The creative juices are running about as fast as I do on a treadmill (as always... so far behind I think I'm first), but it's not stopping me from yelping about Bocca. (It is however preventing my two early morning pre-caffeine brain cells from saying anything witty.)
What: Bocca
Where: Look at the top of the page... yeah it is in one of those eternally cursed spaces that has been 5 different restaurants in 6 years...
Huh?: Brought to you by the team behind Cacio e Pepe and Spiga
Starring: A rockin' pulpo with (of all things) apple and haricot vert, very good spaghetti with guanciale and black truffle oil, a heavily cheesed cacio e pepe served in a rather amusing cheese wheel that is bigger than my apartment and makes you feel bad for the guy who has to carry it around; an interesting duck with spinach and cannelini polenta and coffee powder; and a wine list that conspired to make me sleep through my alarm this morning.
Should you? Yeah... The atmosphere is warm. The bar is long. The food is good. N.B.... Amex only! So grab your Amex now and get thee to Bocca. In the meantime, I'm going back to sleep.
Visited Bocca on New Year's Eve for the attractive prix fixe price ($75 pp).
What I liked:
-Great server. Attentive, not overly intrusive. Very friendly.
-Atmosphere. Busy but could easily converse with my date. Great lighting. Pillowed benches are a nice touch.
-Menu. The prix fixe was terrific. Mushroom risotto was a highlight for me as was the banana creme brulee. I could take or leave the lamb chops.
My only complaint was the bartender. We waited at the bar (only 5 people total sitting at the rail) and she couldn't keep up. New, perhaps? Or I'm just being cranky.
We'll go back!
The food was excellent. We had a 9 pm reservation on Monday night and showed up at 9:20 with no problem (obvious but still!!) The hosteess was exceptionally pleasant. Exceptionally and not fake. It was refreshing.
Our waitor was extremely spastic and wasnt that great- but the girl who helped him (not sure what her role was) was excellent.
The bread and olive oil (sundried tom) was exceptional. Our water glasses were never empty. I ordered a $10 glas of prosecco and it was filled to the brim (another plus!). I had the canteloupe and pecorino salad which was absolutely amazing. So fresh, so simple, so great. I followed it with "Rigatoni" which was rigatoni, sweet sausage and mozz in a light cream sauce. Outrageous. I don't eat pasta unless it's good and this was GOOD.
I would def return. It's a great neighborhood place. Clean bathrooms, clean layout. Cute bar.
Total bill was $85 including tip for two people- 2 appetizers, 1 drink, 2 main courses and 1 dessert.
Somewhere early on in the dinner, the meal at Bocca turned into a competition. It was dish versus dish and while most contests have a clear subject in the lead, the three rounds at Bocca were very close. In fact, one would have to ask the tastebuds of the three consumers to really find out which dish won in the end. The competition turned into a bloodbath as each dish was deconstructed and not one bit was left behind.
Before I give the highlights of each course, I'll let the Bocca intro play.
Who knew that in the heart of Gramercy, a little sweet spot called Bocca existed? We had stumbled upon it by chance and if it were not for the Restaurant Week special sign outside, we may not have been drawn in. Everyone asks, "Which restaurant has the best deal during RR?" Bocca, my friend, is a pretty darn good deal.
Virtually empty, Bocca was big but felt like a dive. It was dark and the hostess sat us in a corner table. Cushy pillows lined our booth and if that overtly feminine touch was Bocca's only fault, then that was the only thing that held Bocca back from being a five star experience. I felt a little like Anthony Bourdain on No Reservations. We wouldn't be feasting on anything you would need a stomach made of steel for but we were about to dine like the chefs do, gobbling up sea fare for kings, sipping soft wine from abroad, and ending with not one or two but three desserts that not only cleansed the palate but triggered happy endorphins. Is that even possible? Yes, my friend, it is.
Our hostess and sommelier were foreign, very friendly and helpful. As they explained the meal choices, daily specials, and wine varieties, it was easy to agree to everything. Talk to us ms. hostess lady and mr. sommelier. The descriptions of ingredients and taste were like music to our ears with your slight accents. And since we weren't too sure which wine would pair well with our meal, we were given two wine tastings. The second choice was an amazing berry red from Sicily.
The three course Restaurant Week special worked out well for us. We chose our appetizers and entrees and one each of the desserts.
Round One:
Polipo- Grilled Portuguese wild octopus served over warm crispy cannellini beans.
Fennel Salad- Fennel with a citrus vinaigrette
Rucola- Rocket with roasted golden and red beets
The wild octopus won hands down. It was meaty and tender. The cannellini beans were creamy and almost tasted like they were breaded. If the octopus had full use of it's tentacles, it would have knocked the fennel and rocket back into the ground.
Round Two:
Tonnarelli Cacio y Pepe: Box like spaghetti with Pecorino cheese and coarse black pepper
Braised Ox Tail: Served with bufalo mozzarella cheese, polenta and fried celery
Trota: Oven roasted filet of trout with sliced potatoes
The meat eaters united and immediately played bully to the Tonarelli and Trota. The ox tail was soft and boneless with a thick gravy and piled on high with what seemed like fried bits of celery and onion. Where it's sidekick of polenta failed, Trota's faithful starch was immersed in olive oil. And you know how we all melt for EVOO. And while we thought Ox and Trota had it hands down in the feast category, Tonarelli stole the show with it's flashy presentation. The waiter came out with a cheese wheel bigger than the table. The pasta came from within and the wheel was even sacrificed as slivers of percorino cheese were incorporated into the pasta mixture. Instant replays will have to be studied to find out who the real winner was here.
Final Round:
Tart- Nutella drizzles with a roasted bosch pear
Semifreddo- Amaretto biscuit freeze
Creme Brulee- Bananas!
The tart really knew how to reel us in. No one could resist the delicate crunch of the tart while it was laced with nutella. The bosch pear hinted of a little glamour yet was very unassuming. The semifreddo played it cool and was the gentleman at the bar who bought you a drink. And while all of this was going on, creme brulee was going crazy in the background but when indulged, we found out that it was less insane than we thought, only offering a hint of bananas.
The verdict is up in arms as each dish really sparkled in its own way. I'm surprised and feel kind of bad that Bocca hasn't really been in the limelight based on the past Yelp reviews. My first encounter with Bocca was a very interesting game night and I would gladly play again.
EDIT:
Had dinner at this place again... Wasn't as impressed. The portions were much smaller than I remembered... and the whole menu changed. Sorry, but going to have to take my review down by a star to make it just "OK."
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Gathered here for a last minute dinner with a group of friends last Friday night. If it wasn't for a HUGE party, the place would've been half-empty (or half-full depending on how you want to look at it!).
I'm surprised this place isn't more popular. The food is pretty good, the portions are just right, and it is reasonably priced.
I would recommend this place for low-key group get-togethers... but definitely not a date night or a "do-it-up" night. Will visit again...
This restaurant was very very good. The pasta that is served in the cheese wheel reminded me of Basta Pasta (they've been doing this for over 10 years and they are also excellent) but everything was excellent.
The staff is courteous and very friendly and personally our server, I wish we got her name, was excellent. When we were not sure about the wine we wanted to order, she brought us a taste and she tried to accommodate us as much as possible. I'm sure that she's like that with everyone but she made us feel really special.
I would definitely recommend to pasta lovers to try this place at least once and the restaurant's ambiance is very cozy and comfortable.
Such good food!!! so yummy. makes me wish i lived in NYC. near union sq.. a friend who works at the food magazine (bon appetitte) took us there, that's gotta say something about the place. perfect portion and perfect taste for every dish. everything was so good. i was very impressed! they served my friend's pasta in a cheese wheel, what a cool idea. and the eggplant parmesan was amazing. def wanna go back.
Good Italian food with a little bit of a different menu. The setting is very nice with dim lighting and music playing in the background.
There aren't too many options on the menu - five or six pasta dishes, a couple of fish plates and three or four meat dishes. Most of the pasta is pesto or cheese based, but they will give you a dish of tomato sauce on the side, if you ask for it.
For an appetizer, I recommend going with the cheese and cured meats. There are a few of each and you get to make your own dish. I thought the prosciutto was very good and there was a good selection of cheeses, too that our waitress picked out for us. I had this spaghetti-type pasta with black pepper mixed in wheel of cheese right at the table. I never had anything like it and it was fantastic. I also tried the garganelle with pancetta and fava beans - also good, but just a tad undercooked.
The service was very friendly and helpful. The wine list was very extensive and prices ranged from $30-$100+. I recommend trying this place for a little "different" Italian experience.
Visited Bocca for a late dinner after a long commute back into the city from Newark. It was just the thing.
The attention paid to the decor of the dining room with the bar as a center point was done beautifully. Anybody could look good in that light. Silk cushions lining a bench that ran the length of the main dining area with chairs on the other side of each table. Good jazz in the background (not just the standards) - bring a date here or your group of girls.
Our server had a lot of personality (in a good way) and we instantly felt taken care of, right down to him choosing my date's entree for the night with a reassuring "I'll choose for you" - and he was not disappointed.
We both had pasta and though we were the last table seated we didn't feel rushed. The food was good but not the best I've had. The ingredients were fresh but preparation seemed a little sloppy. I'd go back but at an earlier hour for the full experience.
I enjoyed this place so much, it's even hard to say. I was striving for "my place" and now I have it. Design of the place pleases my eye. My pasta was good and the portion was not intented to feed the whole US army. I also liked Italian beer and the cocktail with basil. Since I was there alone, I can tell you, that the bartender there is a great entertainment and help even with food.
we went to Bocca during restaurant week in NYC. we chose it because their set menu looked the best out of all we reviewed on the restaurant week website. love the decor of this place. it's very warm and cozy. we decided to eat at the bar because the bartender was friendly and not bad looking ;). the food and drinks were great, service was excellent. can't wait to go back.
"When in rome do as the romans do" and if you are in New York go to Bocca! We found Bocca during a stroll in the Flatiron area last Saturday. It was a bit busy but at least while waiting at the bar we got to sip an extraordinary Basil Gimlet. They gave us a cute table overlooking the room. Little did we know what a lovely dining experience expected us. The waitress with the "exotic roman accent" as she referred to herself was a gem. She helped with the wine and directed our attention to her favorite, which now are also our favorite!, dishes. Timballo, Maltagliati, and Maialino were spectacular. We ended our unexpected culinary adventure with a delicate yet mouthwatering amaretto semifreddo. What a great Saturday. Food, service, atmosphere ... Bocca truly deserves 5 stars!
I will admit I am not a galloping gourmet. This place serves small gourmet food. The food was awesome but I am not used to small portions. For an appetizer I had something that turned out to be raw beef LOL!!!!! My main dish as Tuna and it was excellent. The wait staff was great. Kind of expensive but worth it. Came here on my brother's birthday. Everyone enjoyed the dinner here!!!!
came here the other week in a continued search for the top italian restaurants in the city and bocca did not disappoint.
the atmosphere was really cool-not too dark, not too light-our table had pillows and a cushioned bench on one side, which was super cool.
the appetizers are great-you get to choose between a variety of cheeses and meats, all of which are amazing.
my friend had the salmon, which was so good, and i had their typical dish, which came in a cheese wheel! definitely a first for me, when the waiter showed up by my side with this big cheese wheel. he mixed the pasta with the cheese right in front of me. very cool.
it was kind of like how places like dos caminos make guacamole in front of you, except this was much cooler.
dessert was also phenomenal, we had the il latte-which is 4 types of milk-cream, foam, ice cream, and gelatin.
the wine list was also good-obvi mostly italian wines, but the other waitress was great at recommending an awesome wine.
highly recommend this place, will definitely come back!
I just got home from a meal at Bocca. The only really good thing I can say about it is that it made me appreciate every other meal I've had from restaurant week. Service was pretty bad. I know it's restaurant week and things are hectic, but I was sitting with my back to the aisle and kept getting knocked around by the bussers. The man who brought out the food was actually picking his nose at the table. Grossness.
The only really delicious thing that I ate was the sauce on my veal meatballs (they were tough) and the olive oil and roasted red pepper puree with the bread. I hate to say the food was terrible; it just wasn't very good. I wouldn't go back there, and felt the need to profusely apologize to my mother who had taken me and my cousins out to dinner.
i love this place-
after work dinner and drinks
lunch-
its creative roman cuisine
after work drinks remind me of milano - only better- a liitle twist to the coktails to make you know they are thinking....and are they thinking here..
the complimentary tasty bites wiht the apertifs were AMAZING!
cold strawberry- tomato soup - perfect on a day that NYC was sweltering - flooded and a crippled mass transit.....wonderful pastas that are reasonably priced even a steal for the quality - unusual and fresh ingredients.
the decor is colors of roma- ochre and reds-----and deep wood -
I cant wait to go back.
We stopped into this hidden this evening for a quick bite and stayed for hours. The drinks were incredible, the service was spectacular and the food was amazing.
I strongly recommend this restaurant for anything from a refreshing cocktail to a great Italian dinner.
The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful. They make this restaurant.
Give it a try, you won't be disappointed.
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Neighborhood: Park Slope
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Neighborhood: East Village
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Category: Italian
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Category: Bars
Neighborhood: Midtown East
Category: Italian
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