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Delancey-Essex Sts (F, J, M, Z)
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Cute little Italian cafe that serves dessert, pasta and other italian dishes. We got the tiramisu and almond banana cake. The tiramisu is very small but tastes good; not great though.
Their almond banana cake is good too. But I have to say I feel like I got scammed. The "almond" part of the cake is merely A almond on top of the cake and the banana is merely a small slice of banana on top of the sponge cake?! It is like something I could do at home.
This place is worth to try: I dare you to dine in the "glass cube" by the sidewalk: that spot makes the restaurant!
If you are wondering how a new italian cuisine would taste you came to the right spot.
A little overprice maybe but there's nothing wrong if you want to make a good impression at your first date.
BTW: I love the area.
I love Caffe Falai and have been meaning to come here for a while. It has a very similar feel to it's smaller sister restaurant, drenched in white, and was also a very cute place with great service.
We had the $50 prix fixed, which includes your choice between two appetizers, two pastas, two entrees, and two desserts. The warm polenta cake with chicken liver, mushrooms and dates were the definition of umami- warm and savory with a great balance of flavors. The freshly made marjoram linguini was fragrant, with a nice saltiness from the small slice of ricotta salata, brightness from the lemon sauce, and crunch from pine nuts. The duck was probably my least favorite, even though it wasn't bad. The broccoli rabe puree was extremely bitter and didn't necessarily mix well with the other flavors, such as chocolate-covered foie gras and pear puree. The flavors just didn't seem to come together, at least not for me. And for dessert, my passionfruit souffle was creamy, not really a souffle in my definition, and was a little too sweet for my taste.
I did appreciate the housemade bread, although I didn't think they were as good as bread I've had elsewhere, the amuse bouche, and the pre-dessert.
Overall I loved the atmosphere and enjoyed the meal, although some dishes weren't as successful as others.
Oversalted mediocre food and probably THE worst service I've ever had.
The four courses I had were ok, nothing special, but they all shared the same problem: too much salt. Mushrooms in one dish were so salty as to be inedible and in another way too soapy tasting.
But the waiter (Giancarlo) was truly awful. Rude, pretentious and pompous. It took at least ten minutes before he came over. Every time he approached the table he did this weird little stutter stop and then came forward. He got my order wrong and I could tell he somehow blamed me for the mixup.
He took my wine order then it was another ten before that showed up. Meanwhile the amuse bouche came. There were three servers on the floor and none of them seemed to really have a grasp oh how bad Giancarlo was as a server. He was so snide and rude. Why would you be in the service business if you don't understand the concept of hospitality?
I'd heard good things about the food and had been warned about service issues but I went in with an open mind. He was just so clueless. The way he recommended wine was very pushy. He hardly came to the table and when he did he wasn't interested in making the experience nice, just to do the absolute bare minimum.
I would never go back.
Oh, Falai. You make me so happy.
Is it expensive? Sure, though not as much as some other places. Is it worth every penny? Oh my yes. Chef Falai is a certified genius. His modern Italian rivals Batali's at Babbo - and sometimes tops it.
If I have one complaint it would be that the menu doesn't change much - once a season or so. Most of the menu stays the same throughout the year, and there are never specials to break it up or throw something new into the mix. That said, what IS on there is nearly always perfect. Maybe the streamlined menu works for them.
Treat yourself to the full four courses - antipasti, pasta, entree, dessert - you'll spend a lot, but maybe not more than would for three courses at another haute cuisine restaurant. It's a relative deal, really.
The tasting menus are decently priced - but be forewarned, portions tend to be smaller (as is often the case with TMs) sometimes to the point of leaving out elements. I once enjoyed an entree of duck with gooseberries prepared three different ways - the fellow next to me had the same dish, only as part of the tasting menu. Less duck, and only only one raw, halved gooseberry on his plate. Poor guy kept looking at me jealously.
The flavors here explode - some might find them to be odd combinations, but to any serious NYC foodie living in the era of WD-50 (and down the street from it, no less) nothing should seem strange anymore.
Pastas are by and large one of the highlights. All handmade, perfectly done. There's one - a pici with cinnamon-scented lamb sauasge - that I could eat a triple portion of any night of the week. Only thing stopping me is I wouldn't have room for the other fantastic dishes. Like the deconstructed rabbit - a rack, leg confit, and kidney(!) done to perfection. Or octopus in a squid ink - curry emulsion. When's the last time you had curry in an Italian dish? Chef Falai makes it work.
And oh, those desserts. Iacopo Falai started as a pastry chef and it shows. Raspberry Black Truffle Souffle. Jesus God a'mighty is that good. Earthy, tart, sweet. Practically worth going just to be able to end your meal with it.
Falai is a gem, and deserves to be on any list of the best in NYC - and as opposed to some reviewers who seem happy to dole out five stars to a hot dog stand if they got a good dog there, I don't give out fives often. There's a casual vibe to the space, which is perhaps a bit too bright for a romantic date. The staff are wonderful, friendly, upbeat - professional but never stuffy. And they're fast and furious with the amuses, too - openers, between courses, pre-desserts...
Really, just go. Treat yourself.
Tucked away on the busy sidewalks of Clinton St. in the Lower East Side, finding Falai may present a bit of a challenge. Though, once located, escape the cacaphony that defines LES nightlife into Falai's clean, modern Italian enclave (or to the quaint patio complete with adorable tables and refreshing greenery in the back). The space is small as most of the reputable restaurants are in this area but appears larger thanks to the almost all white interior and minimalist decor. Once away from the hustle & bustle, sip your glass du jour chosen from the excellent Italian wine list and watch the eclectic mix of people pass by on the streets.
As for the food, I had the Polipo (baby octopus), which was simply superb - not too tender or chewy, but just right! For the entree I chose the Branzino - a dish displaying the chef's mastering of making zucchini taste magnificent (zucchini-wrapped sea bass, lemon zest, spring garlic, zucchini cream). This dish really surprised me in that I usually can't stand the vegetable (years of my mother forcing it upon my sister and I every other night at dinner, cooked to bland, flavorless perfection), but the way it was prepared this time around has me changing my opinion on the wayward vegetable. Unfortunately, my date and I did not get dessert but enjoyed the last sips of our wine before leaving the white oasis.
Great for a date or for a romantic dinner or for a group gettogether - if the weather permits, do sit outside!
This ranked as one of my top three worst dining experiences in NYC, along with Le Pere Pinard and E.U. Four of us had reservations, and they weren't ready for us. No big deal, we had some wine and stood by the door. People kept trying to get by, but it was nice outside and the wine and conversation were tasty. The crowd was douchey, but it was a Friday night on Clinton Street so that was to be expected. When we were finally seated, I couldn't understand our waitress through her thick (not italian) accent. No big deal, she meant well, right?
I don't eat dairy, and the only meat I eat is fish. No biggie, I figure I'll just have some fish or pasta and enjoy the wine (which was great). They're out of all the fish except for the cod, and I'd had cod for lunch. I ask the waitress if they have a pasta that doesn't have meat or dairy. No. I ask her if she can modify, she seems doutful. Everyone else is happy to eat whatever, and I'm grasping at straws. I tell her to just ask the chef to make anything without meat or dairy and I'll eat it. We waited so long we already finished one bottle of wine and it's too late to go somewhere else, so I just want to get something. Usually this strategy works fine, and in a few cases I've ended up with amazing dishes, but not this time.
Two of the girls I was with said they wanted to split their dishes. The waitress brought out two plates each with beautifully presented half portions. I thought wow, that's great. The third girl's dish was ample as well. When it came to mine, it was a half-portion of pasta with garlic, olive oil and a touch of basil. I felt like I was in a bad Visa commercial. I expected the pasta to at least be fresh and delicious, it was mediocre. And the bill? They charged me the same amount as the two half portions of sausage pasta. That's restaurant for "fuck you, hippy."
The waitress was nice, but we usually had no idea what she was saying. The wine was great, but I didn't see any casks in the back. In the end, I dropped over $70 on a child-size bland pasta that I could have outdone myself. In photos and other people's reviews I see dishes I would have loved to try, but they weren't there for me. If you don't love meat and dairy, don't bother with this place.
Another solid restaurant on Clinton. A bit overrated, but worth trying. The amuse bouche, breads and desserts were uniformly delicious. The appetizers & entrees were hit or miss. My buffalo mozzarella flan tasted like egg. Almost like a quiche. And the nuts and greens didn't do anything for it. My date's salad was delicious and large, but nothing special. My gnuda was awesome. Her papardelle was over salted.
So in a word, 'mixed.' Some items were creative, others were common. Some were memorable some were not. Prices are high but not exorbitant. Service was good. The room is pretty but the all white rings a bit too much of Clockwork Orange. I'd go again if someone wanted to try it but I might not on my own.
so on our way to egypt we stopped in NYC for a few days , where we had dinner reservations at Falai.
Great place, Great food we ordered for startes the polenta bianca and the buffalo ricotta flan i loved the polenta. Then we decided to order some pasta dishes to share cause we heard there pastas were amazing so we ordered the risotta and the tortelli omg the tortelli was amazing this place does a wonderful job at combining different flavors. as my entree i ordered the fish that was in a macadamia cream sauce and although the fish is served slightly undercooked the cream sauce made up for it.
The only bad thing about this place is if one person orders the "tradizione" dinner the whole table has too as well...
p.s. be sure to try the tortini al cioccalato mmm yummy!
I don't know why the rating went down here recently.
Great service.
Amazing pasta (the pici dish especially). Polenta starter was also very nice.
I loved the amuse bouche. I was dipping everything I could get my hands on into it. Just lovely.
Dessert was good, but not as good as I expected it to be.
Falai rocks.
Location- Once a kinda sketchy neighborhood, this block now has an abundance of great dining options (wd-50, clinton street bakery, savorNY, plus the other members of the falai family). With all this great food, you could spend a whole weekend eating at these places. Given the small serving sizes at both falai and wd-50, someone with a big stomach and an even bigger wallet could hit up both restaurants in the same night!
Ambiance- a summery euro-chic kinda place. I like the all-white motif. As with all small NYC restaurants, the tables are a little too close together.
Food- a foodie's paradise. My main gripe about the restaurant is that the menu is small. There aren't that many options, but everything they have is very creative and tasty. Appys- The cod was a juicy, refreshing start to the meal. Pastas- Everyone raves about the gnudi, and for good reason-- it's totally awesome. It basically melts in your mouth, and the flavors melt into your soul. The seafood/riccotta filled tortelli is sweet and savory at the same time. The pappardelle with mushroom ragu really steals the scene here. It is super-savory and definitely the pasta to get. Main course- The duck with pear and mustard puree is one of those combinations that you would never think of creating, but it works perfectly. Dessert- I'm a huge sucker for souffle's, so I got both the passion fruit souffle and the raspberry souffle. Both melted in my mouth, but the raspberry one was ever so slightly superior.
Falai is definitely a special place. It has a cool ambiance, and the food is totally legit. It's a great place to go no matter what crowd you're with. If you're with foodies, then they're really appreciate the creative and sumptuous food. If you're not, then your friends will be impressed by the "cool New York-ness" of the place, while you get to enjoy the food!
Great place. slightly cold ambiance (not very inviting), the food however was delectable! very creative dishes of sometimes uncommon ingredients giving you plenty of culinary topics to choose from.
fairly expensive for not being a fine dining experience (minus one star)
overall great experience that i would love to replicate on a corporate account lol :)
(good for dates, but not intimate enough for sensitive topics)
I think Falai is what is great about NYC. The food is as good as nearly any restaurant in NY. The prices are very reasonable for what you get. Had a friend in from Paris this week and we went there. We had a great meal with excellent Sicilian wine. We had the chicken liver, gnudi and I had the duck. Each was truly excellent. Although it was Saturday night, it wasn't too crowded and they accomodated us at 8:30pm. It is half the price of Batali's restaurants (well maybe not the pizza joint or Lupa) and at least as good. I have been 4 times and never had a disappointment. Saw Bloomberg with his daughter about a year ago there.
Alberto Longo Cacc'e Mmitte Di Lucera 2005. That was the highlight of our meal.
Caveat Emptor. Great wine and company can atone for many sins of the kitchen, and result in a better than deserved rating.
Having absolutely loved the wine, I later laughed at my own limited appreciation of fine wine after reading a bonafide wino's review of the bottle: "nothing to get excited about". But, in case you are a fan of fruity reds, you will relish the medium bodied wine with bold flavors of plum, raspberry, and strawberry that stay with you throughout. I am a huge fan of the producer: Alberto Longo.
The homemade breads at Falai are some of the best that one can have in the city: warm, fresh and with complex flavors incorporating many interesting ingredients: fennel, black cabbage, etc. The Polipo (baby octopus with apples, sherry vinegar, and onions) is an excellent choice for appetizer, ours was the right balance of charred and chewy. The Gnudi (Ricotta cheese with spinach and brown butter) was the better of our pastas as the Cappelletti (three meat raviolini with hen of the wood mushrooms in chicken consomme) did not deliver. Surprisingly, for an acclaimed pastry chef (at Le Cirque) the desserts also disappointed, particularly the much acclaimed profiteroles with marsala mousse and Valrhona bitter chocolate sauce.
We had to 'negotiate' to get seated in the back garden, and later wondered what the fuss was all about as the view of the adjoining buildings have been blocked. It is the LES, after all! Much to my dining partner's amusement I was the beneficiary of unwelcome smiles from the guy on the adjacent table, while his bored friend would regularly stretch his legs and hit mine. This continued for a while, and without one single apology! I was tempted to request my companion to ask me for the time, so that I could 'accidentally' spill the glass of wine on the neighbor while making a show of looking at the watch. But the wine was so good that I desisted from wasting it. Instead, I debated a tongue twister for them: cramped creepos crying over cold cappelletti consommé and cacciucco.
Yup, the alphabet of the day is: C
Falai has definitely seen better grades in the past.
you can call me ignorant...but a place where i spend almost 60$...eat just pasta one appetizer for 3 and a glass of wine and leave the pace still hungry... as i said call me ignorant, but not my kinda of place...
in honor to the truth past was good...but honestly, nothing i will remember forever....i went with an italian friend and the day after he confessed that he didnt ask me to go to the deli and get a slice of pizza bc he thought it would be rude...but we left the place starving too...
conclusion...not my place...never again
I have just found my new "go to" spot in NYC. I am screaming from the rafters. GO TO FALAI! I took the wife here for Valentine's Day at a friend's recommendation. I was reluctant since I had not heard of this place and the reviews seemed a bit mixed. That said, I was able to score 7:30pm on V-Day, so away we went. From start to finish, I was blown away by everything. The staff is amazingly friendly, the room itself is beautiful (with an open kitchen), and the food... well.. the food is possibly the best that I have eaten in NYC. Oh yeah.. the prices are INSANELY REASONABLE! For the two of us, with a cocktail, the tasting menu, an additional entree, and the wine pairing, it was slightly above $200 including a 20% tip. That is not a typo.
Since no one likes to read long reviews, here's a recap:
Not one, not two, but three amuse-bouche. Extraordinary!
Waiter, extremely attentive and EVERY SEAT was filled. Sommelier took the time to stop over and present every new wine with fun and accurate descriptions.
Best dish of the evening, (Go.. run there and have this right now) - Cocoa ravioli stuffed with scrambled eggs in a sea urchin sauce. We ordered that in addition to the tasting menu based on the description. I can still taste it. YOU NEED TO TRY THIS.
Did I mention that the price was a tremendous value
Additional complimentary ganache with your bill. Heavenly.
If you can't tell, I loved this place. It will be my recommendation to anyone looking for a new place to try in NYC. Go!
Tried to get into Clinton St. Baking Company for brunch, but the wait was three hours and they weren't even taking names!!! So just up the block was Falai, my dependable coffee LES spot. We both got the baked eggs with spinach, sun dried tomato and goat cheese. It was incredible and only $11 dollar! We split this delicious custard lemon pastry that i wanted all for myself. I will be back for dinner.......I can't wait for them to impress me with their pasta and other pastry goodness.
Falai makes up in tacky food presentation what it lacks in quality of cuisine.
Imagine a bright red smear of beet sauce on a square white plate 5 inches away from a little pile of green fava beans; decorative Parmesan cheese sticks plugged into new potatoes to create an abstract "sculpture"; some damn foam or another. These aren't descriptions of actual meals but they give you a sense of the general tackiness of the place. Will my taste buds be distracted by some fussy garnish? I think not.
Flavors are extreme and simply don't blend together. That alone doesn't condemn the restaurant to three-stardom. In fact it could be a four but it's the immodesty in presentation that throws things off the rails.
Falai has a sexy little tight box of a restaurant perfect for a date but warning: you will come off looking loose and wanton when you are surrounded by food as viscid as theirs.
Disclaimer: this review is based on two meals I had there in a prix-fix arrangement for a large group.
I would give Falai three stars but it is so incredibly overrated in Zagat and in various magazine reviews, that I feel I need to make a statement.
The presentation of the food was gorgeous; they put together very complex plates with a lot going on. In the Italian style, they serve several extra bites to taste along the way between courses.
However, the food falls flat in the category that should matter most: flavor.
The menu is inventive but really "hit or miss." Don't get me wrong. I LOVE creative food and trying unusual combinations but at these prices, I expect to be surprised and delighted with almost every plate. The amuse buche of a rice cracker with Japanese caviar (ikura) was a tasty idea but seemed a little plain. Ricotta flan came adorned with various herbs and nuts, but lack of acid or salt left the cheese without any interesting counterpoint... it became unmemorable mush. Fish "soup" was tasty but again underseasoned for my taste. By contrast, profiterols were so heavily flavored with anise that it ruined what otherwise would have been a refreshingly lite version of the dessert. Baba was heavy and syrupy.
I took my parents here when they were visiting. I thought it would be a good idea to take them to the LES, since we spent most of our time in midtown/union square. The restaurant is very intimate and has a trendy atmosphere. The best thing was that the music was not SO LOUD that you couldn't even hear the people you were eating dinner with - this is always an issue at Buddakan, Buddha Bar type restaurants where the "trendy music" is always blasting. This was a BIG plus. Service was good, as was the food. We ordered some risotto, a lamb dish, and a white truffle pasta dish - which were all very tasty. The prices weren't TOO expensive either.
The only iffy thing was the dessert - nothing really stood out to me, and I am a HUGE dessert person. My dad got the pomegrante soufflee and my sister got caramel gelato.
I would definitely go back...this place is good for dates, small birthday parties, or small groups (i.e. 4-6 people)
I will write about falai for one reason, and one reason alone: their risotto-- carnaroli rice, monkfish cheeks, tarragon, and lemon purée. one of the best tasting dishes, from first bite to last, i have ever put in my mouth. tangy, lemony, tarragon-y, melt in your mouth creamy goodness whose robustness is elevated by the crispy but tender expertly cooked sweet monkfish cheeks.
my companion's fish stew -like entree (cacciucco fish soup with monkfish, scallop, red mullet, quinoa, tomatoes) was acceptable but not terrific, i had clearly out-ordered her. the scrumptiousness of this risotto cannot be denied.
i also should note that we erred and showed up for our reservation (via open table) on the wrong night! the hostess made some adjustments and was able to seat us anyway.
i had a glass of white wine which was spoiled(it happens, obviously not the restaurant's fault). the server fixed the situation promptly, but unfortunately never checked back with us so i could order another glass. it was a very busy night but the service was underattentive to the point at which we had to wave across the room to get the check.
the service issues were a wash, so i must rate on food alone, and specifically the risotto alone. so, falai gets a fantastic. go to falai, and get the risotto!
I was a bit taken aback by the prices at first, given the location and the slightly lower priced menu on http://nymag.com. After the amuse-bouche and multiple complimentary desserts, I was over it.
The food certainly leaned more in the direction of interesting rather than delicious but everything was spot on. I prefer small, perfectly constructed portions to large, unruly ones and Falai delivered here. Presentation was exquisite.
Gnudi was delicious. Polipo appetizer was slightly hard to navigate, reminiscent of a Top Chef concoction, with four different stations fighting for attention. All tasty, though.The black trumpet dish did a lovely job of incorporating egg into a non-breakfast item, something I think is very difficult to do. The panna cotta dessert was quite imaginative and original. Loved it.
The space is gorgeous but I imagine it works to its full potential when there are more bodies in it. Being one of three diners in the restaurant, we felt a little like the first person at a nightclub. Not that the space is large. It's just a bit needy of attention.
This review is getting long but let me get to the best part: the service. By far, the most attentive service in a restaurant I've experienced in a while. While at times slightly overbearing (do I need an encylopedic explanation of the bread I'm about to put in my mouth?), it was totally forgivable. Everyone, from the hostess to the waiter to the busboy, was a complete delight.
The all white makes me feel dirty. In a good way. And nothing is more striking then four people sitting in the display window having dinner. It's like some twisted 50's tv show. This place is wickedly awesome.
I've been several times, but only in the winter I realized because we always say, "Oh, wouldn't it be nice to sit in the garden? If it weren't snowing or 50 below."
Last night we made a 10pm resy pretty sure that by that time, we'd get to be in the garden. (That being the goal) We arrived- after seeing a movie- at 10:05. There were no tables in the garden, but two had paid so it shouldn't be too long of a wait. 20 min. later we finally got to sit in the garden. I guess the people thought that the table was theirs...forever.
Anyway, we DID get to sit in the garden and were so happy because it was a gorgeous night.
I started with a still Rose that was delish. My starter was the polipo and I got the Cod for my main. Both were really good. I can only imagine what they would have tasted like if it was not a Saturday night in the middle of the summer and we weren't the last table of the night.
I'm so over Tiramisu, but my friends, this is DECONSTRUCTED Tiramisu and it is unlike anything you've ever had. Really outstanding.
Service was really nice. They didn't rush us and were completely gracious that we insisted on waiting for the garden.
I'll have to be in the minority here with my rating & review of Falai. This is yet another case where I could use a half star since it's more like a 3.5 on the Yelp scale but I'll go with a 3 due to a few factors:
- Had 9pm reservations; checked in with the hostess at 9:05; she said it'd probably be another 15-20 minutes for our table to be ready. She suggested I wait with my friend at the bar. Now, unless she wanted us to sit on top of the bar or sit on other people's laps at the bar, there was no space anywhere. Luckily, we got our table only after 10 mins.
- The place is cute and though some would call it cozy, my friend and I found it more cramped than anything else. My friend said she felt as though the people at the bar and anyone walking behind her were literally on top of her as there was a lot of foot traffic back and forth through the tiny little place.
- The waitress talked me out of ordering the pasta special (thin spaghetti with clams, mussels, and spicy salami) and instead suggested a few other pastas on the menu. Went with the chestnut garganelli with celery pesto and wild mushrooms. After 2 bites, could not eat it... the pasta had a grainy and bitter taste to it and left a bad aftertaste.
Despite the negative factors above, I have to give props to Falai for the following:
- Great selection of home-made bread; loved the slightly salty foccacia rolls
- Delicious appetizers: polenta bianca (chicken liver) and the polipo (grilled octopus with bean puree topped with candied celery... never has celery tasted so damn good!)
- Good service; when I complained about my dislike for my main entree, the waitress kindly took it back to the kitchen and got me what I had originally wanted... the pasta special, which was excellent
All in all, I'd go back to give Falai another try. There were definitely several items on the menu that were tempting and the desserts looked fantastic. And most people dining there last night seemed quite pleased with their meals. Next time, I will not be taking the waitress' suggestions though.
I thought this place was totally overrated. It got hyped in some magazine, NY Mag I think, and a friend of mine who I believe follows those sorts of reviews far too religiously, insisted that we go there. My main gripes were that a half pasta and main come out to about $30 or more (with the pastas generally being $12-$15 and the mains $18-$25), and that the food was really just ordinary. It had received acclaim for its pasta dishes (if you read any of my stuff on here you'll know that I'm something of a pasta fanatic) and they were underwhelming. I had something with black truffle and it just tasted like truffle - no layering of flavor or sophistication of preparation. I had a venison dish for my main which was OK but nothing to yelp about. They did have a good selection of homemade breads and a concise, cool & affordable wine list.
My main gripe was the service which was very poor. We had made a reservation for six (probably not the best idea as the place is quite small) and waited for 45 minutes past our seating time. No one apologized or offered anything, and the slowness continued. Some people ordered pastas only, and those were served with our pasta courses as opposed to the mains in spite of specifically requesting the opposite. Again, little to no apology and no offer of reparation. The time between the pastas and mains hitting the table was inexcusably long, and the food wasn't even hot when it got there despite the blatant use of heat lamps. Classy.
I'm quite surprised to see all the glowing reviews here, maybe we caught them on a (seriously) off night. It just screamed of all hype and no substance to me.
I should give them 5 stars. If not for the front of the house and 2 small issues, but with so many high points of the meal, they will get an easy 4+stars. parmesian mashmallow amuse bouche, baby octopus, gnudi, duck, cod, passion fruit pannecotta all were out standing.
Sure, the portions are small but if you look on the bright side, it keeps you from being a total porker?
My saffron pappardelle was delectable. The other dishes were good but not anywhere near as yummy as the pappardelle. I tried the hyped-up gnudi and that was also pretty tasty.
Service was surprisingly good (in fact, our server was delightful).
Nice space. Good date spot.
I ate here with a large group and had their wonderful tasting menu, it was an expensive meal (approx $150 per person with drinks) but worth it.
Their wines are all Italian, and the price points are pretty high, but the three wines we had were amazing (2 were red and one was white, though I can't remember the labels of any at the moment).
Our servers, yes multiple, were wonderful. We never lacked for attention whether filling a glass, clearing a place seating, bringing a new place setting, or a new glass for a new bottle of wine. Although every course was a surprise, a thorough description of the ingredients and the preparation was given with each course. And when presented with the dietary restrictions or allergies of our group they were pleasant and went the extra mile to accommodate.
The bathroom is unisex and tiny, but since the restaurant probably only fits 40 at max it's clean and accessible.
We did have to wait, but as our whole party hadn't shown it wasn't a big deal. The "bar" area was a little cramped with a couple dining at the bar and the front door being right there, but the entirety of the experience made up for this minor inconvenience.
I would go here again and would recommend it to my friends.
big fan of this place. consistently interesting, above-par modern italian food, with a nice wine selection, all served up in a clean, white space.feel like the level and attentiveness of service noticably dropped off for a while there after Falai got really popular, but was more than back up to snuff on last visit. for sure one of the best options in the LES / east village around this price range (main courses are aroun $25.) nice garden area in the summer months also....
Falai is not just any ordinary hip LES restaurant, it is a serious culinary destination. The food being served from this kitchen is very complex and creative. While it may not always sound like the flavors work, take my advice....they work!!.
We had a totally delicious dinner with lots of special little touches added that made the evening memorable. The service was very attentive and extremely knowledgeable about what the chef was preparing. I think that says alot about the attention to detail of the restaurant.
I could go into detail about alot of the food but the whole meal was outstanding. I can imagine the Times writing a 3 star review sometime soon.
I can't wait to go back for my next experience at Falai!
This restaurant is adorable - all white, with a true "window" seat. You can choose to sit in the window, which is elevated like a shop window. I think the food is great - very tasty Italian with a tiny twist.
Went at nine - we were seated right away and sat in the back in a corner table (it can get crowded) and service can be on the slow side..
but if I give this place marks based on design, ambiance and quality and food, then it's a safe bet.
I don't go to the LES often, so unless they're offering the pasta with truffles again, it's not the type of place I would usually travel to.
time passed.....
I went again this past Feb (08) and it's still really good food. Really.. yummy, especially the past dishes, also the chef/owners dessert training background comes out - definite influence in the cooking..
All of our dishes were good to outstanding. Great place if you like to try some exotic dishes. Rabbit was fantastic. Decent value. Suprisingly, dessert was not the highlight.
Service was a little pushy/overly attentive, which was weird because the manager seemed like a total pro.
Oh, Falai is truly the jump-off!
On a romantic 'date' with my best friend, we really enjoyed the incredible service and clean white atmosphere, beautifully accented.
The chef is often willing to share samples of his latest creations, and I had an amazing squid ink lobster ravioli and a barley salad.
The complete experience is one not to miss!
This place has a bread menu, which shows how serious they are about the small things. The toughest thing about eating at Falai though, is demonstrating moderation - don't fill up on the bread, or you'll ruin your entree, and don't eat too much of your entree, or you'll miss out on dessert. This is a full-course experience, and you should be prepared to commit to the whole nine yards if you are going to eat here.
The menu is brief, with very few mainstream items. I'd recommend taking more adventurous diners here, rather than the typical meat-and-potatoes folk.
But every dish is prepared very well and presented beautifully. I'd recommend the pasta rather than the meat dishes, but everything was done well.
And although you can get out of here for less than $60/person, you probably wouldn't want to miss out on the wines. Unfortunately, they don't have a full bar (or even beer), but there are bars all along Clinton Street, if you want to go for round two.
This was good for a couple or maybe a group of four, and they also have a large table on the patio for groups of 10 or so. Reservations are definitely needed, and it can be difficult to make last-minute changes.
The food is gorgeous: a menu that sports new/contemporary Italian, with luscious food combinations and interesting molecular gastronomies like foams and purees that are buttery smooth and sooooo good...
We had the the venison strip steak with celery root, brussel sprouts, grapes, and venison truffle, and the sashimi of nairagi, avocado aioli, lemon dressing, and fried shallots, among some other dishes. Everything was mouthwateringly excellent, and the wine that the server suggested was right on the spot. I can't wait to go back. I've been wanting to try the passion fruit souffl...
I went on New Years Eve. They did a wonderful tasting menu...very inventive but delicious food. Very attentive staff, and we walked away with new best friends from the table next to us! Those Italians know how to make you feel at home!
Truly one of the best Italian meals that I have ever had. The homemade breads are fabulous, especially the black cabbage roll, and the gnudi is lusciously rich and impossibly tasty. My friend had the chicken liver appetizer, which was so flavourful and silky....I have no words. All I can say is that I absolutely adore this restaurant. The location is so not pretentious - I love the open kitchen and friendly waiters and I will return again and again.
Not fabulous, not terrible. Food, decor, and service were ok. Probably wouldn't come back again for the only reason that there are plenty of restaurants in NY that are above "ok".
Falai is a great place to go for something good and unique. The restaurant is beautiful...it's amazing how white can seem so warm. You'll love being there and the food is a bit on the fancy side, but not pretentious. I just wished there was more of it. To be honest, I can't remember the names of anything I ate, it was last April but I was searching for a place to take an out of town date and I think this is it. Perfect!!
This restaurant has a very interesting take on modern Italian, and it is able to pull it off. I went there with five other people, and we were able to taste several of the dishes: the beet risotto was a highlight for me (and believe me, I don't usually like risotto) as well as the foie gras trio. The rabbit was very tasty, as was the steak. I dont' quite remember the rest of the dishes we ordered, but it was excellent!
Fabulous Brunch now served…
Neighborhood: Park Slope
Lunch or Dinner & a movie $28
Neighborhood: Upper West Side
Neighborhood: Lower East Side
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Lower East Side
Category: Bakeries
Neighborhood: SoHo
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Lower East Side
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Lower East Side
Category: Italian
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