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Uptown Bleecker St-Lafayette St (6)
2nd Ave-Houston St (F, V)
Downtown Bleecker St-Lafayette St (6, B, D, F, V)
Mon-Wed. 7:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Thu-Sat. 7:00 a.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Sun. 7:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
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It is a scene.
It's a beautiful place and great to hang out.
Don't expect fast service or gourmet food. Do expect a great people watching spot, ambience and friendly staff.
Tables usually come up quicker than they say so don't despair if it seems like a long wait.
Relax and have a drink.
Went here with a friend on Saturday night. Ambience was awesome, cool tables, chandeliers, all around good looking joint. Wine was good, but from thats not saying much since I don't know much about wine.
The appetizer to start was really the star. Figs, covered by bufala mozz and prosciutto and ringed by some kind of balsamic glaze. Not the most creative design, but the figs were sweet, the mozz was fresh and the prosciutto was melting in my mouth and perfectly salty. The balsamic made a great addition to cut the saltiness of the prosciutto.
I ordered the red snapper special. It was my first time trying it, and while I didn't mind the fish per se ( a little too fishy for my taste) the crust it was covered with was rather burnt, and the whole thing tasted FAR too citrusy. The vegetables that came along with it were nearly inedible because of the citrusy flavor.
My friend had has some kind of pasta (strazzietello?) in a ragu sauce. It looked and tasted good. Oddly enough, each of us preferred the other's dish, though she agreed the fish was a bit overdone.
Desert was straccietlli gelato. Tasty, but not anything to write home about.
Overall, unimpressive Italian fare, and your likely to find better at any number of places. Would have been happier enjoying the ambience with two bottles of wine and just appetizers. Also, felt for the quality and portions, may have been slightly overpriced.
But that appetizer...whoo!
This place gets a three just for the decor. Inside, it's basically a 16th-century pirate ship crossed with a Harry Potter book. And now that I think about it, that should be JK Rowling's next project.
I was just there for brunch, and we all agreed that the food was meh. I had the baked eggs, which were baked too long and slathered in too much tomato sauce. It was fine, but I wouldn't order it again. The prices were reasonable, however (the most expensive entree that I saw was $12) and I'd probably go back again just for the ambiance. The service was excellent as well.
"It's kind of like Disney-but real", was my girlfriend's comment upon sitting down in Gemma. This is definitely a spot on description. The inside is so detailed and decorated that it seems like a rustic Italian theme park. Ultimately, though, the ambience is so authentic and cozy that the charm overwhelms the themeparkness. Wrought-iron chandeliers hang from the ceiling casting a perfect hue of light for a relaxing dinner. I had the butternut squash cappellaci which was fantastic. The pasta was filled with a delicious, sweet squash puree, and was covered in a rich brown butter sauce. I would highly recommend this one. If you're someone like me, with a voracious appetite at all hours, you might want to get an appetizer as well. It seems like anytime you get a filled pasta dish at a restaurant, the serving is much smaller than the unstuffed variety, and this dish is no exception. The wait staff was extremely friendly with 4 people asking us if we were enjoying our meal. If you're looking for a very solid Italian meal, albeit not the best, and a charming atmosphere, check out Gemma!
Gemma is definitely not my favorite Italian in NYC. I'd rate Babbo, Il Mulino, and a couple others several notches above it.
But what Gemma does - it does well. It serves up fresh, casual, rustic Italian in a great atmosphere. In the winter - it is cozy and romantic with overflowing gothic candles and wrought iron accents. In the summer, the floor to ceiling "windows" open and a fantastic outdoor patio emerges that is great for a lazy Sunday brunch.
Dishes at Gemma aren't going to blow your mind, if you are a foodie...and you've eaten at some of Batali's better joints. However, Gemma's food is still notches above most of their competition (ahem Bar Pitti) and has really created a great atmosphere and good food at a reasonable price.
Bonus points that you can go right next door afterwards and have a drink inside the hotel. And double bonus points that Gemma's bar is actually big enough for at least a couple of dozen people to grab a drink.
After encountering a 90 minute wait for brunch at Permanent Brunch in the East Village, friends and I found ourselves at Gemma.
The restaurant itself is beautiful but brunch was just a hair above average - excellent fresh squeezed juice and panacotta french toast - which was okay...light in texture but without a lot of flavor. My friend's frittata was tasty but came without any sides at all - not even a wee bit of fruit as garnish (which I found unusual).
Prices are a bit high but nothing too frightening. I would def. give this spot another chance for dinner.
"Allora, carassima... I'm not a foodie, I just shovel it in," said my boss as he legit shoveled food into his face. I was interviewing him for a radio piece: http://thenyubounce.bl...
He just ate it, just hoover'd it.
I put the burrata (creamy, creamy, creamy) in my mouth and then held it there for about two minutes before I chewed and swallowed. I did the same with the pesto bruschetta and the prosciutto.
With my eyes closed, I reached for my wine glass.
The lagrine I drank cradled each lingering food particle down my throat and when I swished it it enhanced and highlighted the flavors that were melting into each other.
"It has a dark rambling quality to it, it reminds me of the forest undergrowth," said my boss about my wine. He owns his own wine company--- which I am a slave for--- so my brain generally enters into an easy state of suggestion when he tells me what to drink and what I should be tasting in it.
Yep, definitely forest undergrowth.... mmmmmm.
Anthony Bourdain once said that in Italy the ingredients do the talking while in France the chef is the star. Yes, the man is right. I could taste everything, everything. It gave me such a strange joy to roll out the flavors on my tongue.
Every aroma was just so clean--- they are Japanese in their precision of exploring taste.
In the end though, it's Italian food--- whether you feast it fast or let it digest in your mouth, you've got to eat copious amounts of it. I recommend you do that Gemma.
Just watch out, it's really chic and expensive. Dress to impress.
When I went to Gemma at 11:30 pm last Wednesday, I was all of the below:
1) Plastered to the wall by 11 dark beers
2) Ravenous
3) On the brink of answering nature's call in my pants
4) Barely awake
I don't know if it was relief from a much-needed piss, the sheer quantity of food my colleagues ordered, my highly drunken "I'm going to find everything funny" state, or the fact that all the lights in Gemma woke me up, but I really enjoyed myself.
I remember ordering everything with pesto. Pesto and goat cheese appetizer, Gnocchi in pesto sauce, and a pesto pizza "for the table". I may or may not have asked if they had any pesto desserts. This what I do when I'm wasted...demand pesto. Anyway, it was all delicious. I remember the appetizer tasting fantastic even in my hungover state the next morning.
I had been wanting to check out Gemma for a while. Too bad I can only comment on their pesto dishes. I guess I'll have to go again, act normal, and order non-green food.
I came here after an exhausting journey from the airport, past midnight. I smelled the food from outside and absolutely had to go in, as I was staying across the street. I had black linguine with tomato sauce and calamari, as well as prosciutto di parma. The food came out promptly and it was absolutely delicious. Service was polite and attentive, portions were good - enough to enjoy without absolutely killing me. Tons of basil on the pasta, and great grated parmesan. I slept like a baby.
This place was a complete surprise for brunch. My friends and I were on our way to Great Jones Cafe, but this place looked very interesting so we decided to come here instead. Just to preface my review, I was fasting for 2 days prior to brunch, so maybe this is a bit biased.
The banana bread with the sweet butter here was amazing. The coffee is not great (bitter aftertaste), but they do have soy milk so I got a soy latte that wasn't too bad. We ordered a continental pastry basket for the table--the danish and mini biscuit were delicious. One of my friends got the french toast that just melts in your mouth. One of my other friends ordered the eggs benedict that looked great, and I got the granola with yogurt which was pretty good as well. Overall we were just very satisfied with the meal. Pleasant surprise indeed.
This was my first time to eat at Gemma, so I was excited to try the Italian food that everyone raves about. I had the special, black linguine with tuna in a spicy tomato sauce. It was really delicious, as was my beet salad. I think the ambiance of the place is great. The wait staff isn't annoying, and you can hear the person you're with talk. These are things that really can make or break a restaurant for me. I went on a Friday night, and while they don't take reservations we didn't wait long to get a seat, and it wasn't overly crowded. I liked this place, I'll definitely go back.
I thought the food at Gemma was amazing! They have great appetisers and salads. Also they had a number of crustini that you could order. I had olive tapanade with goat cheese. Gemma is great for groups (we were 6), and although they do not take reservations we arrived around 8pm and there was no wait.
I have to knock off a star for the service. Our waiter was incredibly fake with us, pretending to be super attentive, but then wouldn't come back to the table for 20 min. He continuously apologized, but it happened the entire night.
Best on a sunny day, alfresco, or on a rainy day inside. I come often for early lunch or brunch and end up staying a while just because it's so comfortable inside. Relaxing and satisfying. Delicious pizzas, pasta is good, baked eggs with avocado are unique and tasty.
Get a cappuccino or espresso depending on the time of day and point in the meal. One more thing, I just like the name of the place. Gemma.
Like others have said here the food while very good, will not blow your mind away and there are better options in the city. However, Gemma has a great scene and vibe and is ideal for large groups. Also, the outside tables are great for people watching during the warmer months.
I'm guessing most people who wrote positive reviews are tourists. We were the only locals there for some reason. The service was rushed, even on a Monday night. They threw the overcooked, over salted, food down as fast as possible. Very disappointing. Very loud, too loud even for NYC.
A friend of mine who lives in Europe was taking an evening break from visiting her brother's place in Connectictut, so I looked for a downtown place with a New York ambience and good food that had the potential to make an impression. I'm glad I chose Gemma. Sitting outside on the Bowery sidewalk is the best way to enjoy this richly decorated restaurant that serves un-typical Italian fare in sumptuous style. Watercress salad, followed by oxtail ravioli was the way to go, and I'll happily duplicate this order the next time I visit. The only complaint I have is that you're likely to bump into a celebrity in the bathroom. I was only waiting to wash my hands when Justin Long turned around from the sink and shook my hand. Guess he thought I was following him. As if !
I love Gemma. Great pizza, good pastas, nice staff.
It is slightly overpriced - but worth it compared to other hotel restaurants.
I would go every week if I could!
Gemma is a large, yet quaint, Italian restaurant in the Bowery Hotel. The European decor provides a romantic atmosphere, though I felt it was a bit overdone. Picture the Disney World/Epcot version of an Italian eatery. Though the space is huge, the tables are packed one on top of the other. It is one thing to provide an intimate atmosphere, and yet another to intrude on your neighbor's meal.
The wine list and menu offer a variety of Italian classics. Our waiter provided us with some insightful and honest recommendations. We started with the Salad Topped with Artichokes and Parmigiano, drizzled with a truffle vinaigrette. The dish had a delicious earthy taste and aroma. The Truffle Scented Mushroom Crostini were large slices of Italian bread piled high with delicate, fresh mushrooms. The truffle essence was intoxicating. The Olive Tapenade and Goat Cheese Crostini were also tasty, though the olives overpowered due to the lack of goat cheese. I was able to substitute the Whole Wheat Orecchiette for the Pappardelle in the rich Oxtail Ragu sauce. Chunks of braised oxtail added a savory flavor to this basic tomato sauce. The Branzino Al Forno was a tender piece of sea bass roasted on cedar a cedar plank and served with crisp green beans.
Though I did find Gemma's food above average and would go back, I did not feel it was worth a four-star upgrade.
In general, I adore Gemma. The atmosphere alone is worth almost 3 stars because it's romantic and intimate without being overt about it. It's the perfect "first date" place and if you go later in the evening, it would be a great way to start a "girls night out."
I've had the pork chops and the prosciutto pizza and found both to be incredible, especially the pizza. Somehow the manage to make it feel less greasy!
That said, I had the rigatoni with prosciutto and peas and while the pasta and meat were excellent, the peas were incredibly undercooked and pretty much ruined the dish. I tried to eat around it, even at one point squeezing the peas out of the pasta but it became very tedious.
Their dessert is to DIE for. The bombolini were flaky perfection and the fruit spread that accompanied were delicious. I'll be back for the nutella calzone!
The service here is very brisk but professional. The waiter seems a bit annoyed sometimes but for the most part was very courteous and attentive. The prices are good for what you get and the atmosphere speaks for itself.
From a food standpoint, I would say skip it.
I had the burger and ordered it medium (b/c my friend and I were sharing and she doesn't like medium rare.) Well, it came out well done...which I guess if it were well seasoned and a perhaps a good cut of beef, it might be alright...but instead it was like a small hockey puck. I'm not sure why, but when the burger is much smaller than the bun...let's just say, I don't like that.
We also ordered the pizza with spicy sausage (hold the onions) - and we had a special request and asked if they could sprinkle truffle oil on the pizza - but if they couldn't, we understood. They were kind enough to agree - but I have to say, the pizza was pretty flavorless, which is bad because let's break it down...there are carbs, cheese, sausage (pork) and truffle oil - how in the world could that not be delicious? Somehow, I don't know why, it wasn't.
Honestly, from a food stand point I would have given it one star - but the place is really cute, I love the way it is decorated. The bartender who served us was very nice and did a good job, they have lambrusco by the glass, and the host was very nice - thus the second star.
I would steer people away from having food there and would tell them it's a good place to go and get a drink - since it's in a good area to meet up and decide where to go to next...
I think I've gotten over the fact that the service leaves MUCH to be desired... because the watermelon salad on this visit was so perfect. The happy-watermelon-rays (almost) obscured the host's as-usual snarkiness and the waitress's aloofness.
Back to the watermelon salad... with ricotta salada, pine nuts, and spicy greens.... dressed simply and lightly. Yes, perfect. If you're not a watermelon fan like me, though, the other salads will certainly do... I've never been disappointed with one.
Pizza was delicious... thin crust, ample basil... Way large for one person, but now I know, and I have no complaints about it.
Branzino, according to my friend, was fabulous.
Crostini is tasty, but nothing you couldn't whip up at home.
Cheese plates... lovely.
Wines... quality, again have never been disappointed. Obviously a tad on the pricey side, but you knew that.
Clientele last night ranged from middle-aged women who may very well have been reminiscing about prom night, to ordinary young groups/couples, to a jealousy-inducing model with smokey eyes, to a man in board shorts, to a man-who-could-be-my-father who made no secret of staring at our breasts.
I find the environment inside warm and easy, if a teeeny bit overbearing if you happen to get seated right next to the huge candles. Outside tables are perfectly sweet on a warm night.
Bummer that they don't take reservations. This time we arrived on the early side and waited only a few minutes for a table (the wait was pleasant thanks to grissini and sparkling goodness). But on the last visit, waited about 1.5 hours. Again, bread and wine helped, as well as a sweetheart of a date on that occasion, but it was kind of ridiculous.
My boyfriend and I went here for their great V'day prix fixe menu. Can't go wrong with $60 per couple!
Upon entering the place it was bustling. Loads of people and it was not the quiet dim lighted place I was hoping for. Then, we were lead to the back room which was very romantic. The brick walls, the drip candles and the small wine cellar was just perfect.
The food: The artichoke app was a bit undercooked, but the dipping sauces were delicious. The lobster risotto was flavorful, but the English peas were undercooked while some pieces of the lobster meat were overcooked. Dessert were strawberries with a chocolate dipping sauce that was too watery.
Nice Italian beer selection but I must go and try the other available cocktails. The Negroni was way too Earthy for my taste. If I was a big fan of juniper berries, it would have been heaven.
The staff: Besides the great back room, the staff saved this review. Our waiter was very attentive. When they came with our cappuccinos, he double checked to see if they had included my shot of amaretto before serving it to us. He apologized profusely before he set an old fashioned glass in front of me with a double shot of amaretto. The host and manager checked in with us to make sure everything was just right. We were treated like regulars.
I would like to go back and sample the regular menu fare on a less busy night to see if it is deserving of the four stars I'm giving it.
i came here on a warm night with a group of six and we got a nice sidewalk table almost immediately. the pasta was handmade at the restaurant which earned huge points and the wine list was extensive with a wide range of high and low-priced bottles.
the service was mediocre. i completely agree with the previous reviewer who said the waiter was overly eager about what we were ordering and pairing a wine suitable to our meals, yet we never seemed to be able to grab him when it was most needed.
all in all, the location is great and the outdoor seating allows for great people watching and summer dining.
My wife and I just stumbled upon this place by accident and we were glad we did. After having dinner in Little Italy the night before, we needed some redemption for Italian food in NYC. This place did the trick.
The server was very professional, he made a perfect wine recommendation. We had the buffalo mozzarella appetizer special, the berkshire pork chops, and the pappardelle with oxtail ragout. Amazing!
This place definitely hit the spot. The atmosphere was very comfortable and welcoming, with the exception of the host. She kind of looked at us like we were going to rob the place. Now granted, we had been schlepping around the city all day and certainly were not dressed for a nice dinner. However, I have spent my whole life in fine dining and one thing I have learned is to never judge a book by its cover. We are the people that will leave 30%-40% if we like a place.
Anyways, I highly recommend checking this place out. You won't be disappointed!
Thanks Eric!
I came in on Monday after work for my delicious http://yelp.com-appreciation glass of wine and we also ended up ordering the ricotta and pesto crostini which was the yummiest.
I just love the ambiance at Gemma. And the wines, of course.
yum yum yum!
Very pretty restaurant. I came on Friday evening with a couple of my girlfriends, and we waited… Read more »
Went to a private event at the upstairs lounge. The space was GORGEOUS, truly outstanding and beautiful. Food was better than average for a pre-fixe banquet menu. Chicken flavorful and juicy, for instance. The hors d'oerves were top notch, and were plentiful and refilled often. Great coordinated service.
If I could afford it, would throw private parties here.
I really wanted to love it here. I love the Bowery Hotel, I love Italian food. I don't love the decor, and unfortunately I am an ambiance snob. It's a little too high class Olive Garden-y for me. Also, they don't take reservations, UNLESS you are staying at the Bowery. Another tip, you can stay at the Bowery and ask for a reservation on another night if you ask the right person, and ask nicely.
If there, you can't go wrong with the Bolognese, and several of the salads.
the first thing you notice about gemma, much like the rest of the bowery hotel, is the gorgeous space and decor. the entire restaurant is filled with burning candles of all shapes and sizes, and my personal favourite were the candelabras with multiple candles oozing over with wax. quite gorgeous, and i really wish i could find the photo to upload.
the drink list, notably the wine list, is much more impressive than the food. we flipped through a good 20 (give or take) pages of cocktails, beers, and wines of various vintages, regions, and vineyards. if i had not partaken of so many, i would have kept better track of which bottles we had. if you happen to know your wines, it's a lover's list, but if you don't, the staff seem fairly knowledgeable about recommendations (particularly an older gentleman server who was the perfection of service).
the food ranged from excellent to decent. the porchetta is absolutely to die for, although particularly salty... but acceptably salty because it mixes well with the flavour of the food rather than overpowering or masking it. the bresaola was also a treat, and the speck had the smoky flavour of having been smoked and cured in an austrian log cabin, complete with st. bernard lying half-asleep next to the coal-burning stove in my culinary dreamland.
even more delicious was the lardo crostini. if you get but one thing here, this would be the top choice. the lardo is silky, buttery, and divinely smooth, and the bread was perfectly crusted and airy while still remaining soft yet substantive. i could have made a meal of this dish, but i guess you can't really go wrong with carb-loaded bread and cured pork fat. we also had the chicken liver crostini that was pretty good, and according to my friends who normally love it, thought it was some of the best they've had. i can't remember if it was the crostinis or the carnis or both that came with grapes, but even the grapes were rave-worthy palate cleansers!
that's where the raving ends for me. the paste and secondi just didn't do much for me. the gnocchi was decent but nothing special, and my lobster risotto special was not that good. actually, the risotto itself was delicious, but the lobster clearly was not part of the catch of the day. i had a taste of the scallops with polenta, and it was ok. the polenta was better than the scallops. the braised lamb stew was a little too gamey, even with the vegetables and herbs.
all in all, a good place to have drinks and some nibbles, but i'm not sure i would go for an all-out multi-course meal again. next time, it will only be wines with crostinis, carnis, and formaggis only for me!
Mid/upper price Italian restaurant in the first level of the Bowery Hotel.
I'd say it is better than Lupa, which is not too far away over on Thompson.
I ordered the Pan Roasted Cod. It was a very generous portion, served on a bed of cous cous and swiss chard. Slightly undercooked, I thought, but the fish was very fresh.
I didn't try the pastas, but they looked really tasty.
Ok, so when I went here the other day, I obviously didn't get the memo, that if you're a "lady", you should dress up, look your best, and when you get up to walk around, walk slowly, as if, you think you're all that (pose, "click click") whatever! I came here in shorts, and I thought my outfit and look was cute, but, nope, people were so snotty here. Some women glared at me, and I'm sorry, lady, you may have been rocking labels, but the old man you were with, kind of obvious... Oh, and how come some girls just don't know when to stop tanning?
Anyhow, back to reviewing the place. The food was okay, nothing spectacular, but at least the place doesn't seem overly prcey. The service I had was great. Just make sure, when you come here, look your best so you can put all the other ladies to shame that think they're all that and an overtan. Men can dress however. I saw men in khaki shorts or whatever. It is the catty women you need to worry about.
I did have a celebrity sighting here (David Schwimmer, who is very good looking in person). So that was one plus. Later that night, I heard that Lilo came too. The decor is nice, it does get crowded. Nice outdoor seating, and nice bar next door.
Just got back from NYC and the concierge from the Cooper Square Hotel recommended it. The decor is old school Italian, cozy and loud. The best place to sit is outside, watching Manhattan walk by. Food is so-so. The arugala salad is fresh and order the tuna with white beans, NOT on the crostini. The crostini is topped with tuna and beans blended together in a mushy mix. Get the appetizer serving with seared tuna over lovely white beans, The pappardelle with ragu needed more chunks of ragu. The pappardelle with venison ragu at Il Pastaio in BH is better. The mozzarella pizza needed a bit more zing - more parmesan.
The steak was okay - go to Luger's if you really want meat. The wine list is extensive and we had a good, reasonably priced Valpolicella. Not sure I would go back there if I had to take the subway.
- pleasant and acommdating staff
- for something a little different try the apple pie w/ olive oil gelato
- recommend Carni E Formaggi ($18) and Sauvignon Blanc ($12)
I came here for lunch and had the personal spicy Italian sausage and onion pizza [$11]. It wasn't bad but it wasn't anything special. It's not as oily as pizzeria pizza so I guess that explains the price. Plus it is a great space to just sit and relax - especially at the bar! If I didn't have to go back to work I would've had a drink! Next time.
Came here for breakfast. Absolutely breathtaking decoration, like being on a movie set, but terrible service. The food took way too long to arrive, and then my friend's order was screwed up--twice. (He's a vegetarian and had ordered a dish without meat, but it showed up with bacon in it. Not acceptable.)
The food's tasty, but not exceptional, and really quite overpriced. Yeah, it's New York, and it's The Trendy New Bowery Scene (TM), but I'd still expect the food and service to be better for what we paid. Too bad, because this is a beautifully designed restaurant--even if it feels a little inauthentic, like pre-distressed jeans.
Our food took precisely 72 minutes to arrive. Then, our waiter had the temerity to blame us for the lackadaisical service. I had absolutely absolutely nothing to do with (1) the writing down of the order, (2) the transmission of that order to the people in the kitchen, (3) the actual cooking of food, or (4), the delivery of that food to our table, so I fail to see any way that the delay could have been our fault. But, I'm not in the food service industry, so I guess I'll have to defer to THE WORST WAITER I HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED.
The space was cool though, so one extra star above "terrible".
I was here around December 26th. The food was the best I've ever eaten. My mouth is watering thinking about it. The decor was so cute--they had this candelabra-thingy with the melted wax from maybe thousands of candles, beautiful baroque-ish mirrors. I had orchiette (sp?) with broccoli rabe (sp?) and it was to die for. Plus the waiters were sooo cute! If I lived in NYC, I would go there every day, literally. Price-wise I can't comment, as I did not pay for my meal and didn't even see the check.
Great atmosphere, delicious pastas.
Having read the reviews here and having seen the Bowery Hotel go up and finally open in my neighborhood over the past few months, I got myself so psyched up to give Gemma a try. I didn't try making a reservation but I was so paranoid about having to wait for a table (I HATE waiting) that I went to the restaurant at 6pm on a Saturday evening. Of course I got a table. Are you kidding me?! Who in their right mind in NYC goes to a hip restaurant for dinner at 6pm...other than me. Anyway.
The atmosphere is as described by the other reviewers. It's rustic, gothic, cool and chic. The restaurant space is quite large and it is filled with candelabras, rusty iron fixtures and worn wooden tables. We were seated by the window, just before a slightly elevated, small mezzanine section; it proved to be the perfect table for the weather that day and for the time we were eating as it was just bordering the open-air sidewalk section so we could enjoy the changing colors of the evening...and the lovely traffic on bowery and yet it was also indoors enough to still benefit from the air conditioning. It was very empty when we were there but it starting filling up by the time we left; nice-looking scene by the way.
The menu had a good selection of cheeses, cured meats, appetizers, pastas and other entrees. There were also a few specials that would be announced to you by your waiter. I didn't really get the feeling that everyone was Italian as alluded to in the other reviews but perhaps I just wasn't observant enough; nevertheless, the service was adequate. Interestingly, they serve you a basket with warm pita to dip in a dish of olive oil. It was tasty but the presentation could use some improvement; the few pieces of pita looked really sad in the large basket that they were served in.
I ordered the prawn special for the day and the rigatoni with proscuitto, peas and cream. My friend ordered the raw fish appetizer, I can't recall accurately but I think it was either hamachi or tuna carpaccio, and then she ordered the squid ink linguini with baby octopus in tomato sauce for her entree.
My prawn appetizer came with 3 large, head-on but body-peeled, grilled prawns on a bed of baby arugula and halved cherry tomatoes. The prawns were done very nicely; they were fresh, cooked just enough and had enough of that charred, bbq-ey goodness imparted in their flavor. The dressing on the arugula was over-salted unfortunately but would've complemented the prawns well if they had been seasoned correctly. The rigatoni was delicious. It had all of the smokey and savory taste of the proscuitto, which came in the pasta in a generous amount of baton-sized yumminess. The peas were clearly frozen peas but that's the case 99% of the time anywhere else anyway. The cream sauce tied everything together quite nicely. It was certainly a rich, hearty and delcious dish.
I didn't get to try my friend's carpaccio appetizer but it was served in a little terracotta plate atop a terracotta pot that is filled with crushed ice; cute presentation although it made the dish look very small. Her linguini however was out of this world. The sauce was so tasty. It had a very robust, savory, sweet taste of seafood, strangely reminded me of the Singaporean chili crab sauce (without the spiciness) perhaps because there was a lot of texture and flavor in the tomato-ey sauce that coated the linguini. The baby squid was fresh and the pasta was cooked just right; but the sauce in this dish really was the star of the night in my mind.
By the time we were done with our pastas, we were both too full for anything else so unfortunately, we didn't get to try the desserts, although I did notice they have affogato, which would've been a perfect ending to a good Italian meal...had I had that bit more stomach space.
Despite all the hype and trendy characters flocking in, I was pleasantly surprised by Gemma.
The space is done beautifully to create a cozy vibe and it feels like New York...not the old New York, but the newer evolving wealthier New York that surrounds us.
The meat and cheese plates are ok priced, veggie sides quite good, and the sommelier was helpful. Why one would cook Branzino on a cedar plank eludes me, but it was not as bad of a dish as TONY chalked it up to be. They could stand to expand on entree options. Haven't tried the pizzas, but it seems like a good idea.
I'm not raving about this place for food, but the food was not bad. Our waiter was very accomodating(we did complain about the AC and were moved to a better table).
The real star here is ambience. Plus it is worth poking your head into the lobby of the Bowery Hotel next door, or even grab an old-time drink at the bar.
The irony of this being an 'it' spot, considering the century+ old history of the bowery is fascinating.
The decor is great and the staff was very nice. The food isnt amazing but above average. The caprese is the best thing on the menu.
Last night was a lovely night to be eating outside in Manhattan with a couple of friends and a couple bottles of wine and Gemma was a lovely place to do it. Not only is Gemma in the wonderfully old world Bowery Hotel but the large dimly lit, yet somehow cozy space, offers a welcoming shabby chic atmosphere that is easy to spend hours in. Plus, the people watching is pretty phenomenal.
But enough about the setting...on to the food.
I've been to Gemma a couple of times and now find myself occasionally dreaming about the slightly tangy, super thin, just cheesy enough prosciutto/arugula pizza. (But there so many good things on the menu I would recommend ordering a few dishes and sharing.) The items that stood out for me, besides the aforementioned pizza, are the goat cheese/olive tapenade crostini, the artichoke/parmesan truffle oil salad and the gnocchi bolognese. I wine list is also quite good and, to my delight, completely Italian.
Also, although they do not take reservations for groups under 8/10...if you luck out and get the accommodating and delightful hostess I spoke to she might make an exception if its a special occasion.
All around, Gemma is good food in a good location with a suitably glamorous yet relaxed vibe that is as good in the summer as it is in the winter.
Offer of the month
Neighborhood: Upper West Side
Just for Yelpers!
Neighborhood: Theater District
Neighborhood: NoHo
Category: Hotels
Neighborhood: NoHo
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: NoHo
Category: Lounges
Neighborhood: NoHo
Category: Restaurants
Neighborhood: East Village
Category: Italian
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