Gradisca Restaurant
126 W 13th St
(between 7th Ave & Avenue Of The Americas)
New York, NY 10011 (212) 691-4886
40 Reviews for Gradisca Restaurant
Best Meal of My Life. One of my friends saw the reviews about Gradisca on yelp and thought we should try it when we went to NYC for vacation. I am so glad she checked out places to eat on yelp. This place deserves 5+ stars.
Its a cool place with dim lighting and courteous staff. I ordered the Lobster Cannelloni and also a pear salad. The pear salad (I do not remember the exact name) was so good. It was spinach with cheese on top and then grilled pears on top of the cheese. The cheese and pears melted together. I can still taste its goodness. My cannelloni melted in my mouth as I ate it. For desert we split the tiramisu and it was creamy and delicious. While the prices for the food seem high, the quality of food is so great, it seems like you are actually getting a deal.
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Best restaurant I have ever been to.
Great, romantic, intimate atmosphere.
Terrific service; we ended up getting pictures after dinner with our authentic Italian server. He was terrific (name was Jimmy I think).
The food was outstanding. The Badly Cut Pasta with Truffle Cream sauce was out of this world. The ground lamb pasta was excellent as well.
If you are in New York, you are a fool if you do not go to Gradisca.
*3.5 stars*
I met a friend here last Saturday night around 8:15, no reservations. The place was not busy yet and they were able to accommodate us. Shortly after, the place filled up very quickly and seemed pretty popular. My friend heard of Gradisca from an Italian friend of hers, and we liked the fact that the staff spoke Italian.
You walk in and the decor has the feel of being in a wine cellar. The wait staff was very nice and attentive. We shared the pulipo (octopus) to start which was very tender and had a hint of grilled flavor.
My friend had the gnochetti which was like little pillows of heaven. They were so light and just melted in your mouth. As much as I love potatoes, I've always found gnocchi to be a little to heavy and doughy. But these certainly changed my mind. Yum.
I had the rolled stuffed rabbit which was pretty good. Great tomato based broth and seasonings, the frittata stuffing was very light and fluffy. Would have liked the rabbit to be a little more tender but I think that it tends to be tougher. Definitely would have enjoyed it more if I wasn't getting full.
But of course we had to finish the meal with dessert and had the tiramisu. How can you go wrong with that?!
I have to thank you folks for helping me find this great restaurant! I've lived in the Village off and on for about 8 years and the boy taxed me with finding an Italian restaurant nearby that neither of us had ever been to that made at least most of their own pasta and this is where you guys sent us. I never even knew it was there!
We started out sharing the white polenta with wild mushrooms, which was just my perfect dish as well as a spinach salad with pears, walnuts, and cheese. Both were quite good and gave us hope for the entrees.
It is, strangely, typical of the boy to order more than one main course, so he's a big fan of the italian way - he gets a pasta and a main, though as I was only ordering a pasta, the table was quickly filled with both of his HUGE bowls - one with the truffled pasta and the other with the seabass. He was happy. Wide "badly cut" pasta with a truffle cream sauce is literally one of his favorite dishes and I stole many bites.
I wasn't quite as lucky - in a strange accident, I seem to have ordered the same starter and main. The main was spinach gnocchi with pears, walnuts, and a gorgonzola sauce. As a spinach salad it all worked well, but as a pasta entree, it just really didn't come together. The gnocchi was wonderful and the sauce was nice, but the pears and walnuts didn't work for me in that context.
The coffee was worth the caffeine and the tiramisu was nice and light, but wasn't amazing.
The wines are reasonably priced, the staff was lovely, and I enjoyed the simple villagey decor of brick walls, candlelight, and dark woods.
A nice date place or a solidly good neighborhood dinner.
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Quite possibly the best Italian I've had in New York, and I've lived here all my life. The space is perfectly dark and romantic, and the staff friendly and accommodating.
The pecorino creme brulee was inspired. The truffle sauce on the fresh maltagliati was delicious. The gnocchetti, though, was awe inspiring -- melt-in-your-mouth fresh, and with an airy but sophisticated gorgonzola sauce.
The dessert creme brulee had a exquisite blend of flavors, and the tiramisu was so light, it must have been assembled on the spot.
I can't wait to go back.
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Wholey crap! This place rocked my world. The entree I have to recommend: seabass with an olive crusted top on a bed of red peppers, OMG I think I just had an orgasm writing that. I still have dreams about it, seriously. This place was perfection. It doesn't get much better in this planet we call earth. The staff of Gradisca did an amazing job. Everything was served perfectly on time and the waiter did the wine thing perfectly. I was really impressed.
Please is pricey $200 for two, but if you're going big, why not pick the best :). This place is perfect for a romantic date as well... She will love you for it.
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OK, this is maybe 4 stars, but I had the worst seat in the house: a two person table, back to the rest of the restaurant, facing a wall that divides the restaurant from the bar, date on one side, servers' register on the other side. Very hard to get worse than that, short of having a restroom door swing open and hit your table every time someone used the bathroom (another restaurant, another story).
Food is good here though, and the restaurant has a cute neighborhood charm to it. Really enjoyed the cheese platter, and especially appreciated a chef (probably not THE chef, but a chef nonetheless) coming out and explaining each of the cheeses and suggesting which order to eat them in. More restaurants need cheese sommeliers! Also enjoyable was the lamb ragout for the main course -- pasta was fresh and its flavor held up well to a strong meat sauce. Potato gnoochi was not quite as good -- a little starchy for my taste.
In the back they have a communal table that might work for larger groups. There were still a lot of kids eating here at 8:30, so I'd call ahead for a later reservation if you're hoping for something romantic -- and avoid any seats facing the wall that make you feel like a fifth grader with discipline issues being forced to sit in the corner.
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5 stars is simply the only option for this place, perfect service, perfect bar atmosphere while you're waiting and a perfect meal. We managed to get a reservation for Gradisca the day of (which was really exciting considering how booked up other places were).
I ended up having the filet after starting with the Capresi Salad, both were excellent and I was amazed by how attentive the staff were. My water glass was always refilled promptly and my silverware was replaced immediately after the appetizers were taken away.
The ambiance was really cool and I enjoyed grabbing a drink at the bar before our table was ready. The clientele were definitely hip so I'm sure this place will get more and more business. I don't go to NY regularly but I'm sure to check this place out again next time I fly east.
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As I entered this dark exposed brick restaurant with a bar in the back, I hesitated. Was this going to be a predictable NYC Italian restaurant? Even the Italian grandmother rolling out sheets of handmade pasta at the entrance gave me pause. Did a great restaurant really need that?
Man, was I wrong. I almost hesitate to write this because I do not want this place to become too popular. I had:
1. Napoleon of fresh porcini mushrooms and truffle flavored pecorino - HEAVEN in your mouth
2. "Badly cut" egg pasta with truffle cream sauce - TUSCANY in your mouth
3. Fresh Tiramisu - CREAMY GOODNESS in your mouth
My husband and I brought a nice wine we had been saving and used the $30 corkage fee to try a nice bottle with better food than we could make at home.
My only gripe would be the service - however it just reminded me of Italy - all of the waiters are Italian, and like in Italy...they don't rush you to finish your course and rush you to get the next seating in (which may mean slow service to some New Yorkers, including myself, I have to admit)
Do me two favors: 1. Come hungry with a nice bottle of wine. 2. SHHH already! (don't tell anyone else)
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Loved this place. I am still thinking about the creme brulee appetizer with the carmelized onions spread on thin, crispy crackers. Makes my mouth water. The creme brulee was basically a very creamy, fluffy light as air cheese, slightly sweetened, with a crust of burnt sugar on top served in a ramekin, just like creme brulee! you spread it on these paper thin crackers, and smear some carmelized sweet onions on top. It is the perfect combination of sweet and salty, which I love. But more on the sweet side. We shared this appetizer between the two of us, and it was perfect.
I had the Gnocchetti di Ricotta fresca - It is this light, airy gnocci that just melts in your mouth. It looks very white and creamy when in fact its not that creamy at all, just cheesy. It really just melted. I tend to like my gnocci a tad bit chewy, and this was not chewy at all. It was topped with a slice of caramelized pear. I could have done with more caramelized pear slices so I could have a little morsel of pear with every bite of gnoccetti.. but whatever. I traded my fiancee for his badly cut pasta dish halfway through the meal - I liked it better.
So, the badly cut pasta definitely lives up to its reputation on the yelp boards. I thought it would be creamy, which is why I didn't order it, but it was not creamy at all. I don't know what to say... the truffle oil makes it seem like you are eating mushrooms with the pasta, but its just pasta. not too creamy, not to heavy, just... Excellent.
We were both stuffed after sharing an appetizer and these two entrees. We couldn't even finish the pasta. Although the dishes sound heavy, they are actually very light and filling at the same time. The ambiance is dark, romantic, and as every restaurant in NY is - Loud. You have to get very close to the person you are talking to so they can hear you. Horrible acoustics. But some people like loud music and not being able to hear the person sitting across from them unless you are about 2-3 inches away from their face.. it adds to the romantic atmosphere. That combined with a good glass of wine, makes it a great date spot. Five stars all around. Its also a decent size and was not overly crowded on a Friday night, so I would say its good for groups as well.
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Went here for my best friends birthday dinner..we were a group of 12 or so and sat at the high table in the back room.. i loved every part of this place! from the italian grandmama making homemade pasta up front when you walk in to the cozy and sexy red walls and candelit ambience..to the yummy italian with a mix of cozy pastas, great dishes, and tons of appetizers and salads .. really a wonderful restaurant. great for a date, dinner with your family, or a party w/ friends! woohoo
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Great food. We had all the yelp suggestions - pecorino creme brulee, gnochetti and the badly cut pasta. all were exceptional. also had the chocolate souffle, which wasn't really a souffle, but a flourless molten cake. I think they should say so in the menu as it's misleading. Regardless, it was deelish! The chocolate was dark and the vanilla cream it came with wasn't too sweet.
Service is slooooooow. I did go on a Saturday night, but at 10pm, and it wasn't completely packed. The tables with more people got more attention. Which wasn't really that bad till we wanted to leave and it took them 20 minutes to get the bill.
But I will be back. Food was too good to not try it again.
I stumbled upon Gradisca while apartment searching in the West Village. Saw some pretty awful apartments, but thankfully I also found Gradisca. Had a wonderful experience from start to finish. Two fantastic servers took care of me and my date...they guided us to delicious appetizers including the pecorino creme brulee--which sounds weird but was absolutely lovely, and also helped us choose a wonderful wine to go with our meal. We lingered after dessert finishing our wine in the intimate dining room which has a wonderful ambiance--candle light, exposed brick and rustic wooden tables. The special bonus was seeing Mama in the front of the house making homemade pasta! Gradisca was wonderful and I'd recommend it for lots of different occasions--dates, group dinners and fun get togethers! You won't be disappointed :)
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The definition of a true gem...pasta, ambiance, service, and ohhh the pasta! I thank yelp for this find. Gradisca is one of those restaurants you pass a bunch of times, but every once in a while you look at the menu and think "well that does sound good," but you're just not in the mood for Italian or you don't want to "risk it" so you swear to yelp it later...i finally did...thanks!
Just as most here have mentioned: so many appetizers to choose from it was hard, we went with the fresh mozzarella, tomatoes and basil option (almost like a panini), sounds boring, but tasty. I really wanted to try those meatballs but I was filling up on the bread and yummy marinara (served cold which really makes the flavors stand out more). Hmmm, maybe next time. The "badly cut" pasta is sooo goood. But the winner for me was the ricotta ravioli in sage butter sauce. wow. perfect. The lasagna was the only mediocre experience. The portions are right on and the wine list was varied both in price and offerings. We are going back, soon.
Another great place I found, because of Yelp.
There was pretty much nothing disapointing about this restaurant. The ambience is nice, a bit dark, but warm and comfortable. It can get a bit loud if it's full of people, but never hard to deal with.
The food is outstanding. My girlfriend and I went big and did an appetizer, entree, wine and dessert. All three courses were exceptional.
The service was great as well. Our waiter was helpful, the busboys are on top of their jobs.
Overall, I really don't have anything to complain about. I'll be back.
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I agree with everyone else who loved the "badly cut" pasta. It's fantastic. The decor is mellow and there's no attitude, which is a huge plus for a NY restaurant that also has great food. The service isn't four star, but the cuisine more than makes up for it. Next time I'm in the city for business, I'll definitely stop by again.
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Generally, I reserve my five star reviews for places that I can frequent more than once, but since I rarely get to visit NYC and my experience here was so fantastic, I'm gonna go ahead and shell one out. Gradisca was fantastic. The food was stellar, especially the "badly cut" pasta as others have pointed out. We also tried: caprese salad, creme brulee di pecorino, veggie napoleon, tomato bread soup, gnocchetti di ricotta, pumpkin ravioli, and the chocolate souffle. All of it was ON POINT. Plus, the service was friendly and attentive--one of the servers even brought my friend Advil when she complained of a headache, and ended up comping her espresso and appertif (I think he had a bit of a crush). The girl working the coat check/hostess stand was super cute and sweet. AND they have Fernet--talk about making a collection of San Francisco girls feel like they're at home! Phenomenal. Love this place. Definitely going to hit it up again when I get back to the other City.
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Gradisca is an adorable, romantic Italian cafe tucked away on a quaint Chelsea street. The dimly lit dining area is illuminated by 4 tea candles on each of the small tables. The wine list is impressive, as are the creative entrees and homemade pastas. The food is delicious, however the service is lacking. The waiter was slow and not very attentive. My glass of house Chianti was also presented with cork bits floating in it. Very unappealing...Also, the bread that we received was served with a cup of tomato sauce, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil as dipping selections. The bread and sauce would have been delicious if they were not served completely cold as the were.
In terms of the actual meal, the portions are small and prices steep, but the quality made it all worth it. I ordered the Cavatelli with tomatoes, eggplant, basil and grated ricotta. The pasta was perfectly cooked. The eggplant, basil, and ricotta added flavor and substance to the homemade pasta sauce. My friend ordered the potato tortelli with italian sausage and white truffle infused olive oil. The truffle oil added substantial fragrance to the dish. The sausage was chopped up to make a meat sauce that was delicious.
I would definitely go back to Gradisca for the homestyle pasta, but the service prevents it from being a favorite of mine.
My favorite tiramisu ever! With choco bits! It can't get any better!
We started with these yummy flatbread appetizers: Prosciutto di Parma and fior di latte mozzarella & Fior Di Latte Mozzarella, heirloom tomatoes, wild Sicilian oregano and basil oil - really good, but could be filling if you eat it all yourself.
POLIPO AL VAPORE IN GUAZZETTO DI POMODORO E PATATE - Steamed fresh octopus and fingerling potatoes in a light tomato broth - It must have been a really sizable octopus to get those huge tentacle pieces.
EC ordered this: MISTA DI CAMPO CON VINAIGRETTE ALL'OLIO DI FRANTOIO - Chef's market salad with extra-virgin olive oil vinaigrette - surprisingly sweet even though it looked like a scary pile of frise.
The 10 year old balsamic vinegar / olive oil / tomato sauce was awesome with the bread. I couldn't stop eating it!
ME: MALTAGLIATI DI PASTA FRESCA IN CREMA DI TARTUFO NERO - Handmade "badly cut" egg pasta in a black truffle cream sauce - It was really tasty but I wished there were more goodies in the dish itself.
EC: POLLASTRELLO CROCCANTE CON FINFERLI E PATATE AL FORNO - Crispy organic chicken breast with chanterelle mushroom sauce and baked fingerling potatoes - he made his "I can't believe how good this tastes" face and "I wouldn't mind eating chicken breast if it always tasted like this." Juicy and the chickenest chicken ever.
Usually EC hates Italian because of the large portions, but this place was tinier than usual, and really homestyle. Everyone finished their entree...is that rare or what?
Desserts we ordered a 2 x 3 combo of tiramisu, panna cotta and choco souffle...totally comical because all the waiters came by to sing happy birthday to MT. Did I mention the tiramisu is a MUST!?
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This place was a recommendation from a friend for our visit to NYC. Adorable is the best word to describe this place. As soon as I walked in, I loved the romantic vibes with the red tones and candles throughout. Small space promoting an intimate environment. Great wine list with a variety of pricing. My date ordered the "badly cut pasta" with black truffle cream sauce and loved every bit of it. The sauce had great flavor that was not overwhelming. I had the scallops with lobster off the specials menu which for its small size, proved very satisfying with taste. We tried the gelato for dessert... chocolate, chocolate chip and mango. All of them were outstanding and was the perfect end to the meal. As for service, they appear to share tables. The hostess took our initial wine order, provided dinner recommendations, etc... and several others served the food and brought the check at the end. Service was not constant, which would normally put me off, but in this environment just allowed for time to enjoy my wine and my date.
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as i was planning my new years even in NYC, i turned to yelp to help me find the perfect place for a NYE dinner. i wanted something with incredible food, but without the "kill yourself before you see your credit card bill" prices. and boy, did gradisca deliver.
as soon as we walked in the door, we were kindly greeted by friendly italian staff, and ushered to a nice big table in the middle of the dark, sexy dining room.
being the obsessive yelper that i am, i had done my research in advance and knew just what i wanted: the pecornio creme brule and the badly made pasta. to put it simply, both were heaven. i also started with a bowl of the truffle lentil soup ($15 for a bowl though? yikes!), which was really stellar. everyone loved what they ordered, but all agreed that my order was the tastiest (although the flatbread appetizer was also awesome!).
long story short, this place was perfect - i only wish i lived in NYC so i could go frequently. i'd be there at least once a month!
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Lovely, lovely spot. How can you not be charmed by Grandma making pasta in the dining room right when you walk in the door? I went for dinner with a big group of folks from work, so was particularly pleased that my wine glass never went empty. The badly cut" pasta, or some such term, was fresh and delish and had the perfect amount of truffles. The bar was also cute and warm and I'd go back even just for a glass of wine in the bar.
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Five-stars = perfect ambiance, amazing food, fantastic service. That pretty much encapsulates my experience at Gradisca tonight. I went with my college buddies (although it's probably a bit too romantic a destination for three dudes, awesome for a date though). We started off with some drinks at the bar and made our way to our table. Our waitress was very helpful with her recommendations not to mention she was a lot of fun. We started off with the meatballs, octopus, and the creme brulee of pecorino with onion marmalade. The meatballs were served on mashed potatoes and were good. The octopus was tender and delicious. But the creme brulee...we almost didn't order this because it just sounded funny for an antipasti. Boy would we have regretted it if we didnt. The waitress told us this was her favorite appetizer. It was by far and away ours. The sweet creaminess of the pecorino creme with the crust of caramelized sugar and tanginess of the onion marmalade on the thin slice of what seemed like a lavash type bread were simply heaven.
For our entrees we ordered the veal with proscuitto, the papardelle with lamb ragu, and the lobster cannoli. We felt compelled to order the pasta as the mother of the chef who just returned from Italy was sitting in the front of the restaurant making fresh homemade pasta. All of the entrees were outstanding, but the veal was above and beyond outstanding. It was one of the best veals I've tasted. We finished off with the gelato (sabayon, banana, pistachio) which all tasted homemade and thus light and refreshing. Add to that a bottle of wine and coffee and a bill of only $160 all-in...and you can't ask for a better evening for three.
Shockingly good food at remarkably reasonable prices. I tried for a week to get a reservation at Lupa. I finally gave up, kept our reservation at Gradisca, and couldn't have been happier with the experience. Contrary to some of the reviews on this site, all four of us thought the portions were the perfect size and the atmosphere was enchanting (including the lighting). We'll definitely be back.
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I have a lot of friends who crave Italian, and I crave meet, so Northern Italian is a good compromise. Gradisca is a cozy, rustic spot tucked in the middle of everything, yet with a very out-of-the-way feeling. Not huge portions, but hey, you're on a diet anyway, right? Extra points for the fat lady on the logo.
The servers are very attentive and friendly. My favorite part about Gradisca is the dessert. I had a pistachio creme brulee with banana and raspberry (need I say more)? Quite good. I didn't enjoy my entree - the tortelli - it was a bit salty, but my friend's seared tuna was excellent.
I would definitely visit this place again!
The warm, romantic candle light makes this a great place to go if you're trying to hide a skin condition.
We started with the Piadina (Fontina cheese and arugula), which was quite good. The woman I tricked into becoming my wife had the artichoke special which looked like meatballs, but was in fact artichokes. They were quite nice.
For the main I had the Costata Manzo ($23), which is fancy Italian talk for beef short-ribs on a bed of spinach. It was great and I'm mighty proud of myself for ordering it. My wife-person had the pasta special which that evening was some kind of ravioli with truffles ($24). Very good. Truffles make everything magically expensive.
We passed on dessert, although I was tempted. If I wasn't such a wine-swilling lush, our tab would have been around $78.
This is definitely a place to take a date, though my wife would leave me if I did that.
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One day I was walking by this place and I saw this Italian mama making the best looking ravioli ever. My wife and I came here for her birthday and it was delicious.
Great waiter, awesome ravioli (in butter and sage sauce, my fav), good atmosphere. The arugala piadina was incredible. The Mrs. had the papardelle with lamb ragu, which was also great.
Keep it up!
Q
Another wonderful find from Yelp! Went here last night for dinner with a few friends and everyone loved this place. My husband and I arrived a few minutes earlier than everyone else, so we sat by the bar and had a glass of wine - they gave us some mixed nuts and a plate of cheese while we waited. I loved the ambience of the place - very dark and candlelit, but not at all pretentious - exposed brick walls, very comfortable. Our meal was delightful - they serve bread with a tasty marinara sauce for the table and we tried a variety of appetizers. I really enjoyed the "creme brulee" appetizer which was a rich cheese dip made with a balsamic reduction and served with with a side of carmelized onions and chips for dipping. It was a really unique dish and it was quite tasty. We also tried one of the flatbreads for the table (the one with mozarella, basil and tomato) and it was delicious - like a panini. My entree was delectable - I had the veal cutlet with prosciutto and cheese - be warned that it's pretty much drenched with cheese, but it's soo good - soft and melts in your mouth. The veal is served with a breaded and baked tomato that was really tasty. My husband ordered the badly cut pasta in truffle cream sauce - I tasted it and loved it - had a hint of mushroom and scallion, I think - whatever it was, it was delicious. For dessert I sampled both the tiramassu and the chocolate soufle, which was delicious. Even the coffee was wonderful. Dinner was quite pricey ($70 per person including two bottles of wine for the table), but it was definitely worth it. Only complaint about this restaurant is the noise level (other than that, I would say it's a great
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Update: Returned here for dinner recently during the week. Again, I loved my experience - the best part was that it was nice and quiet this time, which made it even more enjoyable. The food was divine and the service was just wonderful.
After a brief summer downpour, I entered Gradisca SOAKING WET. That really has nothing to do with the restaurant, but it remains a big part of my dinner memories.
I had the papardelle with lamb ragu, which was excellent. My dining companion's farfarelle with mussels over a white bean puree was amazing.
It's a cute restaurant with cute waiters and great food - what more could you want?
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Try the fresh mozz/tomato piadina (warm flatbread filled with cheese and then grilled), it's delicious. The caprese salad (fresh mozz and tomato) is also great. I don't know where they get their mozzarella from, but it's some of the best I've ever had in the city.
The inside is warm and cozy, great for a romantic date b/c it's really only lit by candlelight. If you're lucky you should go when the owner's mother flies in straight from Italy for a few weeks and adds her special touch to the menu.
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Understated and underrated. Just the way I like it.
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This rustic Italian conveniently located 1 & 1/2 blocks from the PATH train & subway was a welcome surprise. My cousin & I both ordered the same entree - cavatelli with eggplant and tomato - which we both agreed was outstanding. Since I am usually not a huge cavetelli fan, I was more than pleased to find it was quite light and accompanied by just the right amount of spices and flavors. For dessert, we shared 3 gelati, which were delectable and refreshing.
Highly recommended for its exquisite food and authentic Italian hospitality.
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The next time I visit New York, I am coming straight here. Gradisca is a fantastically joyous place to treat your taste buds.
Tucked away on a side street with in the West Village, Gradisca has an intimate and cozy atmosphere, jazz tunes playing in the background, which makes one feel as if you are in a super cool spot unknown by most. The food is outstanding. Fresh organic ingredients, and pasta that is made daily on the premises.
I greatly enjoyed the Garganelli Melanzane E Ricotta Salata- hand rolled penne pasta with eggplant, tomatoes, basil olive oil, and aged ricotta cheese ( I could have done without the cheese). I'll tell you it's delicious, but you won't understand until you try this dish. This is real Italian food. Do save room for dessert. The tirami su is fantastic. Light and airy, lady fingers moistened with espresso coffee. Mascorpone creme adds a nice and delicate flavor. And the final touch of coca powder lightly dusting the whole concoction of yummy goodness.
What also added to the great experience was the staff. Flirtatiously friendly Italian men, who give special attention to the entire dining experience. The sommelier comes right to your table and asks you questions about your dinner, the kinds of wine your prefer, what excites you about wine, and then brings you the perfect accompaniment to your dinner.
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This is a wonderful coincidence, Simone. Gradisca's chefs, Matteo Boglione, Massimo Galeano and Caterina Schenardi, just presented at the James Beard Foundation a couple of weeks ago, http://www.yelp.com/bi...
and I was very happy to be a guest for that event. This is the menu I enjoyed for lunch that day:
http://www.jamesbeard....
Everything was delicious, especially Caterina's handmade pasta filled with butternut squash and black truffle sauce. Now I have to get myself over to their restaurant to enjoy everything else they have to offer.
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delicious italian food, lovely atmosphere. the busboys were great with constantly refilling beverages, but the waiter was a little lacking. after the dessert, we didn't see him for about half an hour, and he forgot my friend's dessert altogether. i think since we were a party of 8 and the gratuity was therefore included, he didn't feel like he had to work as hard.
Decent Italian, homemade pasta by the owner's mother made every two weeks. There were a lot of Italian families eating there which I take as a plus. I'd imagine it to be authentic, but the food didn't really wow me or anything. He wasn't there when I ate, but the sommelier is supposed to be a riot.
Potentially great atmosphere: rustic wood tables, wood flooring. But when I was there, they were playing incredibly annoying and loud music in the back room.
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A friend and I lingered her for about two hours, enjoying the music, ambience, food and wine. The space is very cool and dark - can be loud at times but didn't think bother us. The food was delicious - had a salad to start and the raviolis stuffed with buffalo motzarella. Great bottle of wine for $26. Service was lacking but we didn't mind because we were in no rush - they weren't rude or anything - in fact very friendly and apologetic but were slow and forgetful. Still will be back soon
After walking for quite awhile, we finally stopped at a small Italian restaurant called Gradisca. It turned out to be a fantastic choice...nice decor and awesome food. We had an appetizer of buffalo mozzarella wrapped in prosciutto and with a truffle pesto on top. Yum! I was in heaven - we're talking full on taste bud ecstasy, one of the best appertizers I've ever had. I got the carbonara for an entree, which was also heavenly - rich, creamy, very nicely flavored. We were way too full for dessert, but I'd like to go back sometime and try the tiramisu.
Pricey, small-proportioned entrees, versus the rustic, earthy feel... hunger wins out.
