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W 4th St (A, C, E, B, D, F, V)
Christopher St (1)
9th Street (PATH)
Mon-Fri. 12:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Mon-Fri. 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
"I came here for my roommate's birthday and it blew me away. First, the place is underground, which I always think is cool. Inside, it is…" read more »
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Ok - I've never eaten here. Aaanddd probably won't anytime in the near future, unless someone else feels like shelling out at least $80 for me to do so. But -
President Obama and Bill Clinton just had lunch here. Today.
And then Obama's motorcade turned right down Thompson St. - and I made eye contact with / waved at him, right from my building's doorstop. The girl standing next to me starting jumping up and down, and Obama laughed.
If that's not awesome, I don't know what is.
Yikes! I've never paid over $100 for Italian food even when I didn't order wine in my life lol. Il Mulino is an another superstar restaurant that you'll wanna go if ur a foodie.
A celebrity Ilatian chef I met at Kyoto once told me that "Italian food is a cusine for everyone and should not be high-class snobby like French." Well, his quote didn't apply here at Il Mulino lol.
Being the Italian restaurant that is known for their gutsy & garlicky flavors, Il Mulino always ranks high in the Italian restaurant scene. Il Mulino is aka the Italian restaurant that is one of the hardest to get a reservation in NYC. This place has a lot of reputations.
Btw the pastas here are $50 a plate lol. I had the pasta with vodka sauce and truffle flavored ravioli. They were good, but not the best I had. One thing that impressed me was the service. The staff is always looking and ready to serve you when you need it.
Personally, you can find better places (in terms of food) for Italian. Nevertheless, coming here for the experience is worth doing.
I've been patiently waiting to try this place and we were finally able to get a babysitter and a reservation. The restaurant is very dark. A woman at the next table jokingly pulled out a flashlight to look at the menu.
The freebies (all of which come out before they even give you a menu) included fried zucchini (very greasy and soggy), a hunk of parmesan (delicious), bruschetta with a mussel (perfectly seasoned), garlic bread (finger licking good), salami slices and some sort of too-greasy-to eat bread sticks.
So, we knew this was going to be an expensive meal but were stunned to see what they charged for what we ordered- all of which were from the specials which were impressively recited by our waiter.
Appetizer: grilled octopus on a bed of arugula (delicious)- $44 (!)
Pasta: pasta with wild boar ragu (spectacular) - $36
Fish; branzino baked in a salt crust and deboned by the waiter (by the time it came to the table, it looked like ~4 oz (nothing special) - $65 (!)
They also give you complimentary grappa.
Two out of the three things we ordered were delicious but I don't think we'll return.
What I love about this place is that you are stuffed before you even order your food. They bring out so many things prior to your meal that you can't even fathom ordering anything. After we ordered our entrees, we took one bite and took the rest to go. Food here is great but the prices aren't cheap. It is probably one of the most (if not the most) expensive Italian restaurant in the city. If you enjoy Italian food, I would highly recommend eating here at least once. It's a great experience with great food/
The bruschetta starters were amazing. Pasta is solid, not spectacular but very good. Lamb was phenomenal; get a fruit spread for dessert and you will be amazed at how they can carve it up.
Star studded place, but lighting is a little dim to do people watching ... anyhow you will probably be too focused on the food in front of you anyway.
I don't get it. Ok, Il Mulino is good -- it reminds me of many of the suburban Italian restaurants around Cleveland that I loved...for $20 a person. But the atmosphere is dowdy and I'll never forget that how the desserts were out front and were the victim of several coats dragging across them as we waited to be seated. Sure, the food is good, but in this reviewer's opinion, that's about as far as I'd go -- solid, not spectacular traditional Italian food. Something NY needs more of, but not with a 27 Zagat rating and corresponding prices to go with.
I'm a sucker for three things:
1. Surprise Dinner Reservations
2. Finance Guys with Porsches and Expense Accounts*
3. Impromptu serenades of Fine Young Cannibals "She Drives Me Crazy"
So when I got the call that it was dinner time at Il Mulino, I made a dash to get the ole eyebrows waxed, freshen up the mascara and thoughtfully apply heavy concealer, truly the best gift I can give a man.
Upon sitting down, we received gratis amounts of : Baked Foccaccia with Garlic and Olive Oil Bread Sticks, Fried Spicey Zucchini, Bruschettta, Garlic Bread, Huge Chunk Of Parmesan Cheese, and Proscuitto.
That was all before even opening the menu or hearing the specials. Next came the wine. And more wine. And more wine.
This is where my acute recollection wanes. I do recall that I consumed the most amazing lobster ravioli ala vodka sauce as an appetizer. My entree was the chicken fra diavolo, which looked like Chinese food but tasted like Jesus. I was already full by this point so I took most of it home and my roommate was grateful. Finally, we ordered dessert which was really just meant to decorate the table. No one touched it. Well, okay, that's a lie. I ate some of my Napoleon cake. Which I'm not exactly proud of.
But how could I resist? This was by far the best old school Italian meal I've had in New York City. I would bring someone here if I really wanted to convey how much I loved them in the form of Italian food. Be it your Italian grandmother of few words, your father who can shovel down pasta like no one else, business mogul clients you have to impress with an expensed dinner that is brag-worthy, or your girlfriend you want to fatten up so no one else will look at her.
Totally appropriate, totally satisfying, totally no need to eat for days following.
*My Rent-A-Fiance, because we all know what happened to my real fiance (murder).
It's been 24 hrs and I'm still full. I can't wait to tell the story. I will update this review… Read more »
i truly wish we could split up reviews by food/service/ambiance. Based on my visit, i would go back but solely for the food. The service and ambiance left a lot to be desired. The only way I'll eat at Il Mulino again is at another location, Vegas perhaps. Our night started with the server telling us about the specials of the evening. there were about 25. way too many. i know it's supposed to be "cool" when the server can rattle everything off but it was cumbersome to try to remember all that was offered. We started with the stuffed mushrooms, burrata, and octopus salad. prob the best burrata I've ever had. the mushrooms were perfectly paired with escargot and an awesome sauce. the server then pressured us to order a couple pasta dishes to share as "tweener" course. we got the porcini ravioli and squid ink pasta with langostines. i could have died, both were so good. i wanted a mushroom risotto with broccoli rabe but the server said the risotto with langostines was much much better and basically wouldn't hear of me ordering anything else. while carrying away our leftovers, one server dripped sauce all the way across the table. since it was so messy, they placed a new tablecloth on top, an unnecessary and awkward act. we all had to lift up our million wine glasses. the chairs were at least 25 years old and the ceilings are in dire need of a replacement as they are the same ceilings as in my office. the wallpaper was kitschy and out of place and the bathroom line was basically in the kitchen. since the server pressured us into ordering so much food, we left with three to-go bags. over the top and way too much. overall, food=5 stars, service and decor=1 star.
Claudio and the crew here know how to do it right.
We only had cold plates on this night - but they were spectacular.
The fried zucchini was amazing, as was the mozzarella plate (with two types of cheese - soft and firm, basil, tomatoes, and a wonderful seasoning).
The desserts are fantastic as well - watch out for the grappa, its powerful stuff.
I hope to return soon to eat some main courses.
The maître d' was on the phone the entire time while my parents tried to find the place...even walked outside to point em right there. Excellent staff
Food was prepared exquisitely and had a menu to match. The lamb is what its known for, and was really one of the best I've had.
We waited possibly 25 minutes for our meal.
All in all a very hot date place, if your willing to spend the cash. Otherwise special occasion wise it's great as well. My bday dinner was here.
Best Italian food ever! After eating at Il Mulino, I can no longer eat at so-called Italian restaurants...
I came here when visiting New York with a friend. We made reservations and were a bit late, but we were seated promptly. While waiting for our table, we sat at the bar where a kind man asked whether we'd like to order wine. Well, seeing how the menu had no prices, and the place looked fancy we ended not.
I ordered a plain ol' salad because after stuffing my face with bruschetta I was pretty much full. Any carbs or meat would just go straight into a to-go box. My friend ordered an entree that came with three different pastas. I tried some of her pappardelle, and eating that made me wish I had ordered a pasta. It was amazing.
Tip: Come here hungry. As others have mentioned, there are many little complimentary appetizers--brushetta, garlic bread, eggplant, a plate of cheese...AND the entrees come with a good amount of food. After finishing our meal, a waiter came by with a big jug asking us whether we wanted to order grappa (grape-based brandy), we said no, but he went ahead and filled our wine glasses just a bit. Whew, after a couple sips I was already woozy. Now that thing is strong! Oh, and be ready to shell out some dollars. Most entrees are priced at $25+, but then again you pay for the A+ service, atmosphere, and the many appetizers. So while this place is pricey, you get your dollars worth for sure. If I were to come back to NY, I'd definitely stop by here again!
The only complaint, which could be a deal breaker, quite expensive.
People all dress quite formally, suits and ties. And you might still need to wait for like half an hour even though you have made a reservation. The the open bar area / waiting area is fully packed 8-9 pm.
The moment you sit down, two waiters immediately, without asking, serve you all types of appetizer; and more appetizer would come along with main course...so before you finally get to main course, you probably have been full :) The appetizers, according to my friends, are even better than than the main course, and therefore, equally expensive :P
Has the feeling of a trendy yet authentically old school New York restaurant as portrayed on SATC. Amazing food. Decor tends toward cozy-romantic (love the wallpaper). It is too loud for it to be a truly romantic date place though. More for a power date. Is that a word? Lotsa well-coifed, well-accessorized, well-styled women in this joint is all I'm saying. And the men who date them. Plus a few foodies, groups of 4 or 6 celebrating birthdays (the waiters sang twice when I was there) and some Italians.
This restaurant is really not worth the price or the hype. As many people say this is for a romantic dinner or to share a milestone in ones life. This does not stop me from giving it 4 starts. I see this as more of a group dinning experience.
I think not. The table next to us was a large table where the men of the table were in track pants and sweatshirts. I mean COME ON!
But let's start back at the beginning. The bar was crowded with people and everyone thought they were entitled to their 3 square inches of room so they would not move and let people in and out of the restaurant. Other then that (one of the things I dislike the most), things were going wonderfully.
We sat down at our table about 20min post reservation time, this is expected. The attack of the delicious food begins. Bruschetta, fresh Parmesan, Garlic, and Mussels. I mean MMMMMMM goood!! Why can't I just have all of that goodness in a hallowed out shell of the Parmesan cheese. I would just plop my face in and start chewing.
The appetizers we got were salad, caprese, oysters, and this stuffed eggplant. The winner is: the stuffed eggplant. It was a special and it was eggplant Parmesan rolled around crab, lobster, calamari, shrimp, mussels, clams, etc. The caprese was right on par. There mozzarella is soo good it is hard to go wrong.
The entrees we got were two veal Parmigiana and a rack of lamb...the rack of lamb drew attention from the entire restaurant. Wow, was it big, good, tender, aromatic, and well yummy. The veal Parmigiana was the best I have had as well. They ordered it pounded extra thin and extra crispy. They were extra delicious.
I don't remember dessert, I don't remember the wine, and I don't remember feeling so happy and soo full in the past few months after a feast like this one.
Il Mulino is one of those restaurants you walk by and wonder why you haven't heard of it or wonder why it's not hot on Open Table. It seems nondescript and then you notice that there's a guy out front who not only sprays down the sidewalk at 8 AM every morning, but cleans it with soap and a sponge.
In time, I picked up a Zagat guide, learned how difficult it is to get a reservation and how my great uncle thinks it's the best Italian food in the US (he's one of those guys I trust with these opinions). I should also note that apparantely they're doing so much of a profit that they shut for an entire month in the summer.
So with these ideas in mind, you can understand how excited I was when my girlfriend's family made a reservation there for a milestone dinner. Yes, it's dark (bring a cell phone or flashlight to help read the menu), the tables are close, especially by high-end restaurant standards and yes it can get loud, especially since half the people are there for their birthdays so there's a lot of singing, but I think the quality of their cooking and service more than makes up for it.
My chicken stuffed with basil, prosciutto and provalone clearly came with the highest of quality ingredients they could find, while the quality of the tomatoes and mozzarrella in our caprese salad appetizers was the best I've had in the US. I also remember their vitello milanese as a work of art.
This place will definitely set you back at least $120 a person, but there are some manageable options on the wine list, including a $75 Brunello which was really good.
Some may think that Babbo is better, but I don't even think you can compare its haute cuisine with Wild Game to Il Mulino's more traditional cooking. The best way I think about Il Mulino is to ask a rhetorical question: Is Il Mulino twice as good as your favorite high-end Italian restaurant (since it's twice as expensive)? I'd say yes.
Old world Italian charm, which is romantic for couples. My former love and I celebrated a milestone here in my past life. It is extremely pricey with an average cost of $90.00 per person. The atmosphere is very crowded and very dark with poor lighting. Reservations are highly recommended although difficult to do, as it is always busy. Lunch is less but not as pricey, to put a hole in your bank account in today's volatile economy.
Gargantuan portions come with a price, which Il Mulino delivers. The chefs and team are attentive professionals who are well trained to serve clients.
In this case, I think you get what you pay for. Even by Manhattan standards, it is expensive. From the time I visted here a year ago, I would say it is very, very good. The antipasti- meats and cheeses, and breads alone are outstanding. I want to double check on their veg offerings, but you can do very well with a number of seafood or meat dishes. God is in the details. I decided I really wanted an iced coffee, so I ordered one. Served in a wine glass, I think it was the best iced coffee I have ever tasted.
I ate here once.
Alone.
And was treated like a princess!
Le sigh, I swoon when I think about Il Mulino. Eating there is like snuggling ten puppies on top of a chinchilla duvet.
The snacks they give you right before your course could probably cover your hunger. Servers were very sweet and attentive. They even fetched me a new napkin when mine got dirty?!
The shrimp I ordered was so fresh that it tasted sweeter than sake. The tomato sauce it was stewed in had the right kick of spice and shockingly low acidity to really tease out the shrimp flavor.
Wow, Il Mulino goes beyond all of my expectations... and price range.
It's special like no other restaurant is special.
Exquisite. Refined. Unbelievable divine pastas, perfectly cooked fish. I have been frequenting this place (and even went to the one in Tokyo) and I cannot say enough good things about the quality of the food. The place does get crowded, noisy, but it is one of my top, if not THE top restaurant I have ever been to.
Maybe the best Italian food I've ever had! Never had anything I didn't LOVE!
Only negatives are that it's very expensive and even with a reservation, be prepared to wait thirty minutes.
Il Mulino is truly special........
My recent 12-day vacation in NYC brought me to many top-rated restaurants.
Some had a sterile feel, some had a professional feel....
Il Mulino made me feel at home.
They still had the attentiveness and professionalism of a 3-Star Michelin restaurant, but they treat you.... like part of the family.
We of course had a reservation, and had drinks at the bar while we waited for our table to open up. The man behind the bar recommended a delicious Italian beer for me. I had three more later. :)
Upon being seated, plates and plates of food began to show up at our table. I whispered to my boyfriend asking if his father already ordered these for us to which he smiled and said, "no.... that's just what they do!"
Wow!
The bruschetta was on point! The zucchini was arguably a little too greasy, but it was still delicious... The garlic bread was fantastic, and the big lump of parmesan made me drool.
Then it was time to actually ORDER.
Our waiter told us the specials... I swear there must have been about 30 of them...
I had a caprese salad which they gladly made me without the prosciutto, followed by a seafood risotto. The flavors danced in my mouth... Incredible!!! I stole from other plates as much as I could to sample. Everything was more perfect than the next. The only thing I couldn't participate in was the rack of lamb that came out for my boyfriends father.
It looked incredible though!
Then for dessert.... We ordered one tiramasu, one cheesecake, and one zambione.... And 5 spoons.... It's incredible that after the amount of food that we all ate, that we were still able to devour the desserts. Wow.
Il Mulino is definitely not a place I can go on my own... Can't afford it. But unlike some of the other restaurants I've dined at that were out of my price range, this is one that I would gladly save up for... Gladly.
:)
My father's only request for his 60th birthday was dinner with the family and "really good pasta." My first thought, of course, was Babbo, but after being denied by the reservation gods and exhausting every possible connection, a particularly well-placed friend in the restaurant industry said "you know, Sam - Babbo's fun, but if you want really good pasta, go to Il Mulino."
How right he was. This place is utterly fantastic. Straight out of old school Italian New York without that obnoxious Little Italy feel. The moment you sit down you are bombarded with fresh, mouthwateringly good food: garlic bread, fried zucchini and eggplant, bruschetta, a massive hunk of parmiggiano - and this is all even before the waiter says hello!
The waiters are charming and friendly, zipping here and there, reading off the specials, filling your water glass, recommending wine - we had an excellent Nebbiolo - and taking orders. The service is swift and impeccable.
And then there's the food: Italian the way God intended. Simple, fresh, homemade and plentiful. I started with the baby octopus, grilled to perfection, followed by a saffron tagliolini with lamb ragu. Everything was rich, hearty and heaping. For dessert we split flourless chocolate cake and a tiramisu (accompanied by the complimentary grappa). All simple and perfect.
Il Mulino is not for the faint of stomach or wallet - it will set you back quite a bit. But you will leave smiling, full, and happy. And Dad's verdict: "Exactly what I wanted."
i could never afford this place in the near future, but was only able to eat here because a friend treated us out.
i had an assorted pasta dish to sample all of their chef specialties and pesto. it was great. the flavor was all there and the raviolis with porcini mushroom was so spectacular.
these guys will make anything you want the way you want it.. i tried my friend's veal parmigiana and it was so tender and the sauce was amazing and semi sweet.
the bread they offer is unique....it is garlic-ish and is somewhat like a crouton also they give you a chunk of parmesan from this huge slab of a wheel they have. the parmesan is amazing and the flavor is so intense that I wonder where it has been all my life.
the wine they have is of course more expensive than you would normally pay but the waiters will suggest good pairings with your food. i really enjoyed this place and will come back if i can ever afford it.
the presentation of the fruit platter for dessert was made to order at the table and we had a wonderful dessert plate with gelato tiramisu and panna cotta. it was amazing. great food with great friends, and while the decor makes me feel like i am in an 80-year-old Italian woman's closet, it is still such a good place to eat.
This is the best food I've ever had anywhere (and I eat at as many fine restaurants as I can.)
Better than Gramercy Tavern.
Better than Jean-Georges (by a long-shot! What a waste that place is!)
I've adored everything I've tried there, and the margaritas are excellent (an 8 out of 10 -- almost a 9!). The waiters are true New Yorkers -- a little pushy, a little too busy, but charming and magical, and oh lordy, did I mention the food? Damn I love this place. I hate that it's in New York, because it's too far away, but to put it any place else would ruin it.
I can't wait to go back!
I don't know what all the hype is about. I wasn't that impressed and the price tag was insane. Felt like a tourist trap. A sort of Disneyworld style "Mafia Restaurant" attraction. If you want the real deal, go to Felidia Ristorante.
il Mulino has been our favorite Italian restaurant for years. Yes, it can be difficult to get a reservation, waits can be long and it's expensive but it's well worth it. Upon seating you get inundated with anti pasta and you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. My personal favorite is the shrimp fra diavolo and my wife usually gets the spaghetti bolognese.
Simply put.. make it to before you die, make it to il Mulino.
Small, dark, intimate, and beautiful - My family and I made reservations almost one month in advance for a Saturday night and were rewarded more than we could have expected for the effort.
A meal beginning with multiple courses of complementary appetizers; cheese, salumi, garlic bread, italian bread, roasted mushrooms, zucchini, cauliflower gratin, olives, bruschetta...all served within 2 minutes of taking a seat. Waiters in tuxedos pace themselves adequately and allow you to get a generous sampling of the appetizers before arriving and presenting menus (hardly necessary) before reciting an ever changing menu of 20+ specials from their head in immaculate detail. Sure, prices are not given and most of the specials top $40, but once you taste the food it really doesn't matter.
For our mains, I selected a squid ink pasta with dungeness crab and mushrooms that tasted divine. The perfect al dente pasta was complimented with a very mild garlic mushroom sauce whose woodsy flavor wonderfully complimented the delicate crab. The portion was enormous and after the hefty sampling of appetizers I actually had to cut myself off in order to enjoy dessert.
My mother, aunt, and sister who were also in attendance sampled everything from a flawless chicken marsala with a wine sauce that tasted like perfectly aged balsamic to a lobster ravioli in cream sauce with carrots and root vegetables to langostinos in red sauce that tasted like the freshest heirloom tomatoes with only a hint of salt. Everything was plated creatively, pleasantly, and enormously without a hint of pretense.
Having experienced the meal and loving Tiramisu more than any other dessert I've yet tasted, I simply had to sample what Il Mulino had to offer and despite my fullness it was the best decision of the meal. The best, bar none, Tiramisu on the planet was served in a large square with buttery ladyfingers that held their firm texture despite copious espresso-laden marscapone and a warm yet crispy cocoa crust with the perfect splash of rum and cinnamon. It was heaven on a plate and even though I was beyond full afterwards I devoured every bite (aside from the few I spared for family to sample....after all, they are family.)
The other desserts, a wondefully thick New York Ricotta Cheesecake with fresh strawberry compote, and seemigly weightless profiterroles wrapped around creamy handmade vanilla icecream with a heavy dark chocolate sauce were equally amazing.
Following the meal a delciously complex house coffee/espresso was served on the house along with traditional Italian grappa. The whole meal took nearly 2.5 hours and cost $300 with tip (no alcohol) and was entirely worth it.
No pretense, perfect presentation, large portions for large dollars, and the most attentive and friendly waitstaff I've encountered. When I travel I make it a point to never try the same restaurant twice, but honestly I think I may go back to Il Mulino the next time I'm in New York.....it is that good.
Best Italian food in NYC period! Bring your check book and bank account because the best ain't cheap. Make a reservation way way way in advance and hope they answer the phone when you call. Billy Joel sat next to me last time I was there and he ate less then me!
I do not give 5 stars easily. This was a no brainier.
Fabulous food; romantic atmosphere; luxurious overall. I went here with my husband on our one year anniversary. It's been a while...trust me, I would go way more often, but it's pricey! Actually, I don't have a solid memory of the prices, but I remember it was virtually impossible to get anyone on the phone to make a rezzy. But worth the time! Decadent, wonderful experience. Highly recommended.
Finger lickin' good.
No, this is not KFC but the food is terrific.
Five seconds after you have been seated in this small one-room open dining room, you are immediately bombarded with incredible appetizers by what feels like 15 different servers. A chunk of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese? Check. The most incredible fried zuchini appetizer (not breaded, just wait until you try it)? Check. Bread? Check. Garlic bread? Check. Bruschetta? Check. I know I am missing some other appetizers, but you get the picture. Oh yes, it's all complimentary, too. You don't order--it all just comes to you.
The pasta and fish dishes are excellent. The service ranges from extraordinary to "Dude, where's my waiter?" The fact that many (all?) of the waiters are Italian and speak Italian makes the experience even better. The wine list by the glass could be a lot stronger.
Overall, it's great fun. It's not cheap but it won't destroy your bank account, either. You get a lot of food for the money and you'll have a great time.
this is like my favorite italian restaurant PERIOD. it is also one of my top 5 favorite restaurants PERIOD. the food is slamming, the place is beyond romantic and atmospheric, and the strawberries are stupid GOOD. I LOVE THIS PLACE WITH A PASSION! worth the big price tag!
it doesn't get any better. i was born and raised in Italy and this is the most authentic Italian ever. I've been going here for decades and will continue to do so!
I don't know if I've ever ate so much in my life! Il Mulino was truly a New York experience -- tucked away in the West Village, it was classic Italian fare, served attentively with large portions. I've been twice -- and never regretted it. (Except, maybe, stepping on the scale the next day!)
Not my favorite, but that could be because I don't really like Italian. There's nothing wrong with the food -- it's quite good, but I don't think it's really worth the price. If you want to go "to say you've gone," go on a business dinner or lunch. I wouldn't spend my own money to experience it.
Upon being greeted by a buoyant "Buon Giorno!," I felt transported immediately to Rome, my Spring Break destination. The setting of this tiny little restaurant was cozy and intimate, but nothing incredibly visually spectacular. It was kind of neighborhood family restaurant-style in decor. That didn't matter, though, because the incredible creations coming out of the kitchen, along with the warm, accommodating, gracious service, make you forget your own name, let alone that you're in a little West Village restaurant. Even before reading our menus, dish after dish of breads, sauces, and toppings just appeared magically on our table. We had a tomato and mozzarella appetizer that was delicious. I saved myself a bit for the entree. I ordered a baked fish that was light and flaky.
The dessert we ordered to share (a whopping $30 for this single dessert! -- something I would NOT order on my own, by the way) was absolutely divine in its simplicity. A dish of long-stemmed strawberries (absolutely perfect in every way -- they weren't that deep lipstick red color that means the berry's overripe; they were firm and a rosy red but with the same sweet, succulent taste of a deep lipstick red berry...mmmmmmm....) with a creamy sweet thick sauce shot with a hint of some sort of liqueur ("zabaglione" according to those who know better than I), dessert just was heavenly. We nearly doubled our budget. Yikes! It was well worth it, though, to say I've experienced it. Grazie, Il Mulino!
There is so much to say about this dining landmark - the food, service...ah, where to start?
Let me point out something that hasn't been covered in the other reviews here: you don't need to even look at the menu. Eating here is like going to your grandma's house for dinner, and she asks "honey, what are you in the mood to eat?"
The menus at Il Mulino are written in an indecipherable font. Seriously. Add the dim lighting, and you have no hope of being able to actually read the menu successfully.
This is on purpose, I think.
The idea is to tell the waiter what you want; just describe the meal you have in mind. My wife has done this, just on the spot invented a vegetable risotto. Twenty minutes later it emerged from the kitchen - a perfect, delicious version of what she had described. The waiters and the kitchen staff delight in bringing your vague instructions to life in this manner.
Those of you who have visited restaurants where the chef has a major meltdown at the mere suggestion of changing one of his exalted recipes even slightly, will appreciate how cool Il Mulino is about this.
Fast service, delicious food.
A bit crowded while waiting and the last bottle of wine was corked, but since I wasn't paying, I won't complain.
This is a splurge place for me. My heart was working hard to pump around all the extra calories. But it was delicious!
I think it's very tough to get in here and you gotta drop bucks to play, but I'll probably go back one day.
Good stuff!
WOW! is all I have to say.
I was really scared to try here for the first time because I have read so many mixed reviews and they were all so extreme opposites. Some claiming that they are so nice, friendly etc and others saying they had nightmare treatment, with the staff being snobbish and rude.
But when I went every one was so nice and the food was unbelievable. The decor and the whole freebie apps were very similar to IL Gilio. I realized there were so many similarities to IL Gilio and that's when I found out about the past relationship between IL Mulino and IL Gilio. I have to say though... IL Mulino was far better actually comparing now.
Very pricey meal/dinner and each order especially of the specials are so big it is enough to share with one other person.
Definitely try the fresh buffalo mozzarella with tomatoes,red peppers and of course Prosciutto di Parma. It just melts in your mouth it is truly an experience. Also we got the seafood capellini. I don't know what they do to it but it is the best darn thing ever!! So fresh and light.
I'm really not doing any justice by trying to explain because I simply can't explain it in words. That's why you have to go try it for yourself!!
Also one other thing. I read a lot about having reservations and then waiting another hour but luckily for us it was only about a 10 minute wait with reservations. So I guess it's all timing.
Would definitely go back but not order as much food (we also got another octopus salad and paperdella w/sausage ragu). You will definitely leave there with a bad case of food coma!! But feel good about it. =)
Easily one of my favorite Italian spots in the city. Although it's pricey, the food and the service make it worth it. I'm a huge bread guy and the bread is always fresh, and the garlic bread is killer. Nice antipasti of sliced tomatoes, mozz, roasted peppers, and the entrees are all very good. Love their raviolis and seafood.
I found this restaurant had great service and the food was superb, but it was honestly a bit of a let down. Maybe because I don't live in NY so when I go there to visit friends or just to visit b/c yeah, well it's fucking NY, I like to get some good reservations. I don't know how long we made the reservations in advanced, but a friend of mine who lives in NY said going here was a 'must' and I think the build-up was too high or something.
Plus, if you're a foodie - S.F. is a really great town and NY is so large, someone really has to know what they're talking about - at least, that's what I think.
I wouldn't go back again because I can't remember what was great about it, I just know that it didn't suck.
I had a langoustine entree and that was really the only part of my meal that stuck out in my mind because langoustine don't come around very often in SF.
The rest of the reviews are accurate so going here is a safe bet, I just think that there are better restaurants in NY.
Holy anti-pasti! Just sitting down gets you incredible food! However, once threw with the starters I recommend going with the appetizer portion of the main dish. Unless of course you are training to be a sumo wrestler and need tons of calories and can stomach another 2 lbs of food.
Offer of the month
Neighborhood: Upper West Side
Nightly $35 3 Course Prix Fixe
Neighborhood: Upper West Side
Neighborhood: Steinway
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Greenwich Village
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: West Village
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: West Village
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Greenwich Village
Category: Italian
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